This content was originally produced for audio. Certain elements such as tone, sound effects, and music, may not fully capture the intended experience in textual representation. Therefore, the following transcription has been modified for clarity. We recognize not everyone can access the audio podcast. However, for those who can, we encourage subscribing and listening to the original content for a more engaging and immersive experience.
All thoughts and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views held by the institutions with which they are affiliated.
Daylight Saving Time Disrupts Your Body's Internal Clock
Interviewer: There are a lot of jokes out there about spring forward Daylight Saving Time, lose that hour of sleep. Is there actually a significant health impact to losing that hour of sleep? Well, we're going to find out right now.
Dr. Kelly Baron is a clinical psychologist with specialty training in behavioral sleep medicine. Losing this hour of sleep, is it going to affect me?
Dr. Baron: The most interesting thing is that twice a year, we have this Daylight Saving Time, either spring forward or fall back, and it's like a giant experiment in the population about what happens when you gain or lose an hour of sleep. And so what we notice is there's actually an increase in heart attacks, an increase in motor vehicle accidents in the couple of days surrounding that spring forward.
And actually, in the fall, there's the opposite effect, a decrease for a few days. And, you know, I notice that I'm early for things over the fall back and then late a little bit, you know. So it does affect your body's clock. So you lose an hour, but also you're waking up at a time your body thinks you should be sleeping, and in the fall, you enjoy that extra extension of your sleep. And so it's a really good time to bring awareness to what sleep does for our health because everybody feels it so acutely for those few days, and it's across the whole population.
Strategies to Adjust to the Time Change
Interviewer: You know, I think most of us know that sleep's important, but maybe we just kind of don't realize how important it is to our health beyond just feeling a little drowsy the next day if we don't get enough sleep. But, man, your story about the two time changes and how it affects people, that's crazy. So what is a good strategy for dealing with the time change?
Dr. Baron: You're really best off to maintain a consistent schedule, to get up at the same time, because that morning is really the anchor of your sleep schedule. And then, you could even think, if you'd like to, to gradually move your sleep schedule forward. Most people probably aren't going to do that, but the best thing you can really do is not oversleep too much over the weekend of Daylight Saving Time.
Interviewer: How long does it usually take for somebody to kind of acclimate to that time change?
Dr. Baron: It may take you three or four days.
Interviewer: Okay. So don't beat yourself up too much about it.
Dr. Baron: Wednesday or Thursday. I mean, so you're going to be tired in the morning, or maybe you'll be a little bit late to work.
Interviewer: At least you got an excuse once a year, right?
Dr. Baron: Tell them I told you it's okay.
Interviewer: All right. Well, sounds fair, and I think maybe Daylight Savings Time is a good opportunity for all of us, maybe, to reevaluate and take a look at our sleep habits, our sleep schedules, and make sure that we're getting all that healthy sleep that we need.
updated: October 30, 2025
originally published: March 7, 2019
How Daylight Saving Time Affects Your Health and Sleep
When the clocks spring forward, your body pays the price. Learn how to adjust your sleep schedule before the time change, how long it takes to feel normal again, and why consistency is the key to healthy sleep all year long.
Breaking the Stress鈥揝leep Cycle: How to Rest Better in Difficult Times
Stress and sleep have a two-way relationship: stress makes it harder to sleep, and poor sleep makes it harder to handle stress. Learn about strategies to manage stress, improve sleep, and protect both your mental and physical health.
It Takes Me Hours to Fall Asleep鈥擜m I Normal?
Do you ever lie in bed late at night and wonder why it is so hard for you to fall asleep? Learn about potential factors that may exacerbate sleep problems, insights into the role of sleep aids, and therapy to improve your sleep patterns.
