Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 2 hrs ago
Canadian analysis says permanent standard time may be better for health
A Canadian analysis favors permanent standard time if seasonal clock changes are abolished.
Standard time keeps clocks an hour earlier than daylight saving time, so winter sunlight arrives earlier by the clock.
In Toronto, for example, the latest winter sunrise would be 7:51 am under standard time and 8:51 am under daylight saving time.
Morning light helps keep the body clock in sync with daily schedules for sleep and waking.
With later winter sunrises, people may get up in darkness and lose sleep, while research has linked misaligned body clocks and insufficient sleep with poorer health.
The analysis reviewed research on biological rhythms, sleep, mood, education and economic effects, but some geographic health findings show associations rather than proof of cause.
Some Canadian regions already use year-round daylight saving time, and a US bill to make it permanent has gone to a Senate committee.
The analysis says later school or work start times and brighter morning indoor lighting could help, while the choice between clock systems also affects evening light and varies by location.
A Canadian analysis concludes that permanent standard time would be better for health than permanent daylight saving time if seasonal clock changes end.
Standard time would preserve earlier access to morning light, which helps keep the body clock aligned with the day.
Permanent daylight saving time would bring lighter evenings but delay winter sunrise by an hour on the clock.
The peer-reviewed analysis reviewed research on biological rhythms, sleep, mood, education and economic effects.
The researchers say teenagers and young adults may be especially vulnerable to later morning light.
- Who
- Psychiatrist Raymond Lam of the University of British Columbia and colleagues, including co-author Ralph Mistlberger of Simon Fraser University.
- What
- A Canadian analysis found that permanent standard time may be better for health than permanent daylight saving time if seasonal clock changes end.
- When
- Published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- The analysis examined Canadian cities, including Toronto, and reviewed experiences with permanent time policies in other countries.
- Why
- Standard time preserves earlier access to morning light, which helps adjust the body's circadian clock.
Permanent standard time
Permanent daylight saving time
Winter mornings
Permanent standard time
It preserves earlier access to morning light, which helps keep sleep rhythms aligned with the day.
Permanent daylight saving time
It delays winter sunrise by an hour on the clock, leaving early risers in darkness longer.
Evenings
Permanent standard time
It brings earlier winter dusk.
Permanent daylight saving time
It keeps evenings lighter, allowing more time for outdoor activity and socializing.
British Columbia adopted permanent daylight saving time.
The US House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent.
The US bill was referred to a Senate committee.
ScienceAlert published its report on the Canadian analysis.
- Analysis authors
- Psychiatrist Raymond Lam and colleagues
- Co-author
- Ralph Mistlberger, Simon Fraser University
- Toronto winter sunrise under standard time
- 7:51 am in early January
- Toronto winter sunrise under daylight saving time
- 8:51 am in early January
- British Columbia
- Adopted permanent daylight saving time in March
- US bill
- Passed the House on July 14 and referred to a Senate committee the following day
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What people are saying
Imagine a wristwatch that runs 10 minutes slow each day, and every morning you make the 10 minute correction by setting it forward,
Later school and work times would help,