A team of sleep experts is urging the UK government to eliminate the biannual changes to the clock due to their negative impact on sleep and circadian health.
A group of prominent sleep specialists from the British Sleep Society is calling on the government to put an end to the biannual clock adjustments in the UK, citing detrimental effects on sleep and circadian rhythms.
After examining scientific research that shows better circadian and sleep health with consistent natural daylight in the morning and worse outcomes with the twice-a-year clock changes—especially the spring shift when clocks go forward—the British Sleep Society advocates for ending these clock changes.
Given the importance of sleep for overall health and well-being, the Society has declared its “strong recommendation” for maintaining Standard Time—also referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)—throughout the entire year.
This statement, co-written by researchers across the UK and led by Dr. Megan Crawford from the University of Strathclyde, Dr. Eva Winnebeck from the University of Surrey, and Professor Malcolm von Schantz from Northumbria University, appears in the Journal of Sleep Research.
The Society released this statement in conjunction with the clocks shifting to Standard Time this weekend, a practice that was initiated in 1972 with the British Summer Time Act.
Research published by the Society indicates that changing to Daylight Saving Time (DST) in late March, commonly known as British Summer Time (BST), can negatively disrupt sleep regulation.
Professor Malcolm von Schantz, who specializes in Chronobiology at Northumbria University and is part of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, stated: “There is an ongoing debate in the UK and in other countries on whether to eliminate the biannual adjustments to Daylight Saving Time.”
“Standard Time is in sync with natural light and dark cycles. By calling for year-round Standard Time, the Society highlights the importance of morning daylight for keeping our internal clocks aligned with day and night, which is vital for good sleep and health.”
He added: “Adopting permanent Standard Time would ensure our clocks align more closely with solar time. Although this could mean earlier sunsets in summer, it would also lead to better health outcomes through improved sleep and circadian synchronization due to increased exposure to morning sunlight from autumn to spring.”
Dr. Eva Winnebeck, a Chronobiology Lecturer at the University of Surrey, pointed out: “Many people don’t realize that Daylight Saving Time shifts our schedules forward by one hour, while the amount of daylight stays the same. DST forces everyone to wake up and leave for work or school an hour earlier, which means that during seasons with shorter days, like autumn, many have to travel in the dark.”
Members of the British Sleep Society considered the UK’s unique geographic and orientation factors while making their recommendations. Most of the UK is located to the west of the Prime Meridian, resulting in later sunrises and sunsets throughout the year.
They also noted that if the UK were to reconsider its current time zone practices, discussions should include the Republic of Ireland to prevent creating a time zone divide across the island.
Dr. Megan Crawford, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde, said: “Conversations about scrapping the biannual clock changes keep resurfacing, and worryingly, some propose replacing it with permanent Daylight Saving Time. This is a flawed approach from a sleep and circadian health perspective. Morning light is crucial for our internal clocks to stay synchronized. At our latitude during winter months, there simply isn’t enough daylight to ‘save,’ and science supports prioritizing morning light over afternoon light.”
She added: “Other sleep organizations have expressed concerns about this idea and advocated for returning to year-round Standard Time, but there is currently no published viewpoint from the UK on this matter. The unique geography and orientation of the UK must be considered, as permanent DST would disadvantage people living west and north of London.”
The complete position statement from the British Sleep Society, titled DST in the UK, is available in the Journal of Sleep Research. It has support from various organizations, including The Irish Sleep Society, British Paediatric Sleep Society, Capella (Sleep Action), The Sleep Charity, and The British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services.
The Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research focuses on studying and treating sleep disorders, looking into how biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors influence sleep. They assess, diagnose, and treat sleep disorders in a state-of-the-art two-bedroom en suite facility equipped with a fully integrated kitchen and laboratory control room.
