Even though it's been nearly a week since Canadians set their clocks back for Daylight Saving Time, most of us are still begrudgingly trying to adjust to a new winter schedule that, to our dismay, now includes the arrival of dusk by late afternoon.

On Friday, the sun will be setting at 4:59 p.m. in Toronto, a time that is only going to creep earlier and earlier as we transition into the colder months (and is already far earlier elsewhere in the country). Yesterday actually signalled our last 5 p.m. sunset of this year, with the chance to soak up some vitamin D now waning with the daylight hours through to the winter solstice on December 21.

When the days do finally start getting longer again, we still won't see sun past 5 p.m. until January 10, 2025, as noted in a post from meteorologists at the Weather Network about the dreaded darkness to come.

While you're enjoying the sunshine this morning please keep in mind that here in Toronto the sun is going to set before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday now and it's going to keep going down earlier and earlier until December 14th when the sun will go away at 4:40 p.m.

— Chad Crichton (@chadcrichton) November 3, 2024

Even with the holiday season to look forward to, the time change has left many residents dejected, even depressing if you're among those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

As Christina Gallo, a registered psychotherapist at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Toronto, tells blogTO, the switch can wreak havoc on the body's internal clock.

"It often leaves us feeling tired, moody or even down as we adjust to the sudden shift in daylight. With shorter days, we can experience changes in sleep patterns and a dip in mood-boosting chemicals like serotonin, which may lead to lower energy and irritability," she tells us over email.

But, the experts at CMHA and other organizations have a few recommendations that could help you beat those early-sunset blues and adapt better to the season.

"To ease this adjustment, try spending time outdoors in natural light, eating balanced meals, maintaining a consistent exercise routine and unwinding with a relaxing evening ritual," Gallo suggests.

Sunset in Toronto today - 6:08pm
Sunset in Toronto on Sunday - 5:04pm
Let the seasonal depression begin!

— Jake Lapointe (@TransitJakeTO) October 31, 2024

Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) also points to remedies like light therapy or even medication for those who find their functionality and mood hit particularly hard by the lack of sunlight.

Per CAMH's webpage on the subject, the main symptom of SAD is "a sad, despairing mood that is present most days and lasts most of the day, lasts for more than two weeks and impairs the person's performance at work, at school or in social relationships."

In contrast to major depression, those impacted by SAD will find that these symptoms appear (and go away) around the same time every year, and correlate to changes in the amount of sunlight.

It is just one of the reasons that many residents are waiting for Ontario to abolish the practice of Daylight Saving Time, which surrouning jurisdictions would need to do as well for anything to change.