Springing Forward: Everything You Need to Know About Daylight Saving Time

Get Ready to Spring Forward: Daylight Saving Time Begins

Prepare yourselves, because overnight on March 10, 2024, the second Sunday of March, daylight saving time kicks in at 2 a.m. While this means you’ll lose an hour of sleep, it also signifies that daylight will stretch an hour further into the afternoon and evening, promising longer days and brighter evenings ahead.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, your smartphones and watches will automatically adjust to the time change. However, if you have analog watches, appliances, or old-school clocks, don’t forget to manually adjust them.

But what exactly is daylight saving time? It’s the period between March and November when most Americans adjust their clocks by one hour. In March, we “spring forward,” sacrificing an hour of sleep to add more daylight to the evenings. Then, in November, we “fall back,” gaining an extra hour of sleep as daylight extends into the mornings.

Despite efforts to end the time change, such as the proposed Sunshine Protection Act, which aimed to make daylight saving time permanent, Congress hasn’t taken action. So, for now, we continue with the biannual tradition.

However, the time change isn’t without its controversies. Studies have shown that Americans experience health issues due to the abrupt time changes, including strokes, heart attacks, accidents, and mood swings. Some scientists attribute these problems to disruptions in our biological clocks.

Moreover, the start of daylight saving time has been linked to an increase in car accidents, further fueling debates about its necessity.

But why does daylight saving time matter? It’s all about maximizing daylight when people are most active. By shifting the clocks, we ensure that the hour of daylight aligns with the times when most individuals are outdoors, potentially saving energy in the process.

Interestingly, not all states participate in daylight saving time. Arizona and Hawaii have opted out, with Hawaii citing its proximity to the equator, where daylight remains consistent year-round, and Arizona having experienced energy consumption issues during its brief stint with daylight saving time in 1967.

Looking ahead, daylight saving time in 2024 ends on Sunday, November 3, and it will resume on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Lastly, remember, it’s “daylight saving” (not savings) time, and it’s meant to be lowercase, according to the Associated Press stylebook. So, while the incorrect term is commonly used, let’s strive for accuracy in our timekeeping discussions.