Summer time is almost over. Here's how to know when to resort

So get ready to release Cher's If I Could Turn Back Time, the unofficial soundtrack to the annual ritual of the end of daylight saving time. As fall officially arrives here in the Northern Hemisphere, it's almost time to turn back the clock and mentally prepare for the afternoon darkness.

The return of standard time occurs in the fall and involves turning the clocks back one hour – earning it the humorous motto “falling back.”

It can be a confusing experience as people across most of the country move their clocks and try to adjust to a new schedule. Here's what you need to know about the fall time change.

When does summer time end?

Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. local time. For 2024 this is November 3rd. Put a reminder on your calendar to change any clocks that don't change automatically. Many people find it helpful to change their clocks right before bed rather than the next morning. As you make calendar updates, plan for Sunday, March 9, to mark the start of Daylight Saving Time in 2025.

Standard Time vs. Daylight Saving Time

Standardization of time has a long and complicated history in the United States. The growth of railroads in America sparked the creation of time zones in 1883. Daylight saving time was officially established in 1918, but alternated and was applied inconsistently across the country until the implementation of the Uniform Time Act in 1966. “Motivated by improvements in transportation, this law prescribes standard time within existing time zones and establishes a permanent system of uniform daylight saving time, including the dates and times for twice-yearly transitions,” the Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in a history of the time zones.

Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii observe standard time year-round. The rest of the country has to deal with the effects of the semi-annual time change. It's not just your sleeping habits that can suffer. The change to daylight saving time has many effects on your health.

The specific dates for Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time may change each year. Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The National Institute of Standards and Technology crunched the numbers and reported that Daylight Saving Time is in effect for 238 days, or about 65% of the year. This may make daylight saving time seem more normal than standard time, but we'll stick with historical terminology.

Will we ever get rid of the time change?

Time changes are controversial. Many people find the change difficult, especially when an hour is lost in the spring with daylight saving time. Here are ways to help you calm down after an hour of sleep. Proponents of daylight saving time say it saves energy during warmer months and provides longer “usable” daylight hours for outdoor activities. However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has called for a year-round standard time to best align with human circadian biology.

Politicians have made efforts to end the time change nationally, but nothing has yet been enacted into law and there is debate about whether daylight saving time or standard time would be better. The US Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022 – a bipartisan bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, but that's about it. “This ritual of changing the time twice a year is stupid,” Sen. Marco Rubio, a co-sponsor of the bill, said in 2023. Rubio continues to push the legislation, but there is no sign of progress in 2024.

Dealing with the fall time change

The “fallback” time change is usually considered the good time change because it seems like you are getting an extra hour of sleep. This only works if you can ignore your usual wake-up time and sleep in on Sunday.

Check out these tips to combat tiredness after a time change. Building good sleep habits shouldn't be limited to time changes. Work on maintaining a healthy sleep schedule throughout the year and the annoying clock changes won't bother you as much. If Congress doesn't get going, we'll be stuck with jumping forward and retreating for the foreseeable future.