Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, and it means most of the U.S. will set their clocks ahead by one hour. Get ready to lose an hour of sleep on Saturday night, but enjoy those later sunsets starting Sunday!
So, when exactly does this happen? Clocks spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday. If you use a smartphone to wake up, you’re in luck—your phone will automatically adjust. For good old-fashioned alarm clocks, just remember to set them ahead an hour before you hit the hay.
Now, what’s the deal with daylight saving time? Most of the U.S. observes it, except for Hawaii and most of Arizona. Interestingly, the Navajo Nation in Arizona does follow the time change. Some U.S. territories, like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, also skip the time shift.
There’s been a lot of discussion in Congress about potentially making daylight saving time permanent. Some senators are pushing a bill to end the twice-a-year clock changes. The idea of moving clocks forward started during the World Wars to help save fuel by maximizing evening daylight.
What’s the biggest change we notice? Longer evenings! After the time change, the sun will set an hour later, just in time for spring. In northern states like Montana, you might gain over an hour and a half of daylight as spring rolls on. Places like New York and Chicago can expect about 100 minutes of extra daylight by the end of March.
Parents can help their kids adjust to the time change by gradually shifting bedtime a few minutes earlier in the days leading up to Sunday. This can make the transition smoother for everyone.