Get set to turn your clocks forward! Daylight Saving Time (abbreviated DST and sometimes misspelled as “Daylight Savings Time”) is the practice found in many countries of adjusting the clocks to ensure the most efficient amount of daylight hours.
In the United States, it was first established as an energy-saving measure throughout the First and Second World Wars. The time selected for the clocks to jump forward and back (2:00 AM) was chosen because it was thought to be the least disruptive to workers and travel, especially railroad travel since trains were not running at that hour. By law, DST always begins and ends on the second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November.
This year, DST begins on Sunday, March 8: at 2:00 AM. Most digital clocks will spring forward automatically (analog clocks and certain digital clocks, such as oven, microwave, and some car clocks, must be moved forward manually) from 1:59 directly to 3:00.
This year, DST will end on Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 AM, at which point the clocks will jump backward one hour. Check out our previous articles on DST for more information on its history and advice for staying healthy through the time change.
The Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make DST permanent and remove the need for switching the clocks up twice a year, was introduced to the United States Congress in 2018, but though several versions of the bill have passed in the Senate, it has never been passed by the House of Representatives.
Passage by both houses of Congress and approval and signature by the President is necessary to establish a bill as law. Arguments have also been made that it would be healthier to establish permanent standard time instead, but as of yet neither proposal is close to being established as federal law. Several state legislatures are pursuing legislation to make one time or another permanent in their states.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us anytime at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay safe and healthy, and enjoy the return of warmth and sunshine!
