When Does Daylight Saving Time Start This Year? Things To Know In VA

VIRGINIA — Later sunsets and more time to enjoy outdoor activities at the end of the day are just around the corner in Virginia with the beginning of daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10, when clocks move forward one hour, automatically in the case of clocks on digital devices.

Nothing meaningful has happened legislatively to end the twice-a-year “spring forward” and “fall back” ritual. Many Americans favor year-round daylight saving time, but the legislation has gained little momentum.

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 would have made daylight saving time permanent. Two Republican congressmen, Alabama’s Mike Rogers and South Carolina’s Ralph Norman proposed similar pieces of legislation that would give states the power to permanently remain on daylight saving time.

Dozens of states are considering proposals to adopt either year-round daylight saving time or standard time. In Virginia, a measure was introduced during the 2024 legislative session to exempt the Commonwealth from daylight saving time, making Eastern Daylight Time the time year-round. The bill, HB6, was proposed by Delegate Joseph P. McNamara, but failed to advance this month and is dead for the session.

The bill hinged on the enactment by Congress of a law allowing states to observe Eastern Daylight Time year-round.

States can’t switch to permanent daylight saving time on their own. Neither can they opt out of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which mandated daylight saving time, without either federal approval from the U.S. transportation secretary or an act of Congress.

In their request to opt out, officials from sunny Arizona argued earlier sunsets bring reprieve from sizzling daytime temperatures. Because Hawaii is located so close to the equator, there isn’t much difference in how much sun the islands see at any given time of the year.

Although “springing forward” is often associated with the beginning of spring, the vernal equinox doesn't occur until Tuesday, March 19. Daylight saving time is scheduled to end on Nov. 3.

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.

Who really benefits from the time change?

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 Help Adjust

So, what are the best ways to avoid sleep deprivation? 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.