When does the time change?
The biannual tradition of changing our clocks is upon us as we prepare to "fall back" to standard time this Sunday. This shift comes after nearly eight months of daylight saving time, and it's a time-honored event that holds significance for many. But why does it matter, and what does the future hold for this practice?
Efforts to make daylight saving time permanent have been on the table in Congress for quite some time now, but they seem to be stuck in limbo since March. Health experts and lawmakers are in agreement that the back-and-forth clock switching should come to an end. However, there is still no consensus on whether we should adopt permanent daylight saving time or stick with year-round standard time.
Looking back to the 1970s, the last time Congress made daylight saving time permanent, the decision was swiftly reversed in less than a year. The early morning darkness proved to be a danger for school children, and public sentiment changed, leading to a return to standard time.
So, When exactly does this time change happen?
Sunday morning at 2 am is the official time to set your clocks to standard time, but many people opt to make the change before going to bed on Saturday. However, it's essential to note that daylight saving time is scheduled to return on Sunday, March 10. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended DST by approximately four weeks, running from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
The "fall back" is typically the less-hated clock change, as we "gain" an extra hour of sleep compared to the "lose" of an hour in March. As a result, sunrise and sunset will occur about an hour earlier, providing more morning light, according to Almanac.com. An interactive tool at SaveStandardTime.com can help you see the time of sunrise and sunset by location under both standard and daylight time.
The push for permanent daylight saving time is not dead in the water. In March, Sen. Marco Rubio reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, which had passed unanimously in the Senate in 2022 but was not voted on by the House. However, there hasn't been much progress this year, as the Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation without further movement. Companion legislation in the House met a similar fate.
Hawaii and Arizona are the exceptions, as they do not observe daylight saving time, with the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona being the only area in Arizona that follows it. U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands, also observe permanent standard time.
On the other side of the spectrum, 19 states have taken steps to make daylight saving time year-round if Congress approves, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Florida was the trailblazer in 2018, with Colorado and Kentucky following suit in 2022. Other states, including Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, have also taken action. California voters approved the Proposition 7 ballot initiative in 2018, but legislative action has yet to be taken.
Federal law allows states to switch to standard time unilaterally but requires congressional approval to adopt year-round daylight saving time.
In terms of health, doctors and health groups, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, argue that standard time aligns better with our body clocks. They suggest that daylight saving time should be replaced by permanent standard time. "Essentially, standard time is what keeps us sane, despite the short days of winter," says Karin Johnson, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine specialist. Michael Breus, known as the "Sleep Doctor," believes lawmakers have misunderstood the science behind the Sunshine Protection Act and their push for permanent daylight saving time. "The science would say we don't want to be waking up in darkness," says Breus.
One last important note: the "spring forward" in March has been linked to an increase in car accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. It's a reminder that the clock change can have a significant impact on our daily lives and health.
