Adding an hour this weekend!

It’s time, friends. The sun’s angle is getting lower on the horizon, the mornings are darker, the afternoons are cozier, and you might feel the urge to put on your pajamas a little earlier. It’s time to set the clocks back to standard time… for most U.S. residents.

At 2 a.m. on November 2, much of the United States will ‘fall back’ one hour to standard time. Daylight Saving Time (EDT) will end, and Eastern Standard Time (EST) will begin. The sunset will feel much earlier than usual, and many commuters who head to work in the dark in the morning will also return home in the dark. A big advantage of Sunday, November 2, is that we get an extra hour of sleep!

As for the residents of Arizona and Hawaii, don’t worry. It’s just a normal Sunday for you. Arizona hasn’t observed Daylight Saving Time since 1967, while Hawaii has never observed it. However, there is one exception: the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does observe the time change.

Territories such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico do not take part in the ‘spring forward’ or ‘fall back’ clock changes.

While setting the clocks back an hour on November 2 may make you feel a bit down, the lack of sunlight that the Northern Hemisphere receives until the winter solstice on December 21 will only add to that ‘low-energy’ feeling.

In many cases, this results in seasonal affective disorder. The lack of sunlight affects our mood because sunlight helps the brain release the ‘happiness hormone,’ serotonin. With less sun, hormone levels can drop, which may affect our mood. Exercising, avoiding heavy meals, sticking to your schedule and routine, and taking vitamin D supplements can all help!

We’ve been losing sunlight since the summer solstice on June 20. Although the Earth actually moves closer to our source of light and heat at this time of year and through January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away, which limits the amount of light and warmth we receive.

However, when the sun does come out — even during the cold winter months — try to soak up as much as you can. It will help your mood and boost your vitamin D levels!