If, like us, you’re a bit fed up of the gloomy weather and dark mornings/evenings, then fear not! It’s almost that time of the year when the clocks go forward. Whilst it means that we lose an hour in bed (boo!) it also means that we can look forward to extra hours of daylight, which is most welcome. There’s nothing worse than having to wake up at 6am and it’s still dark, to then face the same dilemma when it comes to leaving work! We’re pretty sure all of you will agree with that. But, for all those who are wondering just why we use daylight saving, then you’re about to find out!
First proposed as an idea by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, and later by Englishman William Willett in 1907, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is an idea that has been around for many years. However, it only became used as standard in the US from 1966 onward. Prior to this, it was originally used in World War I and World War II. Why, you ask? It was essentially to take full advantage of the additional hours of daylight, in addition to preserving energy for war production. Makes sense, we suppose! There are around 70 countries across the world that observe DST, although how each one uses it varies. For example, in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are totally different to here in the UK. In other words, their summer time occurs at another time of year.
Just in case you weren’t already aware, DST in the UK lasts from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The best way to remember which way the clocks are going is to remember the age old saying – ‘spring forward, fall back’. But, a word of warning, if you set your alarm on a device that doesn’t automatically adjust for DST, then you might just show up to work late, and your boss definitely won’t appreciate that! Luckily, most people use their phone for an alarm nowadays, meaning it should do the work for you. It’s probably best to double check though!
Like we’ve already mentioned, most people dread the thought of losing an hour in bed. If you’re one of those people, then you’ll have to wait until October to look forward to your extra hour we’re afraid! However, at least it’ll be lighter in the mornings, making it (slightly) easier for you to wake up when your alarm goes off! Not only that, the sun won’t set until way later, which means no more walking home from work when it’s pitch black before 5pm! If you’re lucky, there might even be some better weather for you to enjoy. Although, here in the UK that’s wishful thinking more often than not!
However, with extra hours of daylight at your disposal, you may as well make full use of them! What better way to do just that than to take part in your favourite action-packed activity! So, if you’re after a true adrenaline rush, then why not consider karting? It’s guaranteed to let your inner Lewis Hamilton shine through as you take to the circuit! Or, if that’s not for you, then why not take your adventure to the skies and take part in a sky dive – guaranteeing nothing but pure exhilaration as you jump out of a plane from great heights! If those don’t tickle your fancy, then there’s plenty of other activities for you to take your pick from – choose Geronigo, for every adventure!