I won’t lie—I enjoyed the extra daylight tonight. It’s nice to have more time outside after work, to take a longer walk, work in the yard, or just to feel like the day isn’t over too soon. But is all this clock-changing really worth it?

The U.S. has been observing daylight saving time since 1918, with the passage of the Standard Time Act. It was an effort to extend summertime daylight hours by pushing off sunset an hour.

Spring forward. Fall back. That’s how I remember. And every year people struggle—oversleeping, showing up late, or just feeling off. I struggle and even went to bed early last night and still had a cup of coffee at Noon to boost my energy. A few people I talked to said their mornings were a mess—extra sleep, more confusion. It happens every year, yet we still go through the motions. But why?

I was listening to NPR and reading a few other sources, and it turns out daylight saving time isn’t just about losing an hour of sleep. The effects go beyond that. Research shows that in the days after the time change, accidents spike, and routines get thrown off.

The Hidden Costs of Losing an Hour

The American Heart Association points out that heart attacks and strokes rise in the days after the time change. A few other sites stated the same Researchers have tracked this pattern year after year, which makes you wonder—why are we still doing this?

And it’s not just health. NPR reported that car accidents increase as tired drivers hit the road. Workplaces see more injuries. Even mental health takes a hit.

The Monday Morning Mess

People forget, hit snooze more, and feel out of sync all day. Employers deal with sluggish workers, and schools are full of tired students. It’s a mess, and we do it year after year.

Does DST Have Any Benefits?

Sure, longer daylight in the evening is nice. More time outside, more business for restaurants and shops. Some studies claim it saves energy, but I'm learning the actual impact is tiny. So, is that extra daylight really worth it?

Is It Time to Move On?

Some places never adopted daylight saving time. Others have ditched it altogether. In the U.S., Hawaii doesn’t use it. Arizona skips it too. But the rest of us are still changing clocks like it’s 1918.

Some say we should stay on standard time, others want daylight saving time year-round. But plenty of people just want to be done with the whole thing.

Is it time to stop messing with the clocks for good?

What do you think—should we keep it or do something different?