As the clocks prepare to spring forward an hour at 2 AM on Sunday, March 23, 2025, the debate over daylight saving time (DST) continues to intensify across the United States. Many Americans are finding themselves at odds with this semiannual ritual. According to a recent January Gallup poll, 54% of adults now prefer to abolish DST altogether, favoring a shift to standard time year-round — a significant drop from the 73% who supported DST when polled back in 1999.
Originally implemented in 1918 as a measure to conserve energy, daylight saving time is designed to extend evening daylight by moving the clocks forward in the spring and returning to standard time in the fall. However, this centuries-old practice is increasingly scrutinized for its impact on public health and safety. The move to adjust our clocks not only disrupts daily routines, it may contribute to increased risks of accidents and health complications, according to sleep experts.
Deepa Berman, a pediatrician and sleep medicine specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, emphasizes that the body’s natural rhythms are profoundly disrupted by changing the clocks. She states, “The way our internal body clock is set up is that in the morning, it wants light, and in the evening, it wants darkness.” Berman argues that this disruption can be more severe than the effects experienced from jet lag, leading to negative consequences such as heightened levels of sleep deprivation among the population.
Moreover, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine corroborates these findings, arguing that the practice of changing the clocks can have long-term repercussions on our circadian rhythms. The transitional period, experts warn, can foster a myriad of complications such as sleep disorders and a spike in accidents immediately following the time shift. While some individuals might optimistic about gaining that hour of sunlight in the evenings, many others are adapting poorly. Berman comments, “Unfortunately, life happens, and not everyone is able to” reallocate time to get more shut-eye, highlighting the pervasive issue of insufficient sleep in contemporary society.
Interestingly, while the debate arguably rages in the US, the practice of daylight saving is observed under varying sentiments in other parts of the world as well. For instance, in Australia, daylight saving occurs for six months each year, ending on the first Sunday in April. In 2025, Australians will set their clocks back an hour on April 6, regaining that hour of sleep. However, only five out of the eight Australian states and territories observe this shift, with regions like Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia opting out.
The differences in opinion on daylight saving time may partly stem from how individuals experience the time change across different geographic and cultural contexts. In places such as Pittsburgh, post-DST sunsets arrive at a respectable hour of 7:54 PM at the peak of summer, allowing for ample evening activity, yet early risers contend with sunrises as early as 4:50 AM. Comparatively, residents in Providence, Rhode Island, see their longest days yield a 7:24 PM sunset, with the sun rising at 4:10 AM, illuminating the challenges posed by the abrupt transition and how it can affect one’s daily routine.
The push for maintaining a more stable time condition free from the disruptive changes of DST is growing louder. As health experts herald the dangers of sleep deprivation and the adverse effects on mental and physical health that come with the twice-a-year clock adjustment, many citizens are rallying for permanent standard time. With opinions shifting and more individuals expressing dissatisfaction with the traditional spring-forward, perhaps change may be on the horizon.
In practical terms, people are left to question whether the benefits of extending evening daylight outbalance the toll that shifting sleep schedules take on society. Advocates for abolishing standard time argue that while a longer day may indeed encourage more outdoor activities, it should not come at the cost of health and wellbeing. The notion of eliminating DST altogether in favor of a consistent schedule resonates strongly with those desperate for a solution to chronic sleep deficits and the myriad of issues tied to sleep loss.
Looking ahead, as the Sunday clock change looms closer, millions will once again be thrust into the chaos of disrupted schedules, sleep patterns, and the escalated risk of health complications. Will the push for permanent standard time gain enough traction to turn rhetoric into policy? As governments and organizations weigh the pros and cons, one thing is clear: the conversation around daylight saving time is far from over.
