Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guides on trends, fashion, relationships and more
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guides on trends, fashion, relationships and more
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guides on trends, fashion, relationships and more
As the colder months approach, many US residents will also see more daylight hours in the mornings and darker evenings – thanks to the end of daylight saving time (DST).
Daylight saving time is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour each spring, starting on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November. However, this is not always the case.
This year, daylight savings time ends on Sunday, November 3 – when most people in the US will be getting an extra hour of sleep.
When does DST start and end?
In the US, daylight savings time begins on the second Sunday in March, which falls on March 10, 2024. At 2 a.m. local time, the clocks are set forward one hour for most US citizens.
On November 3, 2024, daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. local time when we “fall back” and sleep an extra hour. It will happen again next year on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Who follows DST?
In the United States, most states follow daylight saving time rules, with the exception of Arizona, the Navajo Indian Reservation, and Hawaii, according to the National Institutes of Standard and Technology (NIST).
The territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands also do not follow this practice.
Why do we follow DST?
The idea of ​​daylight savings was reportedly first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. However, it was not implemented until 1966 when the Uniform Time Act was created, according to the US Department of Transportation.
Although there were times before the US followed daylight saving – including during World War II, when President Roosevelt introduced daylight saving throughout the year called “War Time” – the Uniform Time Act mandates that all countries follow the time decided according to the four main ones. time zone and follow DST, unless all countries agree to be exempt. The Uniform Time Act also means that all countries will implement the time change at the same time.
In the following years, the Department of Transportation hypothesized that cloud saving could have a positive impact on violent crime rates, traffic safety, and energy conservation. However, subsequent reports found that there was minimal change when DST was implemented.
Daylight saving time that the United States currently has was not implemented until 2007, when it was decided that it would begin on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. The previous annual practice ran from the last Sunday of April to the last Sunday of October.
DST is now observed for 238 days in a year.
How does DST affect our health?
Daylight saving time can cause significant changes in our sleep patterns. When we “spring forward” in March, we lose hours of sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, the average person gets 40 minutes less sleep on Mondays after daylight saving time. Lack of sleep has become a persistent problem in the US, with one in three adults getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, per the AP.
The American Heart Association also reported an increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following the clock change.
Sunlight is another important factor that affects our circadian rhythm – the body’s natural 24-hour cycle that regulates alertness and sleepiness, usually in response to changes in light in our environment. While some Americans may welcome an extra hour of morning sunlight as we “back off” in November, this also means earlier sunsets and darker skies when we leave work.
During this time, many people have been known to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that is usually associated with the shorter days and less sunlight in fall and winter. Symptoms of SAD may include fatigue and decreased energy; feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities; and changes in sleep, appetite, or unplanned weight changes.
The National Institute of Mental Health recommends a combination of light therapy, vitamin D supplements, antidepressants, or talk therapy as treatments for SAD.
Do you have to manually switch the clock?
Most clocks will update the time on their own. However, certain device clocks require time to update manually.
Some clocks may have a DST on/off function that needs to be turned on to change the time.
Why are some Americans calling for an end to DST?
In recent years, the practice of daylight savings has become increasingly unpopular, with several states proposing bills to end the practice of changing the clocks. In March 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make U.S. daylight saving time permanent. The bill was introduced in the House in March 2023, although it has not yet been enacted.
