Daylight Saving Time 2025 is almost over: Here’s why it still matters
As autumn progresses, Americans will once again partake in the familiar ritual of resetting time — welcoming shorter days and longer nights.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, clocks will "fall back," an hour at 2 a.m., which will become 1 a.m.
The switch will usher in Standard Time, sometimes referred to as winter time , and reverse the extended evening hours of Daylight Saving Time (DST).
At that time, sunrise and sunset will shift an hour earlier, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac .
Standard Time will hold until March 8, while about 65 percent of each year is spent under DST.
Why it still matters — even in a smart device age
While smart phones, smart watches and other "smart" devices adjust the time automatically, the same cannot be said for analog clocks, car radios and older appliances.
These devices still have to be manually adjusted, and forgetting to do so could lead to abrupt schedule confusion.
But beyond practical inconveniences, there's growing scientific evidence that the semiannual time shift isn't just bothersome — it may carry health consequences.
The hidden cost of changing the clocks
Recent research adds to the argument that changing the time twice a year is more than a tradition — it may be a health hazard.
A new study suggests eliminating the biannual shift in favor of permanent Standard Time could prevent more than 300,000 strokes and 2 million cases of obesity annually in the U.S. by better aligning circadian rhythms with natural sunlight.
Other research links time transitions to heightened risks of heart attack, stroke, and disrupted sleep patterns, especially after losing an hour of sleep after the "spring forward" event.
Clock change controversy
While the tradition has been underway for about a century, the practice has become more and more controversial.
In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act , a proposal to make DST permanent. The idea stalled in the House, leaving the status quo in place.
But that hasn't stopped the public from showing their distaste for the practice.
A 2025 Gallup Poll revealed that 54% of Americans want to abandon the clock changes altogether, with 48% favoring permanent Standard Time.
So when Nov. 2 arrives and you reset your clock — manually or automatically — recognize it's more than a quaint tradition.
It's a moment that affects your daily routines, mood and health.
More Business News
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
