Spring Ahead: Here’s When We Change Our Clocks Forward

In just a few short weeks, Illinoisans will be taking part in that ritual that so many people hate having to do: clock changing. In this case, setting clocks ahead by an hour.

Won't it be nice when this twice-annual tradition goes the way of the dinosaurs?

In Illinois (and most of the United States), Daylight Saving Time (DST) will begin at 2am on Sunday, March 8th, when clocks are set ahead one hour, meaning we all get to lose an hour of sleep but gain some extra daylight in the evenings. The fall return to standard time is scheduled for November 1st, 2026.

This up close and personal interaction with our clocks has been part of our lives for decades now, after being widely adopted during World War I and later standardized with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, but its overall usefulness and impact on our health have become hot topics again.

If You Would Love To Say Goodbye To Springing Forward And Falling Back, You Are Far From Being Alone

Year after year, polls show a strong public wish for ending twice per year clock changing. For example, a Gallup poll in recent years found that a majority of Americans favor stopping the clock changes, with more supporting permanent standard time than permanent DST. Many survey respondents said that they see the ritual as antiquated, and in need of changing.

Losing that hour of sleep each spring is more than just annoying. It's a health problem for many. The shift to DST has been associated with spikes in heart attacks, workplace accidents, and traffic collisions in the days following the change. Scientists point out that even a one-hour shift can misalign our internal body clocks (the circadian rhythm) with the sun’s cycle, affecting sleep quality and overall health.

So, What Are We Doing About Getting Rid Of Twice-Annual Clock Changing?

Here in Illinois, lawmakers have been debating just what to do. One proposal (House Bill 1400) would make Daylight Saving Time permanent year-round, meaning no more springing forward or falling back, if and when federal law allows it. Another recent bill would have Illinois shift to permanent standard time, but only if neighboring states do the same.

At the national level, the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST permanent across the US, has passed the Senate but never cleared the House. Meanwhile, states like Arizona and Hawaii already don’t observe DST at all under existing law.

Medical experts, including sleep scientists and organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, argue that permanent standard time is actually better for human health because it aligns more closely with our natural sleep cycles. Permanent DST, while offering longer evening light in the winter, would make mornings darker, especially in winter, which isn’t ideal for early risers and school kids.