Why do We Set Our clocks Back?

Remember to Set Your Clocks Back!

You know the old saying: spring forward... fall back.

During Daylight Saving Time, which begins in the spring, clocks are turned forward an hour, shifting an hour of light from the morning to the evening. When Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall, clocks are then set back an hour.

In the United States, Daylight Saving Time began on Sunday, March 8 and will revert to Standard Time on Sunday, November 1. Time changes in the United States take place at 2:00 a.m. local time.

In the European Union, Summertime began on Sunday, March 29, 2009 and will end on Sunday, October 25. Time changes take place at 1:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Unlike the United States where time switches are staggered according to local time, all time zones in the European Union change at the same moment.

Feelings about Daylight Saving Time range from loving it to hating it, and you'll be given several opportunities to express your own opinions below. Many complaints deal with the inconvenience of changing numerous clocks and adjusting to a new sleep schedule. People who suffer with sleep disorders seem to find the bi-annual transitions more difficult. And according to one study, there is a spike in heart attacks during the first week of Daylight Saving Time. There is also evidence that work productivity decreases as people adjust to a time change. For most people, however, Daylight Saving Time is merely a nuisance outweighed by other positive factors like additional daylight in the summer.

Incidentally, the correct term is daylight saving time, not daylight savings time. If you had it wrong, don't feel bad. More people Google the incorrect phrase than the correct one!