Time to "Spring Forward" on Sunday, March 9th: The History, Debate, and Impact of Daylight Saving Time

As the clock strikes 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025, Americans in most states will "spring forward," setting their clocks ahead by one hour to mark the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST). While this annual ritual promises longer daylight hours in the evenings, it also brings groggy mornings, disrupted sleep schedules, and renewed debates about whether DST should continue at all.

But why do we do this in the first place? And will we ever stop?

A Brief History of Daylight Saving Time

The idea of shifting clocks to maximize daylight hours is older than you might think. The concept dates back to Benjamin Franklin, who jokingly suggested in a 1784 essay that Parisians could save candles by waking up earlier to take advantage of natural sunlight. While he wasn’t serious about adjusting clocks, the idea of conserving energy through time shifts gained traction over a century later.

In 1916, Germany became the first country to adopt Daylight Saving Time as a way to conserve fuel during World War I. The U.S. followed suit in 1918, but DST was repealed just a year later due to widespread public backlash. The concept resurfaced during World War II, when it was rebranded as “War Time” and remained in effect from 1942 to 1945.

Following the war, DST became a patchwork of local policies, with some states and even individual cities choosing whether or not to observe it. To bring order to the chaos, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which standardized the start and end dates of DST across the country. Since then, DST has been tweaked several times, most notably with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended it by several weeks to its current schedule—beginning on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November.

The Push to Abandon DST

Despite its long history, Daylight Saving Time remains highly controversial. While some people enjoy the extra evening sunlight, others argue that the time shift causes more harm than good. In recent years, multiple states have attempted to abolish the time change altogether or make DST permanent.

In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which aimed to make DST permanent nationwide. The bill had strong bipartisan support and was widely celebrated—but it ultimately stalled in the House of Representatives and never became law. Since then, individual states like Florida, California, and Washington have passed their own measures to make DST permanent, but without federal approval, they remain bound by current national timekeeping laws.

Opponents of DST argue that the twice-yearly clock changes can lead to negative health effects, including:

 - Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in the days following the shift.

 - Higher rates of car accidents due to drowsy driving.

 - Disrupted sleep patterns, which can impact productivity and mental health.

On the other hand, supporters of DST cite benefits such as:

 - Lower energy consumption due to reduced need for artificial lighting.

 - More daylight for outdoor activities, promoting recreation and public safety.

 - Economic benefits for retail and tourism industries, which benefit from extended daylight hours.

What’s Next for Daylight Saving Time?

For now, Americans will continue to adjust their clocks in March and November, but the future of DST remains uncertain. With ongoing debates in Congress and growing public frustration, the twice-yearly time change may not be around forever.

Until then, don’t forget to set your clocks forward before bed on Saturday, March 8th, and prepare for a slightly groggy morning. If you struggle with the adjustment, experts recommend gradually shifting your sleep schedule in the days leading up to DST, getting plenty of morning sunlight, and avoiding caffeine or screen time too close to bedtime. Love it or hate it, Daylight Saving Time is here—at least for now.