Georgia residents will soon be turning their clocks back as Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3. This annual change means one extra hour of sleep but also marks the start of earlier sunsets for the winter season.
Here’s a look at what you need to know about the upcoming time change.
Just the Facts:
• When it Ends: Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
TOO MANY ADS? GO AD-FREE
Did You Know?: The ads you see on this site help pay for our website and our work. However, we know some of our readers would rather pay and not see ads. For those users we offer a paid newsletter that contains our articles with no ads.
What You Get: A daily email digest of our articles in full-text with no ads.
• What to Do: Set clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 2. This means 2 a.m. will revert to 1 a.m., resulting in an extra hour of sleep.
• Why It Happens: Daylight Saving Time was originally introduced to make better use of daylight during warmer months, aiming to reduce energy consumption. Now, it is used in most states from spring to fall.
By the Numbers:
• Eight Months: Georgia residents have been on Daylight Saving Time since March.
• One Hour Shift: The end of Daylight Saving Time means moving from “spring forward” back to “fall back.”
• Federal Approval Pending: Georgia passed legislation in 2021 to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but the change has not been enacted because federal approval is required.
In Context: Georgia lawmakers passed a bill in 2021 that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent for the state. However, even with the legislation in place, the change cannot take effect without federal approval. The U.S. Senate passed a measure in 2022 to make it permanent nationwide, but it remains stalled in the House. For now, Georgia, like most states, continues to observe the time changes twice a year.
Why It Matters: The end of Daylight Saving Time affects residents’ daily routines, as the sun will set earlier in the evening. For many, the shift can impact everything from morning commutes to family schedules, and it can take a few days to adjust to the new timing. Early sunsets mean more time spent indoors during darker hours, which some people find challenging, especially when it comes to evening activities. Additionally, shorter daylight hours often bring an uptick in Seasonal Affective Disorder for some people.
What You Can Do:
• Prepare Your Body Clock: Adjust your sleep schedule slightly in the days leading up to the change to help ease the transition.
• Safety Tip: The end of Daylight Saving Time is a good reminder to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re in working order.
• Plan for Evening Safety: With darker evenings, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers should take extra precautions to stay visible and alert.
What’s Next?: For now, Georgia will continue observing biannual time changes until federal law changes. Residents and lawmakers alike continue to follow discussions in Congress to see if the proposal to make Daylight Saving Time permanent will eventually pass. Until then, the next time change will be in spring 2024, when clocks move forward once more.
