Daylight Saving Time Starts: When Will Sun Set Sunday In Virginia

VIRGINIA — 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 7:11 p.m. Sunday evening in Northern Virginia.

Why not get out there and enjoy it? Use the time to get a walk or run in, do some early spring yard cleanup, take a bike ride with the kids, visit your local library or museum.

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 7:26 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.

Related: When Does Daylight Saving Time Start This Year? Things To Know In VA

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.