Daylight Saving Time 2024: When Will Montana Spring Forward?

Here we go again. With a new year comes something that I dread every year. The annual turning your clocks ahead an hour in the spring. I know that I may sound like a broken record when it comes to this event, but I despise changing clocks. As I get older and have to wake early as it is, it takes me longer and longer to adjust. It has also been medically proven that changing the clocks is dangerous for multiple reasons.

Montana Has the Legislation To Stay in Daylight Saving Time

Montana passed legislation in 2021 that would do away with changing our clocks, but there needs to be other states involved before that will happen. The legislation would have Montana stay in Daylight Saving Time year round. I fully support that decision. According to the Sleepfoundation.org, some of our neighbors have also passed legislation to do the same. Idaho and Wyoming have legislation passed, while North and South Dakota haven't passed any regulations, yet.

There is a list of negative things that can happen with changing clocks twice a year. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, here are some of the things that happen.

There is a spike in hospital visits.

There is a spike in workplace accidents according to the American Psychological Association.

There is a spike in heart attacks.

More fatal car accidents happen.

Turning your clocks ahead means less sleep. 

When it was proposed in 1784 it was proposed as an energy saver. That's not the case anymore, more people stay up later, so that means more air conditioning, or heat if needed, or televisions.

Turn Your Clocks Ahead in Early March

Daylight Saving Times go into effect again in Montana on Sunday March 10, at 2:00am. These days it seems there are less actual clocks that need the time to be changed physically. Many appliances, televisions, phones, computers, etc. change the time automatically. I am still "old school" and have multiple clocks I have to manually change the time. Including my alarm clock. Yes, I really do still have an alarm clock.

Tips to Help Adjust to One Hour Less Sleep

Here are some tips to help you transition with Daylight Savings Time from Sleepeducation.org:

• Gradually adjust your sleep time leading up to the time change.
• Spend some time outside on Sunday morning after the time change.
• Get plenty of sleep on Sunday night, preparing for the week ahead.

For the time being Montana will to continue to "Spring Forward". I will be trying to follow some of the tips this year, maybe it won't be so bad. Who am I kidding, I know it will be rough getting out of bed on Monday March 11th.