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File photo illustration (Photo by Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)
US Daylight Saving Time will end soon, which means we’ll be setting our clocks back one hour. The “rollback” is easier for humans than the springtime change, but it can still have health effects.
The shift from daylight saving time to standard time is coming, as we will trade an hour of extra sleep for less daylight.
The “rollback” should be easier on your body than the springtime change, but it can take some time to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there’s still enough light.
Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually associated with shorter days and less sunlight in the fall and winter, may also suffer from it.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming time change:
When does time change?
US daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time on November 3, which means setting your clock back one hour.
Standard Time will continue until March 9 when we move forward again with the return of Daylight Saving Time.
Effect of daylight saving time on health and sleep
Neuroscientist Dr. Karen Johnson joins LiveNOW’s Andy Mack to discuss daylight saving time and potential impacts.
Does time change affect sleep?
Even changing the clock on the clock can throw off sleep schedules — because even though the hours change, the start times for work and school remain the same.
Related: Study finds poor sleep quality linked to faster brain aging
This is a problem because many people are already sleep deprived. About 1 in 3 U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven hours each night, and more than half of U.S. teens don’t get the recommended eight extra hours on weeknights.
Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and many other problems.
How to prepare for the time change
Some people try to prepare for the time change by changing their sleep times little by little in the days leading up to the change. There are ways to make adaptation easier, including getting more sunlight to help reset your circadian rhythm for healthy sleep.
More: New stroke prevention guidelines released by the American Stroke Association
Will the United States get rid of time changes?
Some health groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it’s time to ditch the time switches, and that sticking to standard time is better aligned with the sun and human biology.
Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those who do – mostly in Europe and North America – the date the clocks change varies.
There are two states — Arizona and Hawaii — that do not change and adhere to standard time.
Lawmakers sometimes propose getting rid of the time change altogether. The most notable recent attempt, a bipartisan bill called the Sunshine Protection Act, proposes to make daylight saving time permanent. Health experts say lawmakers got it wrong — the standard time should be made permanent.
Source
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
