As clocks across Europe and the UK prepare to leap forward by one hour on the night of March 28-29, 2026, households are once again bracing for the familiar ritual of Daylight Saving Time (DST). At precisely 3:00am in Ukraine and 1:00am in the UK and Northern Ireland, the hands of time will be nudged ahead, signaling the official start of longer, lighter evenings and, for many, a subtle but real disruption to daily routines.
This biannual tradition, which sees clocks "spring forward" in March and "fall back" in October, has deep roots stretching back over a century. According to UNN, the practice was first widely introduced after the First World War, primarily as an economic measure to save coal by maximizing the use of natural daylight in the evenings. In those days, the sun would rise early, often before most people were awake, so shifting the clock meant less reliance on artificial lighting in factories and on the streets.
The UK adopted Daylight Saving Time in 1916, influenced by the campaign of builder William Willett, who championed the idea that longer summer evenings would not only conserve energy but also promote health and productivity. As The Irish News recounts, Willett’s vision gained traction and, eventually, legal backing. Ukraine, meanwhile, implemented seasonal clock changes in 1981 while still part of the USSR, and has kept the practice ever since, even after gaining independence.
For many, the most immediate impact of the clock change is losing one precious hour of sleep. Smartphones and computers will make the switch automatically, but those with mechanical clocks or older household appliances will need to remember to adjust them manually. The effect is more than just a minor inconvenience, though. According to UNN, the artificial jolt to our internal biological clocks—our circadian rhythms—can reduce performance, impair concentration, elevate stress levels, and even provoke an exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases in the weeks following the transition. Health experts recommend a gentle approach: try going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier in the weeks leading up to the change to help your body adapt.
Despite its long-standing place in the calendar, DST is far from universally beloved. In fact, about 140 countries have already abandoned the practice, citing the minimal economic benefits in the modern era. As The Irish News explains, the rationale for clock changes has become less compelling as society has evolved. Dr David Laverty, a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, argues that the energy savings once promised by DST are now "likely to be negligible." He points out that modern electricity use is dominated by electronics, cooking, and heating—activities that aren’t significantly affected by a one-hour shift in the clock. "The clock change may have been introduced because of the War, but the context is that it was also about industrialisation and facilitating people getting to work, factory production, etc. It was part of the move from a more agricultural society to a more industrialised one. Now things are changing again. Society is becoming heavily dependent on technology, but we also have a climate crisis and geo-politics to factor into the mix," Dr Laverty told The Irish News.
Instead of tinkering with time, Dr Laverty suggests that adapting the way we consume energy would be far more effective. "For example, through smart appliances that run when electricity is cheaper or more abundant, or pricing systems that vary by time of day," he said. Renewable energy, he notes, is becoming an increasingly important part of the electricity mix. On the island of Ireland, up to 75% of electricity can now be generated from renewable sources, depending on weather and demand—a far cry from the coal-dominated grids of the early twentieth century.
The debate over DST is not just about economics and energy. Supporters in the UK argue that lighter evenings boost tourism, encourage outdoor activity, and even improve mood by giving people more daylight after work. According to BBC reporting, proponents claim that these social and psychological benefits outweigh the hassle of adjusting clocks and routines. Critics, however, remain unconvinced. They point to the health and safety risks associated with sleep disruption—especially in the spring, when the loss of an hour can throw off sleep patterns and increase the risk of accidents. Some groups have even proposed ditching the clock change altogether and sticking permanently to British Summer Time (BST) or European time to avoid the confusion and health impacts.
In Ukraine, the conversation has taken a similar turn. Discussions about abolishing clock changes have been ongoing for years, but no final decision has been reached. The argument for keeping the system tends to rest on tradition and the symbolic transition from winter’s darkness to summer’s light. Yet, as UNN notes, the modern economic case for DST is weaker than ever, and the health downsides are becoming harder to ignore.
In Northern Ireland, the clock change this year follows what The Irish News describes as the wettest January since 1877—a statistic that underscores just how much the weather and seasons shape daily life. The arrival of lighter evenings is a welcome reprieve after a long, gloomy winter, even if it comes at the price of a lost hour’s sleep. For many, the start of British Summer Time marks a psychological turning point, signaling the approach of warmer days and outdoor gatherings.
Yet, as society becomes more technologically advanced and energy use patterns shift, the once-clear rationale for Daylight Saving Time grows murkier. The original logic—saving coal and boosting industrial output—feels increasingly out of step with the realities of a world grappling with climate change and digital connectivity. As Dr Laverty puts it, "We need to adapt the ways in which we consume energy, rather than adapting the clock."
Still, for now, the tradition endures. On March 29, as clocks move forward by one hour across the UK, Northern Ireland, and Ukraine, millions will adjust their routines—some grumbling, others grateful for the promise of brighter evenings. Whether this practice will persist into the future remains an open question, but its history and impact continue to spark debate in households and parliaments alike.
As the world turns, so do the clocks—reminding us that even the most established traditions are subject to the changing tides of time, technology, and society.