In Finland and elsewhere in Europe clocks are once again being set back one hour on Sunday at 4 am Finnish time as daylight savings time comes to an end. So-called summer time has been used to reap the benefits of seasonal sunlight in Finland since 1981.
Separating the year into two timekeeping modes is based on an EU directive, meaning that Finland cannot alter the policy itself as a decision on a fixed time mode would have to be made amongst all EU member states.
Daylight savings time is a common practice in western countries, but to the rest of the world it is unknown. Russia piloted an hour's skip in timekeeping but decided against it in 2011, sticking to year-round winter time since last year.
Expert: Time zone shift in order
Periodically Finland ponders switching to Western European Time (WET). Finland counts time at Eastern European Time or GMT+2/3, while WET is at a steady GMT+1. Advocates of the switch say that using WET would provide more light on those most difficult of moments, winter mornings.
"Lighter morning help with waking up and general wellbeing in autumn and winter," says professor Timo Partonen from the Insitute of Health and Welfare. "Our internal clocks seek and react most to light in the morning."
Symptoms of the Finnish midwinter blues, known in Finnish as kaamos, could be alleviated by switching to the rest of Western Europe's time, Partonen says. Quality of sleep would also improve.