After the Spring Equinox last week, an astronomical event that marks the beginning of spring with day and night lasting equal length, we can officially say that a new season has started. We can breath a sigh of relief as the cold, dark nights slowly start to fade and we will soon be welcomed into spring with blossoming flowers, beautiful green trees, and a little more sunshine.
This Sunday, March 30th 2025, day light saving hours means that the clocks will ‘spring’ forward by one hour. This event always takes place in Europe on the last Sunday in March. When the time reaches 2am on Sunday, clocks move forward one hour in Switzerland.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the benefits of this clock change, and what we can start to look forward to in Switzerland in the coming months.
1- Longer and lighter days:
Daylight Saving Time means that we will start to see more daylight in the evening and the sun will set later. This change means that we will have more time when it is not dark after work or school to walk home or relax in the evening. Whilst we haven’t technically gained any more time, it may feel like it because we might want to make the most of the longer days rather than hibernating whilst it is cold and dark outside.
2- Encourages outdoor activities
With more daylight during the day we are encouraged to spend more time outside, taking a walk or enjoying sports and outdoor activities. Along with more daylight comes warmer weather, helping us to enjoy things like watching the sunset, an evening picnic, spending time in the garden or relaxing by the lake. As the weather starts to warm up, so too will the lake – why not try our All Season Swimming group which takes place every Tuesday, 12:00 – 13:00pm at the LiLi Centre.
3- Positive impact on our mood
Many people experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the winter months, when the days are shorter, weather is cold and we tend to spend a lot of time indoors. With the changing clocks, there’s no doubt that a little more sunshine and some time spent outside will help to have a positive impact on our mood. And of course, there’s the natural benefit of vitamin D too! If you’re looking for an extra boost of goodness for your mind and body, consider joining our Morning Meditation every Tuesday from 09:30 – 10:00 at the LiLi Centre.
4- Encourages socialising and can bring benefits to local economies
We can also start to look forward to having more time to meet our friends and family after work or school, catching-up over coffee or dinner or taking part in a shared hobby. You can guarantee that you’ll find people enjoying a Bachmann ice cream and a walk along Lake Lucerne on a sunny day! This naturally has a positive impact on local businesses too, as people are encouraged to eat out and meet-up more, making the most of the extra daylight.
5- Reduction in energy consumption
In an ever challenging time when it comes to household bills and the cost of living, Daylight Saving Hours provides a very practical benefit of helping to reduce energy consumption in our homes. We need to use less artificial light, and may start to dry clothes outside in the warm air or spend less time watching the TV or using our laptops. Not only does this save us money but also has a positive environmental impact too.
6- A fresh start and spring clean
There’s something about welcoming spring that can help to rejuvenate us a little, creating a fresh start that is reflected in the nature around us. We start to spring clean, think of new recipes to try with the change of season, start a new book that we can read on our balcony, and all the little things that you may associate with this time of year. What a great way to refocus and recharge as we go into the spring and summer months.
