Do This Now to Prepare for Daylight Saving Time.
This coming weekend, almost everyone in the United States will switch from standard time to daylight saving time . Unfortunately, the proposal to maintain the same time zone year-round never came to fruition , so these “spring time changes” and “fall time changes” will continue for the foreseeable future. Here’s how to prepare.
Find out when and how clocks will change before Daylight Saving Time.
Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8th. At that time, we’ll set our clocks to, say, 3:00 AM, thus losing an hour (since there’s never an hour between 2:00 and 3:00 AM). If you’re wondering, “Why 2:00 AM?” it’s reportedly because it was a dead time in the railway schedule back when railways played a vital role in the national timekeeping system.
In the past, you had to know before bed on Saturday night (or after waking up on Sunday morning) to change your clocks. Now, most of our devices automatically update the time while you sleep. You just need to know it’s happening so you don’t wonder why you slept an hour later or, conversely, why you woke up to your alarm but still felt sleep-deprived. (You’ll probably still need to change a few clocks, like the clock on your microwave.) Set a reminder now if you think you’ll need one.
Before switching to daylight saving time, be sure to check the times for remote meetings.
While most of the United States changes its clocks simultaneously, parts of Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and most other island territories do not. Further confusion is caused by the fact that some countries outside the United States observe their own daylight saving time, which does not coincide with ours. Most of Europe will wait until March 29th to change its clocks.
Complicating matters further, countries in the Southern Hemisphere that change their clocks will do so in the opposite direction—for example, Chile will move its clocks back an hour (as we do in the fall) on April 4. So, if you’re planning an international call or event in the next few weeks, make sure everyone is using digital calendars or use a tool like this meeting planner using world clock to confirm the correct time.
Start preparing your children and pets for Daylight Saving Time now.
Pets and children may not be able to read the clock, but they know exactly when it’s time to feed or wake up. This can create difficulties: on Monday morning, the clock will show 8 AM, even though it still feels like 7 AM. You might have trouble waking the kids in time for the school bus, and your dog might not be ready for feeding and walks at the usual times.
So start adjusting their schedule (and your own!) right now. Set alarms 15 minutes earlier for everyone, and a little earlier in a day or two. Do the same with your pets’ feeding schedule and anything else that needs to be changed. By next week, the “new” time won’t be such a shock.
Tie these six-month chores to the time change.
Smoke alarms typically need to be checked or their batteries replaced every six months, so the change to daylight saving time is a good reminder. Here’s a list of other household chores you can tie in with daylight saving time, such as switching ceiling fans (downward in winter and upward in summer).
Adjust your sleep schedule in anticipation of daylight saving time.
If you’re losing an hour of sleep, it’s time to make the most of the remaining sleep. Now is the time to review any sleep hygiene tips you may not be following. Set a bedtime and make time for yourself to unwind before bed: dim the lights, do quiet activities in the dark. Keep your bedroom dark and cool, and if possible, plan a morning walk outside.