Article Summary –
Daylight saving time begins on March 10, 2024, when most Americans will need to adjust their clocks forward by one hour to account for the shift in daylight hours. Several states and territories, including Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, do not observe daylight saving time. There are ongoing debates about the continuation of daylight saving time, with a failed attempt to make it permanent in 2022 and evidence suggesting that the biannual time changes can lead to physical health problems.
Brace yourself for the weekend: The start of daylight saving time
As we approach the weekend, it’s essential to remember that we are on the brink of losing an hour of sleep as daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. on March 10, 2024. With the mornings staying dark a little longer than we’re used to, we gain an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon and evening.
Thanks to modern technology, your smartphones and watches will automatically adjust to the time change. However, for those with analog watches, old-school clocks or appliances that tell time, you will need to manually adjust them.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the period between March and November when Americans adjust their clocks forward by one hour in March and backward by one hour in November, effectively “springing forward” and “falling back.” The first day of spring is Tuesday, March 19, nine days after the time change.
The push to stop changing clocks
In the last couple of years, Congress has seen proposals to stop changing clocks. The Sunshine Protection Act, a bill approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, aimed to make daylight saving time permanent, though it did not pass in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Does the time change affect health?
According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, the biannual time changes can cause physical health problems, including strokes, heart attacks, accidents, and mood changes. Some scientists suggest that our biological clock gets disrupted. Other studies tie the start of daylight saving time with an increase in car accidents.
Why does daylight saving time matter?
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, daylight saving time is when “daylight” begins an hour later in the morning and lasts an hour longer in the evening. This alignment with the active hours of most people supposedly helps save energy, especially during the warmer months.
Exceptions to daylight saving time
A few places in the United States do not participate in daylight saving time, including Arizona and Hawaii. U.S. territories such as Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico also opt-out, according to a Knox News article.
Why Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in daylight saving time
Hawaii opted out of the Uniform Time Act due to its proximity to the equator, making daylight saving time unnecessary. Arizona also opted out after finding that the extra hour of daylight led to increased energy consumption, according to an article by Arizona State University.
Daylight saving time in 2024 and 2025
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, and begins again on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Correct terminology: ‘Saving’ not ‘savings’
The correct term is daylight “saving” (not savings) time. However, the incorrect term “daylight savings time” is commonly used, especially in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
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