When do the clocks go back?
The clocks will go back an hour this Sunday, the 29 October at 02:00.
(To avoid confusion about whether the clocks go forward or backwards, simply memorise the phrase "spring forward, fall back".)
When will the clocks go forward again?
We won’t see lighter nights again till the clocks go forward by an hour on Sunday 25 March 2018, when the UK reverts again to British Summer Time.
Why do they go back?
Changing the clocks began over 100 years ago after the Government passed the Summer Time Act in 1916, during the First World War.
It followed years of campaigning by William Willett who published “The Waste of Daylight”, and argued that moving the clocks back in the summer would save on energy costs and give people longer to enjoy the outdoors.
How to cope with the darker nights and mornings
- Prepare yourself- being organised the night before an early start and a 9 o’clock lecture can mean you won’t have the awkward moment of walking into a full lecture theatre trying to find a seat with everyone looking at you. Cook double at dinner time and set aside a portion for lunch the next day, prepare your bag and your outfit.
- Get the zzzzzz in- sleep is amazing, embrace it, especially on those cold windy nights where snuggling up in bed is one of the best life choices you can make.
- Get a bus pass- Not only is it spooky walking around in the dark, it can also be very dangerous. Make sure you are clued up on the public transport Leeds has to offer and stay warm and safe on the bus.
- Cycle Safely- It’s actually illegal to ride your bike on public roads in the dark, without lights or reflectors. If you like to travel by bike the university bike workshops offer discounted high quality locks and lights. Stay safe by being seen.
- Breakfast like a king- Where we have less exposure to the sun, we lack vitamin D and this affects the production of serotonin, one of our happy hormones. A good breakfast, rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins, will give your body and brain a good boost.