Illustration by James Yamasaki
Get ready for some extra Zzz’s! Before bed on November 5, most Americans will turn their clocks back one hour. If you’re one of them, you’ll end up with 60 more minutes to snooze the next day.
The clock switch marks the end of daylight saving time (DST), a time system that most states use for part of the year. DST starts in March, when Americans move their clocks ahead one hour. That shifts 60 minutes of sunlight from morning to evening during spring and summer, when daylight lasts longest. DST ends in November, with standard time resuming as daylight hours shorten.
Not everyone likes switching back and forth from DST though. Critics say changing the clocks is harmful to people’s health. Some of them want to get rid of DST entirely, while others want it to last year-round.
Members of the U.S.
Still, some people think the current time setup works best. They say using DST only in the spring and summer encourages people to be more active during those seasons, while still maximizing daylight hours in the fall and winter.
Two experts—a