Daylight Saving Time: Facts, springing forward tips as we move clocks ahead an hour

It's time to spring forward. Most people in the U.S. will move their clocks ahead one hour before going to bed tonight (March 12 overn...

It's time to spring forward.

Most people in the U.S. will move their clocks ahead one hour before going to bed tonight (March 12 overnight to March 13) to mark the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. The official start of Daylight Saving Time, or DST, is 2 a.m., when the clocks will move one hour ahead. It will end on Nov. 6 at 2 a.m.

Note: The official name is "Daylight Saving Time," not "Daylight Savings Time" or "Daylight Saving's Time" though more people search online for the latter two terms than the first.

Daylight Saving Time: When does it start, history, what it is and more

Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday (March 13) , so you need to remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to be Saturday night.

The idea of Daylight Saving Time, or as it is referred to in some places  "Summer Time," dates back to Benjamin Franklin, though the U.S. didn't first implement it until World War I to save fuel by reducing the need to use artificial lighting. DST didn't continue after the war ended until – you guessed it – the next world war, when it was enforced during World War II and continued to be in place until three weeks after the war ended.

It was almost 20 years until the practice became standard in the U.S., when Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In the U.S., Hawaii and most of Arizona, as well as American territories, don't observe DST.

Health concerns and tips

Studies have shown the switch to DST results in more traffic and workplace accidents and even an uptick in heart attacks.

Here's what the experts suggest to make the transition to Daylight Saving Time easier:

• Move your clock forward early, say 8 or 9 p.m. then go to bed at your normal time. You're giving up an hour during the day but will stay on schedule sleep wise.
• Skip the snooze button. Keeping a good routine when going to bed and waking is key to an easier transition. One day a year of change isn't enough to mess up your schedule as long as it isn't routine.
• Get plenty of sunlight once you are awake. Daylight is a cue to your internal clock to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy.
• If you're sensitive to the time change, don't overschedule yourself the first few days. Doing too much can make those feelings of fatigue even worse.
• Be extra careful on the road. The darker part of the day now falls in the morning hours and people may be tired. It's a good time to play it extra safe on the roads.

via al.com