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The day the clocks spring forward – a time for opportunity
Sunday March 29, 2009 – British Summertime begins. A landmark in the calendar. Every year I marvel at how a small difference in time can make such a big impact on our lives. British Summer Time is an eagerly anticipated day by many; for some their best day of the year.
It is surprising how many benefits result from an extra hour of light in the evening. We are all aware of scientific evidence, which indicates our bodies need sunlight to produce vitamin D. It is believed that vitamin D helps prevent illness including heart disease, strokes, some forms of cancer and arthritis. We also all feel our moods lift in the spring but still it is easy to underestimate the benefits that the clock change brings.
Greenwich Observatory – Photo by psycheopterix
Of course there are the practical benefits, too. For those of us who work, the thought of going from one week to the next without seeing our house in daylight is all too familiar. This is not only disheartening, it is also impractical.
As the days grow longer so it becomes easier to fit in those weekend chores during the week, mowing the lawn in the evenings after work. Walking the dog goes from a night-time military exercise to an absolute pleasure.
But it is not the practical or even the health benefits that stand out. Although they are valuable and almost certainly contribute to the feel good factor of British Summer Time, what this time change really brings us, time-poor, 21st century folk is increased opportunities.
What kind of opportunities you might ask? Well they are what you want them to be.
For me it is the chance to be outside. The extended day opens up endless opportunities for barbecues in the evenings and trips to the park, commuting in the light, drinking al-fresco in urban beer gardens, a game of tennis after work, admiring the sunset, outdoor swimming and boat trips on the Thames.
Photo by Peter Hasselbom
In my school days, it meant hurried homework and tea on the picnic bench followed by rounders matches on the lawn or bike rides to the river, creating homemade paddling pools from bricks and tarpaulins, or the never ending hunt for the perfect tree house.
Sometimes I wonder whether it would be better if these long evenings continued throughout the year, and whilst I am tempted to say yes, deep down I have the feeling that the real answer is no.
It is not just the fact that we have longer, lighter evenings that feels so good to us, but the prospect of their imminent arrival, and the feelings that such evenings conjure up which are often more vivid than the reality itself. Indeed, their value is greatly enhanced by the fact that we have endured months of short gloomy winter days as a point of contrast. Transitions are life-giving, and there is no better transition than that from Winter to Spring.
There will be people this weekend who moan at the loss of an hour in bed but this is a small price to pay for what is about to begin.
Tulip
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