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Daylight Saving Time Is Upon Us
As the majority of the country finally starts to dig out of all that snow and ice, it's time to start looking ahead into spring. The first indicator of the change in season, of course, is the official shift in timekeeping. Whether you're an early bird who loves the morning sun, or a night owl who regularly sleeps through your alarm, there are a few things about the upcoming Daylight Saving Time changeover that you need to know in order to stay on top of your busy schedule.
The concept of Daylight Saving Time is largely, though unofficially, credited to Benjamin Franklin, who jokingly came up with the idea in 1784 as a way to better utilize daytime hours throughout the warmer months. Fortunately (or rather unfortunately), the idea stuck, though it took the United States more than 130 years to finally make the change in 1918. Interestingly enough, neither Hawaii nor Arizona observe Daylight Savings, making them the only two U.S. regions exempt from the jump forward.
This year, the time change will take place at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, so make sure to mark your calendars (unless you live in Hawaii or Arizona — lucky you) and remember these few important things:
You'll Lose An Hour Of Sleep
At 2 a.m. on Sunday, the clocks will officially move forward an hour, so it will feel like everything is starting extra early — including work. Sorry. Take comfort in the fact that you probably won't have to do anything yourself, as most devices will automatically shift forward for you. No need to adjust your phone's morning alarm, just your general morning attitude.
Your Body Probably Didn't Get The Memo, So Go Easy On It
According to a 2007 study out of Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, the human body never actually changes with the clock's shift forward. In the report, lead author Till Roenneberg called Daylight Saving Time a "human arrogance," citing that the adjustment doesn't actually make a difference in "sun time." "We forget that there is a biological clock that is as old as living organisms, a clock that cannot be fooled," explained Roenneberg in Current Biology. "The pure social change of time cannot fool the clock." Maybe give yourself the day off from your morning run that day, okay? Your body deserves it.
It Will Stay Lighter Out Later Than Usual
Consider it Mother Nature's gift for having to get up so blasted early. Starting on Sunday, the sun will rise at 7:37 a.m. and won't set until after 7 p.m., so there's plenty of time to get in an evening stroll (to that delicious pastry shop down the street, of course).
Daylight Saving Time Ends in November (So Enjoy It While It Lasts)
If nothing else, the time change signals the beginning of warmer months and more free time to get out and swim, bike, run, or simply enjoy the the sun. This year, Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 1, so while it's not exactly everyone's favorite thing ever, at least it's not another blizzard.
