The official start of spring is a few weeks out but this weekend marks the unofficial beginning of the season with the return of daylight saving time on Sunday, March 9.
At 2 a.m. on Sunday morning our clocks will spring forward an hour, meaning we’ll all lose an hour of sleep. While less sleep is never a good thing, the time change also means more hours of daylight as the sun sets later and later.
But just what is daylight saving time anyway, and why does it exist in the first place? Here’s the breakdown of daylight saving time in Chicago.
A brief history
The invention of daylight saving time is frequently credited to Benjamin Franklin, according to NASA. The concept was first introduced in the U.S. at a national level in 1918, according to Time and Date.
The central goal of daylight saving is simple: to make the most of the daylight hours throughout the changing seasons.
Where is daylight saving time observed?
While daylight saving time is observed in much of the U.S., certain states opt out of the time change altogether. Both Hawaii and most parts of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Additionally, Indiana largely opted out of the practice until 2007.
In recent years, a number of states have passed legislation that would institute a permanent switch to daylight saving hours, meaning we would no longer set the clocks back come fall.
Ultimately the decision to institute such a change rests in the hands of Congress.
How to prepare for the change
Springing forward can throw off your sleep schedule and cause other impacts to your day-to-day health. According to Northwestern Medicine, the change is linked to an increased risk of depression, slowed metabolism, headaches, and weight gain.
Here are some tips for staying well rested and healthy during the transition.
- Keep a sleep routine – Northwestern Medicine recommends aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. The night before daylight saving starts, it’s a good idea to go to sleep an hour earlier than you normally would.
- Soak up the morning sun – In the days leading up to the time change, Northwestern Medicine recommends heading outside and getting some sunlight in the morning hours. This can help preserve the circadian rhythm and lead to sounder sleep.
- Avoid sleep disturbances – It’s best to avoid sleep disturbances to ensure a restful night. This includes caffeine, blue light exposure from screens, and alcohol consumption in the hours before bedtime.
- Get some exercise – Another great way to boost your sleep routine is to get some exercise. Physical activity increases your body temperature, which can increase wakefulness and help reset your internal clock, according to Northwestern Medicine.