It’s time to turn back the clock. Daylight saving time ends soon in Pennsylvania
Be sure to turn your clocks back by an hour before heading to bed Saturday: Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
The widely reviled tradition carries on in Pennsylvania and much of the U.S., save for Hawaii, most of Arizona and the American territories. In exchange for an extra hour of sleep on a weekend, darkness will arrive an hour sooner for four months.
Most internet-connected devices change their clocks automatically, so there is likely no need to update them. Other household items, like your coffee pot or microwave, might need adjusting, however.
Barring action from Congress or the Pennsylvania legislature, where bills to lock the clock have repeatedly stalled, daylight saving time will resume Sunday, March 8, 2026.
How does daylight saving time affect sleep?
While Pennsylvania residents will gain an hour Sunday, the time change might not actually translate to more sleep.
Only “a minority of people” actually get an extra hour of sleep on the fall night when daylight saving time ends, according to a 2020 article from Harvard Health Publishing.
“During the following week, many people wake up earlier, have more trouble falling asleep, and are more likely to wake up during the night,” the article reads.
The end of daylight saving time has also been linked to other issues, such as increased collisions with deer, a 2022 article published by Current Biology reports.
While you might be less well-rested when the time changes this November, an Oct. 30, 2024, article from Mass General Brigham offers tips on how to reduce sleep loss:
- Try going to bed and waking up a little bit earlier on the few nights leading up to the time change.
- Avoid consuming caffeine after 2 or 3 p.m.
- Consider eating dinner an hour earlier for the next few days.
