Falling Back 2018

Daylight Savings Time – USA

The fallback of time from Daylight Savings Time (DST) is a reminder of the fall season and holidays approaching. You’ll have a chance to recoup the hour of sleep you lost March 11th.

What to Do

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, November 4^th. You’ll need to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. Remember Spring Forward – Fallback!

Is There a Downside to DST?

Besides some folks just not liking it period, according to Dr. Anthony Komaroff, executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter, there are side effects including problems falling asleep and restless nights. Yes, I wonder what they’re thinking. Children going to bus stops in the dark. Really can’t anyone see the danger in this?

How it started

We’ve got to blame someone for this idea – right? According to the National Geographic, New Zealand’s entomologist George Hudson came up with the idea. Why? He wanted to go bug hunting.

In the U.S., Daylight Savings Time (DST) was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918.

In the United States, the idea was pitched as a way to help farmers with crops and harvesting. Growing up on a farm, I can tell you the hands on the clock meant nothing to the farmer/rancher. The grind was from sunrise to sundown and most times during the night for a calf birthing or shooting a possum who had found a way into the chicken coop, invasion by wolfs, bobcats and/or coyotes. In reality, it was department stores behind the push for adjusting clocks, looking for another hour of shopping time in the afternoon and evenings.

Others have argued that DST saves energy. A 1975 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation showed that DST accounted for a savings of about one percent a day in electricity use.

While most of the country and about 40 percent of the world use DST, there are some exceptions. Two states – Arizona and Hawaii – and several territories don’t fall back or spring forward with DST.

Will We Keep It?

Just how important is this in the grand scheme of things? Like it – hate it –until Congress moves and the clock continues to tick on that one, Daylight Savings Time is here to stay.

NOTE: It’s likely that most U.S. states will continue the practice of changing the clock twice a year, though some state legislatures have discussed ending the practice.

Californians will vote Nov. 6 on a proposition to keep Daylight Saving Time year-round. Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill passed overwhelmingly by the Florida Legislature that would keep the Sunshine State on DST year-round.

Bottom Line

Set your clock back an hour this November 4^th and enjoy the festivities of the season. Want to make a change? Contact people who can make a difference – your area Congressman/Congresswoman. Remember they serve at your pleasure.

I look forward to learning your preferences about Daylight Savings Time. Thank you for following my blog and reading my books. Hope you’ll check out my “About Page” to learn more about my books and writing life.

I’ll be writing and sharing on social media. Hope to see you there, too! Carolyn Bowen