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At 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 6th clocks shifted back for most Americans.  Daylight-saving time (DST) ended in 2022. And if you haven’t already, it’s time to "fall-back” by turning your clocks back an hour. 

Your phone should have updated on its own. But be sure and check the clock in your car and any old-style clocks on the wall.

Daylight-saving time ended and a lot of people are going to miss the extra sunlight experience. 

Fall-back during the World Wars

 70+ countries, across the globe, observe daylight-saving time. This is a practice that started during World War I. And now it seems the momentum is growing to end the practice.

Daylight-saving time ended and a lot of people are going to miss the extra sunlight experience. 

Daylight-saving time was first introduced by Germany during World War I in 1916. It was a measure to conserve energy and allow more usable hours of daylight.

The U.K., France, and the U.S. quickly adopted the practice.  

During World War II, in 1942, DST was again emphasized, as a year-round practice. But it all got confusing when states and regions were free to choose their time changes.

When the Uniform Time Act of 1966 went into effect it was mandated by U.S. law that the clocks were to spring forward on the last Sunday of April. And fall-back was designated for the last Sunday of October.

During the energy crisis of 1973-1974 year-round DST was implemented. And then the annual time shift was reintroduced.

Bring back the Sun

Over the last few years, experts have warned that less sunlight may impact both mental health and peak productivity.

About 1 in 5 Americans report mild cases of the "winter blues" that coincide with the time change. And about 1 in 20 Americans, may be impacted by the seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

SAD symptoms result from too much exposure to the dark and the cold. And not enough time in the sun.

Symptoms of SAD include feeling depressed, disinterested, or low energy. Sleeping and eating too much can also be a sign.  

In many cases these symptoms are seasonal. They appear after the time change and go away during the sunnier spring or summer days.

The bottom line is that people need lots of sunlight to thrive. And 18 states have already enacted legislation or resolutions to keep residents on year-round daylight-saving time. Some of the legislation hasn’t been implemented and needs Congressional approval. But it looks like more of a growing movement is to push an hour in the sun year-round. 

 So, there may come a time when no falling back doesn’t happen anymore.