Last weekend, we all had to set our clocks back an hour due to an outdated tradition that today only causes pain, anxiety and sleep deprivation. And I know everyone reading this is probably thinking, “Hey, I just gained an hour of sleep. Why is daylight savings such a bad thing?” You may be feeling pretty good right now, but come this spring, you’re going to pay the price. Also, I like complaining.

The history of daylight savings time in the United States is very complicated and has shifted back and forth a couple times. One of the first advocates was Benjamin Franklin, but he owned slaves, so why would we trust anything that he said?

The idea started as a method for taking advantage of the daylight as much as possible, which would help farmers who benefit from waking with the sun and working until it sets. However, it was not implemented in America until World War I, when the United States instituted daylight savings in order to save energy from electricity.

After World War II, the United States decided to start switching between standard time and daylight savings time. And that’s when all hell broke loose.

For a whole 21 years (between 1945 and 1966), no one even knew what time it was during the spring and fall. Buses and trains were constantly off schedule, and the broadcasting industry was a complete mess (according to timeanddate.com).

I know that all of that is in the past, and we all know what time it is now. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not annoying.

This spring is when the side effects really start to occur. On the surface, losing an hour of sleep seems pretty trivial. But, in fact, sleep loss is far more dangerous. According to National Geographic, springing forward an hour increases the risk of heart attack by 10 percent. You guys, it’s just an hour. Is one hour really worth a heart attack? I vote no. But that’s just me.

Arizona does not even follow daylight savings time, which is pretty weird. A week ago, they were an hour behind everyone else in their time zone. I think we should follow their lead because switching between standard and daylight savings time every year is pretty ridiculous.

As for falling back, the sun is setting at about 5:45 p.m. now. I am writing this article at 5:53, and it’s already getting dark. And I’m getting sleepy. I don’t know about you guys, but getting through the rest of the night without dozing off is going to be a challenge.

Also, now we’re one hour further from Christmas, which is not OK with me.

So be careful this spring, because on the first Monday and Tuesday after daylight savings time, you’re going to be 10 percent more likely to have a heart attack. And that’s a fact.