This weekend, at dawn from Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 March, the watches in Spain advance an hour. At 02:00 will be 03:00 (From 01:00 to 02:00 in the Canary Islands), marking the start of the summer program. This adjustment will be maintained until October 26, when the winter program is recovered.
This change implies that, in practice, we will sleep an hour less that night, which can influence the rest and biological rhythm of many people. Studies indicate that this sleep loss can generate fatigue, difficulty focusing and even affecting the mood in the following days.
Doubts about the effectiveness of change
The change of time has its roots in political and historical decisions. In Spain, in 1918 it was made the first time to an adjustment, although during some periods of the twentieth century it was suspended. It was Franco’s government in 1940 that decided to synchronize the program with Nazi Germany and the rest of central Europe. Subsequently, in the 70s, the oil crisis motivated its restoration in Europe in order to optimize energy consumption.
The debate on effectiveness and relevance of the change of time remains in force. The European Union has repeatedly the opportunity to eliminate it, but until there is a definitive decision, the Europeans will continue to adapt their watches twice a year.
In the meantime, experts They progressively recommend the time to sleep in the days preceding the changeAvoid the consumption of caffeine or screens before bedtime and exposing yourself to natural light in the morning to minimize the effects on the body. In addition, the maintenance of a normal sleep routine, moderate exercise and the transport of a balanced diet can help reduce the impact of time change. Taking time to relax before sleeping with activities such as reading or meditation can also facilitate adaptation.
