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Get Ready to “Fall Back”! Daylight Saving Time Ends This Sunday
It’s almost time to reclaim that precious extra hour! Daylight Saving Time for 2025 is drawing to a close, with clocks set to “fall back” this Sunday, November 2nd. For many across the U.S., this means an extra 60 minutes of sleep and a shift in our daily rhythms.
When Does the Time Change?
The official end of Daylight Saving Time occurs on Sunday, November 2nd, at 2 a.m. At this moment, clocks will magically reset to 1 a.m., giving us that coveted additional hour.
For those keeping track, Daylight Saving Time began on March 9th this past spring. Looking ahead, we’ll “spring forward” again next year on March 8th, 2026, when the cycle repeats.
Gain an Hour, Embrace the Darker Evenings
Yes, you read that right – we gain an hour when Daylight Saving Time concludes. Most Americans can look forward to an extra hour of rest as our clocks rewind. While many digital devices will automatically adjust overnight, don’t forget to manually update any traditional watches or wall clocks around your home.
Following this time change, expect evenings to arrive earlier, with darkness descending sooner. Conversely, mornings will also see an earlier sunrise.
The Enduring Mystery of Daylight Saving’s Origins
The practice of adjusting clocks seasonally has been a part of our lives for decades, yet its precise origins remain a topic of some debate. While theories often involve farmers seeking more daylight or proponents of early rising, some of these ideas are disputed.
Historically, Germany was an early adopter, implementing Daylight Saving Time in 1916 during World War I, with the aim of conserving energy. Other European nations and the U.S. soon followed suit. Despite subsequent discussions and varying observations, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 ultimately established Daylight Saving Time as a legal requirement in the United States, as per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Who Sits Out the Time Change?
While the majority of the U.S. will participate in the time shift, a few exceptions exist. Hawaii and most of Arizona (excluding Navajo Nation), along with the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands, do not observe Daylight Saving Time. These areas will maintain their current time.
It’s worth noting that states have the option to opt out of Daylight Saving Time, but they are not permitted to permanently remain on Daylight Saving Time. Globally, the U.S. and most of Europe are somewhat of an anomaly, as the majority of countries do not observe these seasonal clock changes.
The Ongoing Debate: Health, Politics, and Public Opinion
The biannual clock change continues to spark discussion, with a 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll revealing that nearly 80% of Americans favor altering the current system. Interestingly, more Americans expressed a preference for permanent Daylight Saving Time over standard time.
In 2022, the Senate passed the “Sunshine Protection Act,” a bill that aimed to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but it ultimately stalled in the House of Representatives. Even prominent political figures have weighed in on the issue.
Former President Trump, for instance, has expressed a desire to eliminate the time change, citing its inconvenience and cost. However, he has also previously advocated for permanent Daylight Saving.
Beyond political discourse, the impact on public health remains a significant concern. Numerous studies suggest that the twice-yearly clock adjustments can disrupt our well-being. Researchers at Stanford Medicine this year highlighted potential links between “falling back” and “springing forward” and an increased risk of conditions such as heart attacks, obesity, and strokes, in addition to impacts on mood and mental health.