Clock changes have a way of sneaking up on us—and they can disrupt sleep and daily routines. Here’s everything you need to be prepared for the next clock change.
Why permanent DST might be a trapUpcoming DST Switches in 2026
Recent DST Switches in 2026
The US Wants to Abolish DST—What about EU?
Changing the clocks twice a year remains controversial and continues to prompt political debate on both sides of the Atlantic.
The United States House of Representatives passed a bill in July that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent if enacted. The Sunshine Protection Actreceived bipartisan support , passing by 308 votes to 117.
It is now heading to the Senate, the upper chamber of the United States Congress, where the measure has drawn both support and opposition.
It would push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour (...) kids would either walk to school in the pitch black or schools would have to push back start times.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas
The HillIf approved by the Senate, it would still need to be signed into law by the US President. That won’t necessarily take time, since Donald Trump has repeatedly called for abolishing DST clock changes in the US.
If the Sunshine Protection Act is enacted, most of the United States would cease to change its clocks twice a year and would observe Daylight Saving Time year-round. Areas that currently do not observe DST would not be required to adopt it.
The EU has been stuck on whether to keep or scrap the clock changes since the European Commission proposed ending them in 2018, and the European Parliament backed the plan in 2019—but member states never agreed on a single permanent time because of other political priorities.
In October 2025, Spain announced that it is restarting a push to end clock changes in the European Union. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the current system hardly helps to save energy and has a negative impact on people’s health and lives.
“In all the surveys in which Spaniards and Europeans are asked, the majority are against changing the time,” Sánchez says.
Belgium , and Poland have also voiced their support for abolishing clock changes in Europe.
“Ditching the Switch” and “Churchill” Time
Public opinion on seasonal clock changes differs widely, but several countries have recently scrapped or proposed to scrap their current practice:
I am hopeful that our American neighbors will soon join us in ending disruptive time changes.
British Columbia Premier David Eby
news.gov.bc.ca-
Morocco will abolish DST when the country after turning its clocks back by one hour in September for one last time. Instead, the country is adopting GMT as its new standard time. The change in September means there will no longer be a need for a time change for Ramadan in the future.
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In Canada, both Alberta and British Columbia have decided to adopt permanent DST, eliminating the next scheduled “fall back” change on November 1, 2026.
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In Britain, Labour MP Alex Mayer has proposed something she calls “Churchill Time”: A double British Summer Time system, which involves moving the clocks forward two hours in the summer and one hour in the winter.
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Italian lawmakers are examining the possibility of permanent DST after a campaign to end the twice-yearly clock changes attracted more than 353,000 petition signatures.
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In Bulgaria, political parties have called for abolishing summer time, and citizens agree : Eighty percent of respondents in the 2018 EU poll were negative about the time change.
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Argentina currently does not observe DST, but lawmakers have proposed shifting the country from UTC−3 to UTC−4. Different proposals have considered either a permanent change or seasonal adjustments with supporters arguing that the move would better align official time with daylight and reduce energy use.
Back or Forth?
Millions adjust their clocks for Daylight Saving Time—but it’s easy to forget which way they should move.
DST start and end dates differ by country, although they generally follow a similar pattern: Clocks are usually advanced by one hour during the DST period, which begins in spring and ends in fall. However, since the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the DST schedules are also reversed.
To make it simple, just remember this simple phrase: spring forward, fall back. In other words, you set the clock ahead in spring when DST begins, and back in fall when it ends.
For many people, phones and computers update automatically—so it’s often only wall clocks, watches, and car clocks that need changing.
Tips for Coping with the Clock Change
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Adjust your sleep gradually. Before DST starts, go to bed and wake up 10–15 minutes earlier each day. Before it ends, try going to bed and waking up a bit later each day instead.
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If possible, get some morning light. Step outside early to reset your body clock naturally.
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Limit caffeine. Avoid it late in the day to protect your sleep.
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Keep a consistent routine. Stick to regular sleep and meal times, even on weekends.
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Plan for extra rest. Allow a few days to adapt and avoid heavy schedules.
Frequently Asked DST Questions
What is DST?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward during part of the year to make better use of natural daylight. Changing the clocks does not create extra daylight but instead shifts the time of sunrise and sunsets.
Is Summer Time the Same as DST?
Saying “summer time” instead of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is common in many countries, especially in the United Kingdom. The term winter time is sometimes used instead of standard time, which is the official name for the period without DST.
Is DST bad for your health?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) can mess with our body clock and can trigger underlying health issues. The time change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.