Each year, as the clocks change, many wonder why we continue adjusting our lives for daylight saving time. With ongoing discussions about its relevance, students and professors at Concordia shared how the time shift impacts their routines and whether they think the practice still serves a purpose.

Starting Sun., Nov. 3, Californians, and most of the country, moved their clocks back one hour, beginning “standard time” which lasts until March when “daylight saving time” restarts. 

According to CalMatters, this shift in the spring brings more daylight later in the day, but the sudden hour of lost sleep can be unsettling and even lead to increased health risks, as experts have observed.

The time change raises questions for Concordia students. They shared how daylight saving affects their routines and sleep schedules and whether they believe it still has a place these days. Biology professor Dr. Jana Reiland offered a scientific take. While she does prefer lighter mornings for her early rising she does acknowledge the adjustment can be difficult. “It throws off our routines,” she explained, adding that even her pets struggle with the change, due to their feeding and sleeping schedules out of sync. 

She believes that the original purpose of saving energy might be outdated in today’s world with newer, efficient energy sources. “I think we just continued doing it because it’s habit,” she said.

Reflecting on how daylight saving was initially relevant for farming and energy conservation. If given the chance, Reiland says she’d vote to end the practice, preferring a stable longer schedule that would cancel out the need for these seasonal adjustments altogether.

For Maya Kay, a junior on the women’s lacrosse team, the time change has its advantages, especially as an early riser for 6:30 a.m. practices. “It used to be tough waking up when it was still dark,” she said. Now, with the sun rising earlier, Kay finds it easier to get out of bed and start her day with the energy boost that the natural sunlight provides. 

Although she once supported ending daylight saving time, she’s since changed her mind. Appreciating how it aligns her schedule with daylight hours. “I feel more tired earlier, but that’s okay since I need to be up early anyway,” Kay added.

On the other hand, Caleb Rahn, a sophomore from Minnesota, has a different perspective shaped by his experience with the harsher seasonal shifts back home. For Rahn, daylight saving feels more significant in Minnesota, where winter days are shorter and colder, making each hour of daylight count. 

“In Minnesota, it’s a bigger deal because of the dark and cold, and there’s a noticeable adjustment that comes with it,” he explained. Despite these shifts, he has adapted to the routine and feels that he handles the transition similarly in California. However, he recognizes that for colder regions, the extra hour of evening light has more impact than it might in California’s weather. 

Gabriella Hiraldo, a senior from Texas, has a unique perspective. She appreciates daylight saving for the way it “spices up” the year, adding a sense of the season changing. “It gives us something to look forward to,” she said. Enjoying how the early sunsets set a cozy mood, especially around Christmas. 

Ashley Velarde, a freshman from Southern California, described a “love-hate” relationship with daylight saving. She admits that the shift often leaves her feeling more tired, with some days ending as early as 6:30 p.m. For Velarde, the change feels unnecessary, especially given the already demanding college schedule. 

As the debate over daylight saving time continues, it’s clear that the twice-yearly clock change affects everyone a little differently—students, athletes, professors and even pets. With so many perspectives on its impact, the question remains: is it time to end this tradition for good, or does the time change still have a place in our routines?

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