It’s almost that time of year again when it’s time to turn back the clocks. Even though it seems like a little thing to turn back the clock, the move is actually quite significant.
Daylight Saving Time is the practice of moving the clocks ahead one hour from Standard Time during the summer months and then changing it back that hour again in the fall. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “the general idea is that this allows us all to use natural daylight better: moving the clocks forward one hour in the spring grants us more daylight during summer evenings, while moving clocks back one hour in the fall grants us more daylight during winter mornings.”
When Is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at 2 a.m., marking that time when Americans and others around the world “fall back.” Then, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2 a.m., which is when people “spring forward.”
But, this year is different. Since Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 2 this year, it’s actually one of the earliest dates possible for the event. So, if it feels like you’re “falling back” early, that’s because it’s actually the case.
While digital devices such as cellphones will update automatically at 2 a.m., old-fashioned clocks and some appliances won’t. So, it’s best to make sure all of the clocks that you use are on the correct time after the falling back event happens.
In the fall, the plus is that people get an extra hour of sleep, so it’s easier than losing sleep in the spring. But, it still can mess with one’s internal clock. While it might feel nice to see sunlight in the morning, it gets dark a lot sooner, and in some areas of the country, it’s dark by 4 p.m. That can mess with one’s body rhythm, since it’s not time to go to bed at 4 p.m. in the afternoon. There are weeks when workers might not see any sunlight after work.
One tip to keep a good rhythm is to maintain your schedule. “Make sure to stick to getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Even if the day will be an hour shorter, work your way backwards from the time you’ll have to wake up and set your bedtime accordingly,” notes Tenet Health.
Web MD adds to “shift your bedtime later. Gradually adjust your sleep and wake times in the days before the change. On the night before DST ends, stay up for an extra hour past your usual bedtime.”
So, be prepared to fall back sooner this season, and hopefully it won’t disrupt your sleep too much.
