Clocks ‘spring forward’ Sunday as daylight saving time begins

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- It’s the time of that year again, when Americans will set their clocks an hour ahead.

Daylight saving time begins 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, when clocks “spring forward” one hour.

With the time change, sleeping habits will change as well. Stephanie Malita, the health educator at the St. Joseph Health Department, said daylight saving time affects sleep because it changes sleep patterns.

“Something like changing our schedule by an hour, and the other thing daylight savings time does is it adds more daylight to our evenings,” she said. “Just having that light in, our atmosphere later in the day is going to kind of throw off our body's triggers, that it’s time to go to sleep.”

Lack of sleep also impacts mood and how people operate on a day-to-day basis.

“Your ability to react physically as well as mentally. It can change your mood. Driving while sleepy is comparable to driving impaired,” she said. “So it really does impact us both physically and mentally.”

Establishing a sleep routine is essential, especially when it comes to preparing for the next day.

"Once you're done with dinner, maybe start doing your prep for the next day. Thinking about 'What am I having for lunch the next day?' and get that ready,” Malita said. "Check the weather, see what you're going wear the next day, and get that ready. About an hour before bedtime, get off your electronics.”

Malita said adults should be getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Children and teens should be getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep.