Time to Change Clocks: Daylight Saving Time

clock in spring flowers

In the United States, daylight saving time (DST) begins the second Sunday of March. All states except Hawaii and most of Arizona, change clocks forward one hour.

Most electronic devices today adjust automatically. However, older watches and analog clocks can’t, and you will have to remember to adjust them manually.

How does daylight saving time affect you?

Changing clocks to spring forward tends to affect people’s sleep patterns. Insomnia sufferers tend to struggle the most with time changes.

To better adapt to daylight saving time, start going to bed a little earlier the week prior. Try to get to bed 10 to 30 minutes earlier than your usual bedtime. This will make the process easier once the time change occurs.

Avoid taking naps the week after DST begins even when you’re feeling tired. Waiting until bedtime will help you adjust to the time change faster.

If these steps don’t help, you can try melatonin tablets to help regulate your sleep and wake cycles. According to the Mayo Clinic, melatonin is a hormone that regulates your natural internal clock. Melatonin levels rise in the evening when there is less sunlight, and drop in the early morning hours. If you're considering taking melatonin supplements, check with your doctor first, especially if you have any health conditions.

How did daylight saving time start?

Daylight saving time was first enacted as a wartime, energy-saving measure and began March 31, 1918 to take advantage of the available natural light. Repealed in 1920, it returned during World War II. In 1966, Congress revised the federal law to make the observance of DST more consistent across all U.S. time zones.

As mentioned above, there are two states that do not participate in DST: Hawaii and most of Arizona. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not adjust clocks either.

When does the time “fall back” again?

Most of the U.S. keeps the longer summer hours until the first Sunday in November, when we change clocks again to fall back one hour.

Infinity Insurance recommends getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated during the first week of daylight saving time.

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