‘I’m going with what’s best for my heart’: Ursula favors permanent standard time over keeping daylight saving time year-round

The Sunshine Protection Act would end seasonal clock changes by making daylight saving time permanent for most of the country. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports a different approach: permanent standard time, which it said better matches the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

During the discussion on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, co-host Ursula Reutin favored standard time for health reasons, while co-host Gee Scott said he would defer to medical experts.

“At this stage of my life, Gee, I’m going with what’s best for my heart,” Ursula said. “So I say no. I say no to permanent daylight saving time.”

Ursula distinguishes between ending clock changes and keeping daylight saving time

Ursula began by addressing confusion over what permanent daylight saving time would mean.

“I think that people still get confused as to which one is which,” Ursula said. “Switching to permanent daylight saving time specifically stops the twice-yearly clock changes, right? And it would keep clocks one hour ahead of standard time year-round.”

The sleep medicine academy recommends eliminating seasonal changes in favor of standard time, citing the relationship between sunlight, the body clock, and sleep.

Gee initially described the issue as something that rarely occupies his attention outside the clock changes themselves.

“The only time that it’s a big deal to me is when you and I discuss it when it happens, and we talk about it, and then after that we don’t talk about it again,” Gee said. “So, in the grand scheme of things, it’s really not a big deal.”

Late summer sunsets compete with early bedtimes

Ursula acknowledged what she enjoys about daylight saving time.

“I do love when we have the very late summer, I mean, like late, late sunsets in the summertime,” she said. “And especially where we live, you just can’t beat that.”

Gee said his early work schedule has changed how he feels about those evenings.

“I don’t love it like I used to,” Gee said. “Because I gotta go to sleep early.”

He described asking his wife about going to bed while daylight remained outside.

“I tell my wife, ‘Oh, you ready to go to bed?’” Gee said. “It’s like 7:30 p.m. in July, and it’s broad daylight. I just kind of feel like I’m a boring person.”

Hosts settle on standard time

Ursula reported that many listeners texting the show favored permanent standard time, while acknowledging one listener who preferred later evening light.

“Like I said, I do love it in the summertime,” Ursula said. “But now that I’m thinking about our heart and our well-being, I’m going with the experts.”

Gee agreed with Ursula’s preference, returning to his willingness to follow health guidance rather than argue over the clock.

“I’m with you, Ursula. Whatever you say is good for the heart, I’m with you,” Gee said. “This is a hill that I’m just not ready to die on anymore. I’m done.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.