THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 29, 2010
27
by Dr. Debi Warner
Contributing Writer
Dear Dr. Debi, We hate to lose sunlight
on our big project with the time change. What is the point of the clock change and what should we do? Signed,
Rushing to Finish
Dear Clock Watchers, It seems that everyone dreads the turning of the clocks in the autumn. At 2 am on November 1st, the time “falls back” to Stan- dard time. This happens one week later than a few years ago, in order to pre- serve light for the Trick or Treaters. Many folks resent the time loss and wish it could be stopped. Actually, the summer clock was a time loan, and the winter clock is the standard. So, if we did away with it altogether we would miss the summer’s later lightness. It all began with Ben
Franklin while he was in France. He convinced many people in Europe and in America that shift- ing the clock in the sum- mer would be good for agriculture, commerce, and evening pleasures. Many countries now jump their clocks forward and backward, just like our own hoppy clocks. If we did not do it at all, the earlier sunsets would be the norm. Changing clocks in the
fall feels kind of like end- ing a really good vaca- tion. We get used to the
new pace. We love the leisurely style. We even enjoy chores in the little country cottage. We share space with others, and are cheerful. It seems it should go on forever. It touches some chord that rings inside of us, that life should be this way. Then we must leave and go home. We try to bring it along, playing the vacation tune in our heads, trying to pluck that chord under the song of our usual life. Later, we remember it and hum along again. Well, the point of the situation is that the sum- mer clock was a gift, and it does wilt. Perhaps someone would do well to just shift the whole year’s clock and leave it there permanently, with daylight anchored later year round. No one seems to get that idea and bring it into law. So we are left with the shock to find that the vacation is over and we must return to a darker clock. There are safety issues
with time change. Add- ed dangers in working past nightfall on projects.
Rushing to finish, ignor- ing the lost hour. Failing to properly light a project with resulting falls and injuries. There are also quality issues in trying to fit angles in failing light. A 45 cut placed on a 32 degree pitch looks fine in the dark but shows gaps in daylight. Caulking in poor light means missed spots and gobby applica- tions. All these mistakes will also mean poor water repellency on a roof and shoddy appearance on trim.
There is a positive about
the autumn time change. And that is the extra rest you get – an hour more of sleep. For most people, the clock will lure them to bed earlier and wake them later, unless you wait up for the time change it self. Somehow the extra sleep makes us better equipped to handle stress. It helps us be more coordinated. There are about 7 per- cent fewer accidents in the week following the fall time change and 8 per- cent above the norm in the spring. So, you may be in better shape with the
clock change, even if the work conditions are not conducive to a long day. So, your lesson is to
determine if you will be working past sundown and to set up proper light- ing if you are. You may have mild enough weather to continue a few more weeks. But do be careful, as the colder weather may bring ice and brittle ma-
terials that do not handle well in the cold. People also become numb and clumsy in the cold, which should be accounted for in your plans. Maybe it is time to wrap up the out- side projects and come inside. Some hot cocoa is waiting…
Happy Home Team! Dr. Debi
Dr. Debi Warner is the Founder of Renovation Psychology® and
author of Putting the Home Team to Work, available now online.
Dr. Debi provides advice for greater domestic harmony to folks who are renovating their home – for True Home Improvement. This column is offered for enjoyment and enhancement and is not intended to replace your personal medical care. Photo by Bob Jenks, St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dr. Debi has a con- sultation practice, visiting home sites all over New England from her studio in Littleton, NH at the Tannery Marketplace. © 2009 Renovation Psychology® Questions are welcome.
Visit
www.RenovationPsychology.com
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