On Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks in the United States and many other countries will “fall back” an hour, marking the end of daylight saving time (DST). This means that people will gain an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning, but sunrise and sunset will be an hour earlier than the day before.
DST is a practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall. It was first introduced in the United States in 1918 during World War I as a way to conserve energy. DST has been shown to have some modest energy-saving benefits, but it has also been associated with a number of negative consequences, including increased traffic accidents and disruptions to sleep patterns.
Despite the drawbacks, DST remains popular in many countries around the world. In the United States, DST is observed in all states except Arizona and Hawaii.
Here are some tips for adjusting to the time change:
- Go to bed and wake up one hour earlier than usual on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
- Get some exposure to bright light on Sunday morning to help regulate your circadian rhythm.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed on Saturday night.
- Take a nap on Sunday afternoon if you need to.
If you have any concerns about how the time change will affect you, talk to your doctor.
Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
In recent years, there has been growing support for making DST permanent in the United States. In March 2023, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST permanent starting in November 2023. However, the bill has not yet been passed by the House of Representatives.
Proponents of permanent DST argue that it would have a number of benefits, including reducing traffic accidents, improving sleep patterns, and boosting the economy. Opponents argue that permanent DST would disrupt sleep patterns, particularly in the winter months, and would have negative consequences for agriculture and other industries.
It remains to be seen whether the United States will adopt permanent DST in the near future. However, the debate over DST is likely to continue for some time to come.