Americans will “spring ahead” on Sunday, March 8, when clocks jump forward one hour. The shift happens at 2 a.m., when the time immediately becomes 3 a.m., meaning most people lose an hour of sleep overnight.
Daylight Saving Time is observed in much of the US and begins every year on the second Sunday in March. It is designed to provide more daylight in the evening hours as spring and summer approach.
The time change also impacts everything from work commutes to school mornings, and it often sparks reminders for drivers to stay alert and for households to check smoke alarms. Some people also report short-term sleep disruptions as their bodies adjust to the new schedule.
The practice of moving clocks ahead has roots going back more than a century. According to Wikipedia, Daylight Saving Time was first adopted in parts of the world during World War I as a way to conserve energy, and the US later implemented it nationwide during World War II. It has remained a regular part of the calendar in most states, though not all areas participate.
Daylight Saving Time will run through the warmer months before the clocks shift back later this year.
The switch back to standard time, often called “fall back,” happens on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks will move back one hour.
For now, the best advice is simple: plan ahead, and if you rely on an alarm clock that does not update automatically, make sure it is ready for the jump.
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