Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time begins

March 12, 2023

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5 Scientific Reasons Spring Is the Most Delightful Season

Spring is a great time to stop and smell the flowers. Summer, winter, and fall may have their fans, but spring is clearly the most lovable of the four seasons. Not convinced? Here are 15 scientific reasons why spring is great.

1. Spring temperatures are moderate.

Enjoy those mild temps.

Spring marks the end of blistering winter and the transitional period to scorching summer. In many places, the season brings mild temperatures in the low 20’s C. People tend to be most comfortable at those temperatures, so the arrival of spring means you can finally ditch the heavy winter layers and still be comfortable.

2. There is more daylight.

Following the spring equinox, days begin lasting longer and nights get shorter. Daylight saving time, which moves the clock forward starting in March, gives you even more light hours to get things done. Those extra hours of sun can be a major mood-booster, according to some research. Studies have shown that the longer the sun was up during the day, the less mental distress people experienced.

3. Birds return from their winter vacations.

Many animals migrate south during the winter, then head north as temperatures rise. For relatively northern regions, there’s no better indicator of spring than birds chirping outside your window. Their northward migration can start as early as mid-February and last into June, meaning that throughout the spring, you can expect to see a major avian influx. Seeing more of our feathered friends can make you happy. The more birds people hear and see in their neighborhoods, the better their mental health.

4. Baby animals greet the world.

Many animals reproduce in the spring, when temperatures are warmer and food is plentiful. Baby bunnies, ducklings, chipmunks, and other adorable animals abound come spring. Studies have found that seeing cute animals can have positive effects on humans. Finding that unexpected nest of baby bunnies in your backyard in the spring can warm your heart.

5. You’re statistically safer in spring.

According to a study published in the Review of Economics and Statistics, it was found that daylight savings time reduced crime. When the sun set later in the evening, the study found that robbery rates fell.

After daylight saving time started in the spring, there was a 27 percent drop in robberies during that extra hour of evening sunlight, and a 7 percent drop over the course of the whole day.

6. You can spend more time outside.

Warmer temperatures mean you can spend more time outdoors without freezing your feet off, which is great for mental health. Across the seasons, research has found that taking walks in nature slows your heart rate and makes you more relaxed, but some research indicates that there is something special about spring’s effect on your brain. Studies show that spending 30 minutes or more outside in warm, sunny spring weather to higher mood and better memory. But the effect reverses when spring ends, since being outside in the warmest days of summer is usually pretty uncomfortable.

7. Spring makes you more creative.

Spending time outside in the sunny spring weather isn’t just a mood booster; it actually can change the way people think. Being outdoors can broaden people’s minds, leaving them more open to new information and creative thoughts.

8. The leaves come out on trees.

Spring brings green growth back to plants and trees. Depending on where you live, trees may begin sporting new leaves as early as mid-March. That successful spring leaf growth ensures a cool canopy to relax under during the hot summer—a hugely important factor in keeping cities comfortable. According to researchers, vegetation plays a big role in mitigating the urban heat island effect. When trees release water back into the air through “evapotranspiration”, it can cool down the areas around them by around 10 degrees.

9. Growing plants absorb carbon dioxide.

It’s amazing what a little sun can do for plants and grass. Through photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into food, releasing oxygen in the process. That means as plants start to grow in the spring, they pull carbon out of the atmosphere, providing an important environmental service. Because of this, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere drops each spring and summer. (Unfortunately, it rises in the winter, when most plants aren’t growing.)

10. It’s easier to find fresh, tasty produce.

Many vegetables and some fruits are harvested in the spring. ‘Tis the season to get your local asparagus, peas, rhubarb, and other fresh produce. Getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet isn’t just good for the body; it’s good for the soul.

11. Flowers are blooming.

After months spent conserving energy, flowers bloom in the spring, once they sense that the days have grown longer and the weather has turned warmer. That’s good for us! Looking at beautiful flowers can make you happy.

12. You can take your exercise routine outdoors.

While it’s important to keep moving no matter what the weather is, research shows that working out can be more beneficial if you do it outside. Compared with an indoor workout, exercising outdoors in nature increased energy levels, made people feel revitalized, and decreased tension, among other positive effects. People who worked out in the fresh air also tended to say they enjoyed the experience more and would be likely to repeat it, suggesting that using nature as your gym might help you stick with your exercise regimen. While those benefits probably extend to winter, too, it’s a whole lot easier to stomach the idea of a run once the weather warms up.

13. You don’t have to worry about too-dry air.

Flu season typically lasts through the fall and winter, usually peaking between December and February and tapering off during the spring. The seasonal change is in part because of dry air. Cold temperatures mean a drop in humidity, and indoor heating only makes the air drier. This lack of moisture in the air can dry out your skin and the nasal cavities, leading to nose bleeds, irritated sinuses, and a greater risk of getting sick. Since the mucus in your nose is designed to trap viruses, when it dries up, you’re more likely to catch something nasty, like the flu. As the weather warms up and becomes more humid throughout the spring, that mucus comes back. As the season wears on, not only can you lay off the body lotion, but you can probably put away the tissues—if you don’t have spring allergies, that is.

14. You can open your windows.

Temperate weather makes it easier to get the fresh air you need. Opening your windows and allowing the breeze in serves as an important way to ventilate indoor spaces. A lack of ventilation can lead to an unhealthy concentration of indoor pollutants from sources like cleaning product fumes, certain furniture and building materials, and stoves (especially gas ones), not to mention the COVID-19 virus. All of these factors pose a threat to your health and comfort. Winter brings the highest rates of indoor pollutants like nitrogen oxide. Spring brings the perfect opportunity to throw open those windows and doors and get the air moving again.

15. You can absorb more vitamin D.

Sunlight triggers your body to produce vitamin D, which keeps your bones strong. At northern latitudes, it’s harder to get enough sun exposure naturally to maintain healthy vitamin D levels during the winter—even if you did want to expose your skin to the elements—but that starts to change during the spring. People only need 10 minutes outside with a quarter of their bodies exposed to the spring sunshine to get an adequate daily dose of vitamin D.

Source: mentalfloss.com