Daylight Saving Time 2026 Starts This Weekend: How to Prepare for the Clock Change?

Daylight Saving Time is set to begin across most of the United States this weekend, bringing the annual clock change that shifts time forward by one hour. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, clocks will move ahead to 3 a.m., meaning Americans will lose an hour of sleep overnight but gain more daylight in the evening. 

The change marks the start of the Daylight Saving period, which continues through much of the year before clocks return to standard time in the fall. While many digital devices such as smartphones update automatically, the shift can still affect sleep patterns and daily routines. Experts recommend taking a few steps ahead of time to help make the transition smoother.

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When Does Daylight Saving Time Start?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts on the second Sunday of March every year in the United States for 2026, this will be on March 8 at 2 AM, when the clocks will be set forward one hour.

This change will create an evening with more daylight but a morning with less light; therefore, DST will be in effect until November 1, 2026, when clocks will revert to standard time.

How to Prepare for the Clock Change?

Adjusting Your Sleep Schedule

Sleep specialists recommend preparing your sleep schedule prior to DST by adjusting your sleep and wake times in 15-20 minutes increments per night for several days before the time change occurs. This will make it easier for your body to adjust to having one hour less sleep than it had before the time change occurred.

Having a consistent bedtime routine and limiting the use of electronic devices and heavy meals late in the evening will help improve your overall sleep quality during this transition.

Preparing Kids for the Time Change

The world around us changes, and at times, our children don't react as quickly to these changes.So if you have a child, you may have noticed that they are getting tense and sleepy on the first day of the time change.

There is a way to make this transition easier for your child, and that is to begin making gradual adjustments to their bedtime and wake-up times well in advance of the time change.

Keep your child's daily routine as unchanged as possible which includes having dinner, bath time, and bedtime at about the same time every day, and try to give them as long as possible to sleep so they will be ready for the new time.

Safety Devices At Home

Many safety groups have said that this is a good time of year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they are working properly. 

You should take this time of year as an opportunity to test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to make sure they continue to work correctly and always keep you and your family safe at home.