Here's When Daylight Saving Time Starts, Clocks Change, In MD

MARYLAND — Whether you are happy to lose an hour of sleep to gain an hour of sunlight in the evening or dread the time change, daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 13, across most of the country — including Maryland.

And as you set your clocks ahead, you might be feeling like that extra hour of daylight will help usher in spring. But Maryland's weather this weekend will have a decidedly wintry start, with a high of 29 and snow showers Saturday.

Saturday night also brings a chance of snow and a low of 19. Sunday — the first day of daylight saving time — will be cloudy with a high of only 39 degrees.

And although "springing forward" is often associated with the beginning of spring, the vernal equinox doesn't occur for another week, on March 20. Daylight saving time ends this year on Sunday, Nov. 6, when clocks will "fall back" an hour.

A move is under way in the Maryland Legislature to end the yearly change of clocks.

Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. March 13. The practice involves moving clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months and changing them back again in the fall. This year, daylight saving time ends on Nov. 6.

The Maryland House of Delegates approved HB126, which would keep daylight saving time permanent, on Feb. 17. Lawmaker Brian Crosby, who has pushed for the legislation, said ending the biannual clock-change will "keep our circadian rhythms healthy, lower crime, and help small businesses. I look forward to seeing this bill pass in the Senate."

The bill, if approved by the state Senate, would make daylight saving time permanent only when all Maryland's neighboring states enact the same legislation and the federal government adopts the measure, WTOP reported.

The purpose of daylight saving time is to make better use of natural daylight; however, not every state observes it.

Hawaii doesn't follow daylight saving time, nor do the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of Arizona skips the time change.

Daylight saving time has been around since World War I. But it became the law of the land more than 50 years ago with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, though the exact dates — now the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November — have changed some over the years.

Proponents may argue that longer evenings motivate people to get out of the house. The extra hour of daylight can be used for outdoor recreation such as golf, soccer, baseball, running and more. It also benefits the tourism industry.

However, critics say the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. The time change can mess with our body clocks and circadian rhythms, making for some restless nights and sleepy days. It also is difficult to quantify the economic cost of the collective tiredness caused by daylight saving time, but studies have found a decrease in productivity after the spring transition.

Tips To Adjust To Time Change

So, what are the best ways to avoid sleep deprivation when the clocks change? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this already affects about one-third of adults in the United States. Here are some tips:

• You know it's coming. Go to bed an hour early Saturday, and make sure you get seven to eight hours of sleep.
• Get the kids to bed early, too. They pay more attention to their internal clocks than timepieces, so implement the routine Saturday night to help them adjust to the brighter-than-usual bedtime, so they'll be set up for a good night's sleep before school Monday.
• Be patient with the kids. They may throw temper tantrums or show signs of frustration, but it's usually short-lived. Adults can also be cranky during the first several days after the time switch. You'll get over it, too.
• New baby? Pretend nothing has changed. That means taking the baby outside, even if it's cold, to help the baby's internal clock adjust. Getting 30 minutes of sunlight first thing in the morning will help you, too.
• Limit your vices. That shot of booze may seem like a good idea, but it will fragment your sleep. And, of course, limit your caffeine intake in the late afternoon and evening. Chamomile tea or a glass of warm milk is a better choice.
• Don't eat a big meal right before bedtime, either.
• If you are using the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day for exercise, make sure your session ends at least three hours before bedtime, because the energy boost that exercise gives you can cause insomnia.
• Wind down with a relaxing activity, such as a warm bath or shower, gentle stretching, or yoga.
• Let the sun shine in. Experts say that pulling back the curtains and allowing the sun to shine in the windows in the morning improves alertness during the day. You're also more likely to feel sleepy when it is time to go to bed.
• Turn off the bright lights an hour or two before you go to bed — yes, even the television, your computer and other electronic devices. Read a relaxing book or listen to soothing music instead.
• Don't give in to the urge for a long nap. Take a brief power nap if you need, but longer naps will disrupt your sleep schedule and make it more difficult to adjust to daylight saving time.
• Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary — dark, quiet, well ventilated and at a slightly cooler temperature.