As daylight saving time draws to a close this weekend, the clock will fall back one hour early Sunday morning, allowing for an extra hour of sleep.
Daylight saving time was first implemented in the U.S. in 1918 with the passage of the Standard Time Act, initially aimed at conserving energy during World War I by maximizing daylight hours. Over the years, various attempts were made to repeal it, with some states opting out. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established standardized start and end dates for daylight saving time, although states retain the option to exempt themselves.
Currently, Hawaii and Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Nation, are the only states that do not observe daylight saving time. Additionally, five U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands also do not participate in the time change.
Health experts express concerns that the time shift can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has been advocating for legislation to make standard time permanent, citing research linking daylight saving time changes to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, sleep disturbances, mood disorders, and even suicide.
This year, the change will occur on Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., when clocks go back one hour. As a result, daylight will fade earlier in the evening across the nation. The end of daylight-saving time means gaining an extra hour of sleep. For example, if someone goes to bed at 10 p.m. on Saturday, they will effectively be falling asleep at 9 p.m. The beginning of daylight-saving time in March results in a loss of one hour of sleep.
