Time change: We "fall back," but that doesn't mean more sleep
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
Clocks "fall back" at 2am Sunday — but sleep experts say that doesn't mean you'll feel more rested.
Why it matters: The shift from daylight saving to standard time can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to poorer sleep, even if you gain an hour.
By the numbers: The average awake time in bed increased 2.2% after last fall's shift to standard time for more than 14,000 Georgia residents who are Oura members, compared to the week prior, the smart ring company tells Axios.
- Resting heart rate also slightly increased by .25%, and sedentary time also rose by 2.32%.
- Georgia Oura members also took fewer steps (-2.61%) and logged less sleep (-.49%) overall the week after the time change.
What we're hearing: Even when people are "gaining time," their internal clocks are still disrupted, Anita Shelgikar, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and neurology professor at University of Michigan Medical School, tells Axios.
State of play: 65% of Americans would like to stop changing their clocks biannually, according to an Economist/YouGov poll of 1,623 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 24–27.
Between the lines: Although many Americans in the poll say they prefer permanent daylight saving time, Shelgikar and other scientists support staying "fallen back" in standard time year-round.
- She says it would keep Americans more aligned with their circadian rhythms.
To ease the time zone transition, Shelgikar recommends relying on environmental cues.
- Get sunlight first thing in the morning.
- Keep regular meal and workout schedules — and not too close to bedtime.
- Make your bedroom dark and cool.
What we're watching: This year at least 35 states have considered or are considering legislation to ditch the twice-a-year clock change.