Every single fall, the window of daylight becomes narrower and narrower until it is dark at 5 PM. Then one particular Sunday, when you wake up, you feel more rested and it seems even darker outside. When 5 PM comes again, it is still bright.
This year, that day will be November 1, 2026. On that day, Daylight Saving Time will end.
History of Daylight Saving Time
The history of Daylight Saving Time began on March 19, 1918. On that day, U.S. law established The Standard Time Act, which defined time zones but also implemented Daylight Saving Time. Throughout the 1900s, Daylight Saving Time was repealed and enacted many times.
Most of the time, Daylight Saving Time was implemented to help conserve fuel and power during times of need, such as World War I and II. Finally, The Energy Policy Act of 2005 solidified both the beginning and ending times.
Since 2007, Daylight-Saving Time has started on the second Sunday in March and had ended on the first Sunday in November.
“On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time (which becomes 3:00 a.m. local Daylight-Saving Time). On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local Daylight Saving Time (which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time).”
As of 2026, 48 states and Washington, DC, participate in daylight saving time, all states but Arizona and Hawaii which have opted to remain on standard time permanently.
Daylight Saving Time Today
Recent days, the transition to and from Daylight Saving Time has come into question. “Nineteen states have passed laws or resolutions to observe daylight saving time permanently.” Since 2018, “the Sunshine Protection Act, which would move the US to permanent Daylight-Saving Time, has been introduced in Congress several times.”
However, while many lawmakers want permanent Daylight-Saving Time, most scientists and sleep experts recommend permanent standard time.
Daylight Saving Time’s Effect on Health
Regardless, both lawmakers and scientists agree that the transition to and from Daylight Saving Time does more harm than good. One of the reasons is its effect on our health. The change in time is effectively a “disruption[] in the sleep patterns of over 300 million people.”
According to surveys from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), after the beginning and end dates of Daylight Saving Time, 55% of Americans experience tiredness.
The beginning and end dates of Daylight Saving Time induces more than tiredness; it significantly increases the risk of sudden heart attack, stroke, mood disturbances, hospital admissions, and production of inflammatory markers in response to stress.
The transition to and from Daylight Saving Time also reduces the amount of sunlight in the morning, which makes many of us wake up in the dark. This is disadvantageous for the body because seeing sunlight when you wake up is important in order to set your body’s internal clock (the circadian rhythm), which influences sleep, energy, and mood.
This reason is also why scientists prefer the implementation of permanent Standard Time over Daylight Saving Time.
However, the spring transition has been found to be more disruptive than the autumn transition because the loss of one hour has a higher chance of reducing the amount of sleep. Additionally, the spring transition increases the risk of fatal traffic accidents by 6%.
Conclusion
Because the end of Daylight-Saving Time is soon, it is important to be mindful of its effect on our health, so we can try to mitigate the harm done.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), what we can do is “gradually adjust [our] sleep and wake times,” shifting our “bedtime 15 to 20 minutes earlier each night for a few nights before the time change.”
Another option listed by AASM, is to “head outside for some early morning sunlight Sunday morning” as “exposure to sunlight [can] help regulate your morning routine.” Additionally, we can “get plenty of sleep on Sunday night to ensure [we are] rested and ready for the week.”
Ultimately, starting the week of October 25, a week before November 1, it is important to keep in mind different options we can choose from to help mitigate the harmful effects of the transition from Daylight Saving Time.
I hope this article helped you gain some insight into the debate of Daylight Saving Time!