Spring ahead, fall back. That's the only way I remember which one happens when. Twice every year, our relationship with time gets poured into a blender and whipped on the Crush Ice setting for 60 minutes. But the effects last much longer than that hour. For the past week, I’ve felt as though my world has been severely screwed up. And this is nothing new. This happened after the last time change, when I had to reschedule a BBQ due to the night descending upon us much earlier than I was used to. Only this time, I realize that I suddenly seem to have so much more evening left in my day to get things done.

So why is it that I’m surprised by this biannual event, year after year? Well, as it turns out, most Americans are affected by this topsy-turvy event. There is an increase in car accidents following each time change. For all the nine to fivers driving home, the sun is in a different place than they’re used to. There is also limited visibility. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been nearly blinded thanks to that big ball of gas, and the expectation to adjust to a sleep cycle as determined by a clock, rather than a sun synchronized sleep cycle.

There is also an increase in work accidents. Everyone’s sleep being thrown off affects alertness, therefor causing mistakes due to mental sluggishness. I can’t be the only one who’s forgotten a step in a procedure that is usually commonplace. It’s amazing how our circadian rhythm being thrown off just by an hour can cause details to slip past us. And for anyone who works with heavy machinery, that lack of attention to detail can result in damaged or broken machines, workplace injuries, even death.

I always tell myself that next time change, I’ll be more prepared. I’ll catch up on sleep starting the week before. Or maybe I’ll turn the lights off so my body starts listening to the sun’s cycle more rather than following the clock. Or I’ll take melatonin so help my sleep fall into the correct pattern. Yeah, right. That never happens. Why?

Because I’m a rebel. Because this time change nonsense is archaic. It was started back in WWII to help conserve energy. Because we didn’t have the technology that we have today to make electric appliances economical. These days, we have so much technology that counteracts the cost of electricity used to illuminate our homes and businesses. So I will continue to forget about Daylight Savings, and I will continue to sluggishly pour my infinite cups of coffee for the following two weeks. I know I’m not the only one.