March 30 at 3:00 am Ukraine will traditionally switch to summer time. This means that the clock arrows should be moved an hour in advance. Although the procedure seems familiar, it causes a lot of debate and can affect human health.
How and why do watches in Ukraine translate?
The transition to summer and winter time in Ukraine is governed by the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 509 of May 13, 1996. According to the document, every year on the last Sunday of March the clocks are transferred an hour in advance, and on the last Sunday of October - back.
This practice in Ukraine has been in operation since 1981 and is explained by the economic expediency: the transition to the summer allows you to use a daylight saving time. However, the effectiveness of this event in modern conditions is increasingly questioned.
Are Ukraine planning to cancel time?
The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly raised the cancellation of the transition to summer and winter. In particular, in 2021, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the relevant bill in the first reading, but as a result it did not come into force. In 2024, Parliament passed a new law on cancellation of clock, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet signed it.
Thus, today the traditional seasonal time adjustment system continues to operate in Ukraine.
Impact on health: what do the doctors say?
Doctors and scientists have repeatedly emphasized the negative consequences of transferring watches. According to Somnologists Daria Pylypenko, the human body cannot fully adapt to changes in biological rhythms.
"The transition to the summer is stress for the body as sleep is disturbed. It can cause increased anxiety, a decrease in concentration and a general deterioration of health," the expert said.
Studies show that in the first days after the transition to the summer, the number of cardiovascular diseases, depressive conditions, as well as road accidents due to drivers' fatigue increases.
How is it easier to adapt to the summer?
To minimize the negative impact of clock transfer, doctors recommend:
- A few days before switching to the summer, gradually shift the time to sleep to bed 15-20 minutes earlier.
- Follow sleep and wake up at the same time.
- It is more time to spend in the open air and get natural light.
- Avoid heavy food and caffeine at bedtime.
Despite numerous discussions on the feasibility of transferring clock, Ukraine still retains this tradition. However, given the possible health risks, citizens should take care of gradual adaptation to a new schedule. Whether seasonal changes in time in the future will be canceled depends on the decisions of the authorities, but now Ukrainians should prepare for the new regime this night.
