Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here’s what to know and how to ease the change

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday

Most of America will turn clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, marking the end of daylight saving time and the return to standard time.

Background of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight saving time began on March 9 this year and was introduced in 1918 to conserve fuel during World War I. Since then, public support for the system has declined. According to a recent AP-NORC poll, less than half of adults favor daylight saving time, while 47% oppose it. All states except Arizona and Hawaii currently observe the time change.

How to Ease the Transition

Kenneth Lee, a neurologist specializing in sleep medicine and medical director of the University of Chicago Medicine’s Sleep Center, advises making gradual adjustments before the switch:

Begin moving your bedtime back by 15 to 20 minutes each night for a few nights before Sunday.
Change your clock on Saturday evening to help acclimate to the time shift.
Adjust other daily routines like meal times and coffee intake to align with the new schedule.

“I recommend pushing back bedtime a few nights before Sunday for 15 to 20 minutes each night,” Lee said. “Change the clock on Saturday evening so you are acclimated to it.”

Lee cautions against increasing caffeine consumption during this period as it can disrupt sleep. For parents with young children, he suggests the same gradual approach to help them adjust smoothly.

“For parents with young kids, I recommend an incremental shift by changing the clock early and pushing bedtime back several nights prior,” said Lee, who has two young sons.

Author’s summary: Gradually shifting bedtime and adjusting clocks early can help ease the shift from daylight saving to standard time, minimizing sleep disruption.

Northern Public Radio — 2025-11-01