Most of the daylight is still a few days away. This weekend, the clocks will go forward an hour, and you will notice longer daylight hours in the evening. Yes, we will have more time in the sun, but the change comes with disruption of sleep patterns and changes in our circadian rhythm, which is basically our body’s internal clock. And not all experts agree with this ongoing change.
When does daylight saving time start?
Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. The start of DST usually means you’re going to “go ahead.” You will lose an hour of sleep, but gain longer hours of daylight in the evening. On the first Sunday of November at 2 am local time, you will “go back” and get an hour of sleep but face a dark evening.
Daylight Savings vs. Normal Time
The difference between daylight saving time and standard time depends on how you adjust your clock for more or less daylight.
We wrap standard time, which is local time in your time zone. On Sunday, we will be in daylight saving time, which moves the clocks forward an hour. You will notice that sunlight lasts longer. The time to conserve sunlight is spring and summer.
Why are experts not fans of time changes?
Nasha Addarich Martinez, editor of CNET, says most sleep experts don’t like the time change because any time change disrupts our circadian rhythm, even if it’s just an hour.
“This can lead to chronic sleep loss and a decrease in sleep quality — especially the REM and deep sleep stages,” Martinez said. “Drowsyness also has safety risks,” such as driving while drowsy.
It can also be more difficult for people with young children or infants, given their feeding and sleeping schedules, she adds.
Several activist groups are campaigning for the US to stay on standard time. A group called the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time aims to legally standardize time across the country for several reasons. Delayed sunrises and sunsets mean dark walks, depression and misalignment with your body’s internal clock, they say.
Will the time changes ever end?
It is possible. Your state government cannot change time zones or how long Daylight Saving Time lasts, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
However, individual states can choose to exempt themselves from Daylight Saving Time without requiring approval from the Department of Transportation, and some areas that are full of light and sunshine already have.
If you are tired of the time change, these states and places do not observe DST.
- American Samoa
- Most of Arizona
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
You’ve probably seen the headlines that make it sound like a change is coming, and the entire world may come to a standstill with all this clock change.
The 2021-2022 Sunshine Protection Act was a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate in 2022, but stalled in the House, according to the Congressional website. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) introduced the 2025-2026 Sunshine Protection Act, but no other updates.
In the meantime, here are three ways to reset your body’s internal clock and how to practice Daylight Savings Time. You might want to start changing your bedtime 15 minutes earlier every night this week and seek the sun early in the morning, even if it means waking up earlier.
