Spring Forward - Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday

One sure sign of spring is the annual changing of the clock as Daylight Saving Time begins. On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:00 a.m., most states will move their clocks forward one hour, the 103rd anniversary of the Spring time change.

The state of Florida just voted to keep Daylight Saving Time year round, and Arizona and Hawaii don't move clocks forward at all.

CNN researchers came up with the following timeline for the clock change:

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I.

March 19, 1918 - The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. Daylight saving is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States.

1945-1966 - There is no federal law regarding Daylight Saving Time.

1966 - The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes the system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States. The dates are the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. States can exempt themselves from participation.

1974-1975 - Congress extends DLS in order to save energy during the energy crisis.

1986-2006 - Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.

August 8, 2005 - President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of the act will extend Daylight Saving Time starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Don't forget, losing an hour of sleep can be tough on the body, but there are ways you can mitigate the impact, or avoid it altogether. It is too late now to alert you to changing sleep patterns for the week leading up to the day, but there are measures one can take to ease into the change.

Fatigue. Studies suggest that it takes people who work traditional hours several days to fully readjust their sleep schedule after the time change. Researchers report that adapting to the spring time change is more difficult than facing the end of Daylight Saving Time in October.

Accidents. Evidence suggests that time changes increase safety problems at work and at home. For example, studies have documented a 3.5 percent to 10 percent increase in traffic crashes during the week that follows the time change.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that in addition to going to bed early, you should also adjust daily routines that are “time cues” for your body. For example, eating dinner a touch earlier each evening.

Set your clocks to spring forward early Saturday evening, then go to sleep at your “regular” bedtime. By doing so, you’re basically spring forwarding your sleep one night earlier. Stick to your normal bedtime on Sunday too.

Try to catch some rays in the early morning sunlight on Sunday.

California and 25 other states are currently looking at making daylight saving time permanent just as most of Arizona and parts of Hawaii have done. The voters in California sent a message to the state they wanted this to happen, now it is up to Congress to make it official should it come before them.

It is also a great reminder to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.

The shift in time may mean that you’re now driving home while the day is still bright. Make sure you’ve got a pair of sunglasses in the car.