What to Do as the Clocks Go Forward for Daylight Saving

As the U.S. springs forward, debate over the semiannual clock changes carries on

The clock moved forward an hour on Sunday morning, marking the beginning of this year’s daylight-saving time for most Americans.

The semiannual changing of the clocks, which first gained widespread usage during World War I, has been a regular occurrence for decades. But there is a growing movement to end the practice. 

 

A measure that would make daylight-saving time permanent passed the Senate last March, but was never taken up in the House of Representatives. 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) reintroduced the bill earlier this month, giving evening light lovers new hope for a brighter future.  

When does daylight-saving time start?

The clock moved forward by an hour on Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m. Daylight-saving time will last for 34 weeks in the U.S., ending in early November. 

About 70 other countries observe daylight-saving time, with varying schedules.

When should I set my clock forward?

Computers and smartphones should automatically change the time for you. For clocks that need to be manually adjusted, such as those on kitchen appliances and watches, some choose to set their clock forward on Saturday evening so they wake up to the new time.

Daylight Saving might have a perk: Researchers think spending more time in the sun might help boost your mood. An uptick in serotonin in the brain might be the cause.

Why was daylight-saving time created in the first place?

One of the main arguments is simple: It saves energy. By shifting our waking hours to better match when it is bright out, supporters say, there is less need for artificial lights and electricity. Some studies have cast doubt on the claim that changing the time saves energy.

Who created daylight-saving time and what is the history behind it?

The concept of daylight saving is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Early one morning in Paris, the story goes, he woke up to find light outside. He argued that if everyone woke up early, they would also fall asleep earlier and thus save large amounts of candles.

New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson has been credited as the first person to propose daylight-saving time as it is used now.

During World War I, the U.S. temporarily adopted daylight-saving time to conserve energy. It re-emerged during World War II for the same reason.

Between 1945 and 1966, states were allowed to decide if and how they wanted to try daylight-saving time. That created problems when states chose different dates to begin and end the time change.

In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, making daylight-saving time an annual occurrence that began on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday in October.

Those dates changed in 2005 as a result of the Energy Policy Act, which mandated that it begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

Does all of the U.S. observe daylight-saving time?

Hawaii and Arizona don’t, nor do the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They all observe standard time throughout the year. 

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Is the U.S. planning to eliminate daylight-saving time? 

Between 2015 and 2019, 29 states introduced legislation to end the clock switching, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Under current federal law, states can choose to stay in year-round standard time but can’t opt for year-round daylight-saving time. 

The congressional bill to make daylight-saving time (DST) permanent would push winter sunrise times closer to the beginning, and sunset times further from the end, of the 9–5 workday.

Sunrise and sunset times in New York City

Note: Rise and set times are for 2023.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Many argue the practice is outdated, and there is a bill in Congress again this year to make daylight-saving time permanent. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports ending the semiannual time change. It recommends permanent standard time instead of daylight-saving time.

“Standard time is closely aligned with the position of the sun, which is important for the body because sunlight is the most powerful external cue for the human circadian rhythm,” the group said in a recent post opposing Mr. Rubio’s bill. “This internal ‘body clock’ regulates the timing of alertness, sleepiness, and other biological functions.”

What is happening internationally?

 

Turkey, Iran and Russia are some of the countries that have ditched daylight-saving time. Around 70 countries currently follow daylight saving like the U.S., but some are reconsidering. In Mexico, lawmakers last year passed legislation that would effectively end the practice. This month, most of the country won’t turn the clock forward, though areas along the U.S.-Mexico border will continue with the time change.

“This new law seeks to guarantee the human right to health and increase safety in the mornings, ensure the well-being and productivity of the population, and contribute to savings in electricity consumption,” Mexico’s Senate said on its Twitter account last year.

What would happen if we got rid of daylight-saving time?

While more Americans have been clamoring for an end to the time change, health experts say if the U.S. stops the clock it should be on standard time, which aligns more closely with the sun.

The time shift has been linked to sleep disruptions and a higher risk of heart attacks, according to recent studies. Doctors also say sleeping later, which can mean less sleep, is a primary culprit. Springing forward tends to cause people to fall asleep later, as it is harder to go to bed when the sun sets later and activities such as dinner and socializing end later in the evening.

How can I adjust to the time change?

The AASM recommends that people continue to go to sleep at their usual bedtime, and that adults get at least seven hours of sleep and teens get at least eight hours of sleep a night before and after the time change. The group recommends people go outside for sunlight on Sunday morning and dim the lights in the evening to help with the adjustment.

Write to Talal Ansari at [email protected]


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