3-09-2024 10:09am

The Clock is Ticking: Daylight Savings Time Springs Forward on March 10th!

Nate Weeks Editor

Don't forget to set your clock one hour ahead early Sunday morning!

Get ready to set your clocks ahead because Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner, arriving on Sunday, March 10th.

If you are curious about what this time-switching business is all about, this article will discuss some surprising facts and explore the efforts to get rid of daylight savings time.

Twice a year, our clocks play a little game of catch-up or slow-down, depending on the season. During spring, on March 10th this year, we set our clocks ahead by one hour at 2 a.m.

That means losing an hour of precious sleep but gaining extra daylight in the evenings. The idea is to make the most of sunlight and save energy.

Believe it or not, Benjamin Franklin had an idea that sounded similar to Daylight Savings Time back in 1784 as a way to set our time by the rising and setting of the sun which also would help conserve the candles that were then used for indoor lighting.

George Vernon Hudson is the New Zealand entomologist (or bug scientist) credited with proposing Daylight Savings Time, but it was actually put into place during World War I and then refined during World War II to save energy resources, according to Wikipedia.

While some people appreciate the longer evenings and more time to enjoy the sun during the evenings, others aren't too thrilled about changing their clocks twice a year.

Surprisingly, not all countries observe Daylight Savings Time, and even within countries that do, not all regions participate. For example, Arizona and Hawaii don't observe Daylight Savings Time, even though the Navajo Nation (which stretches across Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico) does. So daylight time saving can be like a time-keeping puzzle for some!

Did you know that changing our clocks can affect our health? Studies suggest that the sudden time shift can mess with our sleep patterns, leading to sleep deprivation and potential health issues. This has sparked debates about the necessity and overall impact of Daylight Savings Time on our well-being.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to say goodbye to the springing forward and falling back with our time. Some argue that the benefits of Daylight Savings Time, such as energy savings, are negligible, while the disruptions to sleep and daily routines are substantial.

In 2023, at least 29 states in the United States considered enacting legislation about Daylight Savings Time, with many of those states wanting to switch to "permanent daylight time", when the clocks would not need to be changed at all.

Get ready to adjust your clocks as we approach the spring forward on March 10th. The countdown is on about whether Daylight Savings Time will remain a fixture in our lives or if we're heading towards a more consistent, year-round time. Until that decision unfolds, don't forget to set your clocks and savor the bonus daylight!