We’ll jump and lose an hour of sleep, but we’ll gain more daylight.
Dashia is the consumer news editor for CNET. She specializes in data-driven analysis and news at the intersection of technology, personal finance and consumer sentiment. Dashia researches economic changes and everyday challenges to help readers make informed decisions, and she covers a range of topics including technology, security, energy and money. Dashia graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She loves cooking, teaching spinning, and spending time with her family.
More daylight is only a few days away. This weekend, clocks will move forward an hour and you’ll notice longer daylight in the evening. Yes, we’ll spend more time in the sun, but with the change comes disruptions in sleep patterns and a shift in our circadian rhythm, which is essentially our body’s internal clock. And not all experts are in favor of continuing this change.
When does daylight saving time start?
Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. The start of Daylight Saving Time usually means you’re “moving forward.” You’ll lose an hour of sleep, but gain longer periods of daylight in the evening. On the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. local time, you’ll “step back” and gain an hour of sleep, but you’ll also face darker evenings.
Daylight Saving Time vs. Standard Time
The difference between daylight saving time and standard time comes down to how you set your clock for more or less daylight.
We end on standard time, which is the local time in your time zone. On Sunday, we will switch to Daylight Saving Time, which sets the clock forward one hour. You will notice that daylight lasts longer. Daylight saving time is in spring and summer.
Why are experts not fans of time changes?
Nasha Addarich Martinez, editor-in-chief of CNET, says that most sleep experts don’t like time changes because any time change disrupts our circadian rhythm, even if it’s just an hour.
“This can lead to chronic sleep loss and reduced sleep quality, particularly REM and deep sleep stages,” says Martinez. “Drowsiness also poses safety risks,” such as driving while drowsy.
It can also be extremely difficult for people with young children or babies, given their feeding and sleeping schedules, she adds.
Several active groups are campaigning to keep the United States on standard time. A group called the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time aims to legally standardize time across the country for several reasons. Delayed sunrises and sunsets mean darker commutes, depression and a misalignment of your body’s internal clock, they say.
Will time changes ever end?
Maybe. Your state government cannot change time zones or the length of daylight saving time, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
However, each state can choose to exempt itself from DST without needing permission from the Department of Transportation, and some light and sun-filled areas have already done so.
If you’re tired of time changes, these states and territories don’t observe daylight saving time.
- American Samoa
- Most of Arizona
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
You’ve probably seen headlines that make it seem like a change is coming, and that the country as a whole could possibly shut down with all this time change.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 was a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate in 2022 but remained in the House, according to the Congressional website. Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida introduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025-2026, but there have been no further updates.
In the meantime, here are three ways to reset your body’s internal clock and adjust to Daylight Saving Time. You may want to start going to bed 15 minutes earlier each evening this week and seek out the sun early in the morning, even if that means getting up earlier.
The information contained in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a health problem or health goals.
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