Daylight Saving Time Starts: When Will Sun Set Sunday In NYC?

NEW YORK CITY — Clocks “spring forward” Sunday for the beginning of daylight saving time, and that means an extra hour of sunshine at the end of the day for the next nine months. The sun will set at 6:57 p.m. Sunday evening in the Big Apple.

Keep in mind that sunrise will be an hour later than you’re accustomed to with the beginning of daylight saving time. Sunrise Monday is at 7:13 a.m. local time.

Although the switch to daylight saving time is often associated with the beginning of spring, the vernal equinox doesn't occur until Tuesday, March 19.

This year, daylight saving time will last from 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10, until 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. Only two states — Hawaii and most of Arizona — have opted out of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which mandated daylight saving time.

The Time Act could be changed to allow for year-round daylight saving time, as legislation passed in the Senate last year provides. Or it could eliminate it altogether in favor of year-round standard time, as some representatives in the House have suggested. The Sunshine Protection Act hasn’t budged since the Senate passed it through in early 2022.

Last year, New York Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara reintroduced a bill to continue daylight saving time year-round should Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont pass similar legislation. That bill reportedly died in committee. A similar bill was introduced by two other New York senators, Sens. James Skouflis and James Seward, in 2020.

“Switching in and out of daylight saving time is an antiquated back-and-forth that’s rooted in World War I history and is nothing short of annoying,” Skouflis said in a statement at the time.

Who Benefits From the Time Change?

Proponents may argue that longer evenings motivate people to get out of the house. The extra hour of daylight can be used for outdoor recreation such as golf, soccer, baseball, running and more. It also benefits the tourism industry.

However, critics say the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. The time change can mess with our body clocks and circadian rhythms, making for some restless nights and sleepy days. It also is difficult to quantify the economic cost of the collective tiredness caused by daylight saving time, but studies have found a decrease in productivity after the spring transition.

Tips To Help Adjust

So, what are the best ways to avoid sleep deprivation? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this already affects about one-third of adults in the United States. Here are some tips:

• You know it's coming. Go to bed an hour early Saturday, and make sure you get seven to eight hours of sleep.
• Get the kids to bed early, too. They pay more attention to their internal clocks than timepieces, so implement the routine Saturday night to help them adjust to the brighter-than-usual bedtime, so they'll be set up for a good night's sleep before school Monday.
• Be patient with the kids. They may throw temper tantrums or show signs of frustration, but it's usually short-lived. Adults can also be cranky during the first several days after the time switch. You'll get over it, too.
• New baby? Pretend nothing has changed. That means taking the baby outside, even if it's cold, to help the baby's internal clock adjust. Getting 30 minutes of sunlight first thing in the morning will help you, too.
• Limit your vices. That shot of booze may seem like a good idea, but it will fragment your sleep. And, of course, limit your caffeine intake in the late afternoon and evening. Chamomile tea or a glass of warm milk is a better choice.
• Don't eat a big meal right before bedtime, either.
• If you are using the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day for exercise, make sure your session ends at least three hours before bedtime, because the energy boost that exercise gives you can cause insomnia.
• Wind down with a relaxing activity, such as a warm bath or shower, gentle stretching, or yoga.
• Let the sun shine in. Experts say that pulling back the curtains and allowing the sun to shine in the windows in the morning improves alertness during the day. You're also more likely to feel sleepy when it is time to go to bed.
• Turn off the bright lights an hour or two before you go to bed — yes, even the television, your computer and other electronic devices. Read a relaxing book or listen to soothing music instead.
• Don't give in to the urge for a long nap. Take a brief power nap if you need, but longer naps will disrupt your sleep schedule and make it more difficult to adjust to daylight saving time.
• Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary — dark, quiet, well ventilated and at a slightly cooler temperature.