Get Ready to 'Fall Back': Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:12:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As daylight saving time concludes this Sunday, Americans will enjoy an extra hour of sleep. However, adjusting to the time change poses health challenges, prompting experts to call for a permanent standard time.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, bringing an extra hour of sleep for many. Nevertheless, health experts warn of the negative impacts of time changes on our circadian rhythms. Research suggests adopting a permanent standard time could be beneficial. Morning light exposure is critical for transitioning smoothly. While some states like Arizona and Hawaii don't observe daylight saving time, the debate on its future continues in Congress with proposed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent.

Prepare for an additional hour of slumber as the United States prepares to fall back into standard time this Sunday. At 2 a.m. local time, clocks will retreat one hour, granting many the chance for a luxurious sleep-in. However, experts advise that exposure to morning sunlight is essential to realign your internal body clock swiftly.

As many are aware, the transition to standard time will last until March 8, when Americans will once again advance their clocks forward for daylight saving time. While generally welcomed for the extra hour of sleep in the fall, many people lament the loss of daylight in the evening, which can affect outdoor activities after work or school.

The twice-yearly clock switch continues to generate discontent among the public. Data suggests that the springtime adjustment, where an hour is lost, often leads to negative health outcomes such as increased rates of heart attacks and car accidents. Health organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have been advocating for a year-round standard time to mitigate these issues.

Recent research from Stanford University corroborates these concerns, asserting that the biannual clock changes create mismatches between our natural biological rhythms and daily life. The study suggests that sticking with either daylight saving time or standard time minimally improves health, with permanent standard time showing slightly more benefits aligned with our circadian rhythm.

Experts emphasize the importance of morning light exposure to regulate our circadian systems effectively. Jamie Zeitzer, co-director of Stanford's Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, describes our internal clock as a conductor of an orchestra, where all of our body's organs must play in harmony to promote optimal health.

For many, adjusting to the time changes can be challenging. As work and school schedules don't shift with the clock, even a one-hour difference can disrupt sleep patterns. Individuals are encouraged to acclimate by gradually adjusting their bedtimes prior to the change while maximizing morning light exposure, either outdoors or through windows.

As legislative debates around the future of daylight saving time persist, one proposal, the Sunshine Protection Act, which aims to eliminate the biannual clock shifting has faced hurdles in Congress.