US clocks fall back one hour, with health impacts forecast

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 23:09 · Archive

Clocks in the US will be set back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, returning to Standard Time.

Clocks in the United States will be set back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, marking the return to Standard Time. After the change, sunrise and sunset times will shift dramatically: the sun will rise at 6:52 a.m. instead of 7:51 a.m., and set at 5:26 p.m. instead of 6:29 p.m.

Health authorities warn of significant impacts from the disruption. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that time changes can lead to disrupted sleep, exhaustion causing greater workplace mistakes and injury, and an increase in heart attacks. Motor vehicle accidents and wildlife accidents have been observed to increase after time changes, as exhausted drivers react more slowly and animals take weeks to adjust to new routines.

Mental health experts note that nearly 40 per cent of Americans report their mood worsens during winter months, with the abruptness of the time change affecting people most severely. Dr Alina Vrincin-Hamm, a psychiatrist with Southern Highlands, said the sudden darkness each evening disrupts sleep schedules, mood and energy. Experts recommend that people prone to seasonal depression begin preparing four days before the change by shifting schedules 15 minutes daily, opening blinds in the morning, maximizing natural light exposure, maintaining consistent routines, exercising, eating balanced meals, and spending time with friends and family. Those experiencing severe depression should seek medical treatment.

How it is being reported

• Experts share tips for easing mental health effects of the time changeClocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. this Sunday as daylight saving time ends. Mental health experts say preparing now can help people prone to seasonal depression.WVVA · 29 Oct, 22:47
• Fall Back: Health impacts of time changes(WOWK) -- Without a bill passing to end time change for the U.S. this year, clocks are set to change at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. The return to Standard Time gives us an extra hour this weekend as we turn clocks back one hour, but it means some impactful changes are coming. On [...]Wowktv · 28 Oct, 16:47

In this story: United States · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health · Southern Highlands · Dr Alina Vrincin-Hamm · AAA

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