What Is Daylight Saving Time and Why Do We Change Our Clocks? Daylight saving time is the practice of moving clocks forward in spring and setting them back in autumn to make better use of daylight. The goal is to shift an hour of sunlight from morning to evening during summer’s longer days . The system was first introduced in the United States through the Standard Time Act of 1918 to conserve energy and optimize daylight hours. Standard time begins in the fall and continues through winter, bringing earlier sunsets and longer nights. It remains in effect until daylight saving time resumes. In 2026, clocks will move forward again on March 8. Americans turned their clocks back by one hour on Sunday as daylight saving time officially ended. The change took effect at 2 a.m., resetting clocks to 1 a.m. The practice, which began on March 9, concludes today, November 2, and will return in March 2026 when clocks move forward again by one hour. How To Adjust To The Change It often takes a few days to get used to the end of daylight saving time . Experts from Harvard recommend keeping your sleep schedule consistent, getting sunlight in the morning, and limiting caffeine or alcohol later in the day. Reducing screen time and dimming lights before bed can help you fall asleep faster. Staying consistent with meal times, workouts, and rest also makes the adjustment easier. Daylight saving time was first used during World War I , then repealed and later brought back during World War II. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established consistent start and end dates nationwide, while giving states the option to opt out. Since 2007, the schedule has run from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Do Other Countries Use It? Roughly one-third of the world’s nations follow some form of daylight saving time, mainly across Europe and North America. Some southern hemisphere countries also use it but during opposite months due to reversed seasons. Many nations have experimented with daylight saving in the past but no longer observe it. Hawaii and most of Arizona remain on standard time throughout the year. US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands also do not change their clocks. Could It Be Ended? There have been efforts to keep daylight saving time year-round. The US Senate approved the “ Sunshine Protection Act ” in 2022 to eliminate seasonal clock changes, but the bill stalled in the House of Representatives . Several states have also passed legislation in support of permanent daylight saving time, yet federal approval is still required before it takes effect.
