Daylight saving time began again on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks “sprang forward” one hour from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. This shift gives us one less hour of sleep, but in exchange, we gain more bright, beautiful evening sunlight! For most of the United States, this marks the official start of our seasonal time adjustment.
Daylight saving time was first adopted during World War I as a way to conserve fuel and coal by making better use of natural daylight. The United States followed suit in 1918, and many parts of the country have kept the tradition ever since. The goal was simple: more daylight in the evening meant less need for artificial lighting and less energy use overall. That’s why it’s called “daylight saving time”; we’re literally saving energy by making the most of the sun!
But what if we stopped changing our clocks altogether? In November, when we typically “fall back” and gain an extra hour, many people look forward to that bonus sleep. However, keeping time consistent year-round could actually be beneficial, especially for people who are already sleep-deprived or struggle with sleep disorders.
Our exposure to natural light plays a huge role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle, also known as our circadian rhythm. Light is one of the most powerful tools our body uses to determine when to feel awake and when to feel sleepy. Without daylight saving time, we would follow the natural rhythm of the seasons more smoothly throughout the year.
Think about it: December 21 is the shortest day of the year, but starting December 22, daylight slowly begins to increase again. Each day brings a little more morning light as the sun rises earlier and earlier. The daylight would gradually decrease in the same natural way, without a sudden clock shift that throws our bodies off balance.
There would be downsides to keeping daylight saving time year-round, especially in winter. In some places, the sun wouldn’t rise until well after many people are already at work or school. That missing morning light can make winter mornings feel extra dark and groggy. That’s why getting enough sleep is so important, especially during time changes. Try to keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up time so your body can adjust more easily. It can take up to a week (or longer) for your internal clock to catch up. But once it does, you may notice less brain fog, better focus, and more energy during your day.
One thing to remember: daylight saving time doesn’t actually create more sunlight. The sun follows the same schedule no matter what our clocks say. We typically experience about 12 hours of daylight per day, which stretches to around 15 hours in June and shrinks to just over 9 hours in December.
If policymakers ever decide to eliminate daylight saving time, many experts suggest sticking with standard time year-round. And if someone prefers waking up earlier? They can simply set their alarm, no clock change required! For now though, it looks like most of us will still be changing our clocks twice a year.
(The original version of this article was published in the March 5, 2026 edition of the weekly Iron County Today newspaper. Used with permission.)
Did You Know?
- Arizona, Hawaii, and the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t participate in daylight saving time.
- 19 states (including Utah) have passed legislation to permanently switch to year-round daylight saving time, but have been awaiting federal approval for years. Five bills are currently being considered in Congress that address the issue. Any state can return to permanent standard time on its own.
- Since the 1960s, daylight saving time has not shown to have significantly decreased energy consumption, according to multiple studies.
- Research shows that the shift to daylight saving time can temporarily increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. Longer-term effects may include a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.