Time is everything. Without knowing the actual time, you’ll never know whether you are too early or late for your appointment. But does somebody really know the real time? With the different time zones that countries follow, which of them is the actual time? How does it differ from the local time? What about standard time? Aren’t these terms refer to one thing? If you are confused right now, we’re here to explain.

Understanding the Concept of Local Time

The Earth’s rotation causes light and dark so as day and night. No matter where you are, the total time of rotation is still the same. However, the length of day and night varies from place to place. The reason for this is the shape of the planet. For example, noon is the best way to determine that it is already midday. It also means that the sun is at the highest position. However, due to the Earth’s shape, noon happens at different times in various places. This phenomenon leads to the concept of local time.

Every place has its own local time, which is also called a time zone. You don’t need to worry about other countries’ time zones because what matters most is your local time. It is the time zone you need to follow as long as you are in the same place. However, there is a need for universal time if you need to attend a meeting with people living in different places that follow different time zones.

As mentioned, if you need a common time that will be used to avoid confusion, you may refer to the universal time (UT). It is formerly known as the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This local time is used in Greenwich, England. If you need to communicate with other people, you can use UT or GMT to avoid any confusion with time. 

The Problem With Time Zones

If you think that the Earth’s shape is the only cause for the different time zones, you need to look for another answer. Why? It is because of the Daylight Saving Time (DST). This is when some countries change their clocks twice a year, popularly known as the traditional spring forward and fall back. What does DST mean, and what is it for? 

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of moving the clock forward to have more natural time at work. People who observe DST believe that they can save energy and become more productive when they acquire more natural light. However, there are proven adverse effects when you follow Daylight Saving Time. Among these is the disturbed sleeping patterns, leading to worse health conditions such as heart attack.

Since some countries follow Daylight Saving Time and others, many people get easily confused with time. Not only that but the original 24 time zones have increased because there are countries that follow 30-45 minute intervals instead of one hour. You need to be knowledgeable with time, including knowing the time difference to avoid confusion, especially if you are working in a multinational company.

The Use of A Time Tool

 

If you are working in a multinational company or communicating with people worldwide, there is a need for a time tool, mostly if you get easily confused with time. For instance, the World Time Server is a website that allows you to identify the local time in every time zone. You don’t need to compute the time difference from country to country because you can easily search for it on the site. Not only that, but World Time Server also has other features like a Time Zone Converter and Meeting Planner.

The Time Zone Converter is a helpful tool that allows anyone in the world to know the actual time that corresponds to your local time zone. This is convenient, especially if you have a conference call, online chat, or webcast where individuals from different countries or time zones want to attend. For example, if you're in California and trying to set up a meeting with someone in New York, you can use the pst to est converter. Another fantastic tool that you can use is the World Meeting Planner. It allows you to pick the most convenient date and time for everyone who will attend the meeting. Your world meeting planner allows you to see the relationship each location has regarding daytime hours with proper adjustments for any location observing daylight saving time. As such, you can quickly target a time that works for everyone.

Time is essential in our everyday lives. Without access to the actual time, life would be challenging, especially when communicating with other people. Therefore, you need to be knowledgeable with time, from knowing your local time to understanding the time difference between countries. If you find it challenging to deal with time, you can use our tools to make your life easier and boost your work productivity.