Ready for more sunlight in MS? Here’s when you reset your clocks for daylight savings in 2026
If the cold, dark days in Mississippi have got you feeling down, know that brighter days are drawing near.
Mississippians will turn their clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8 for the start of daylight savings, ushering in longer daylight hours, according to timeanddate.com.
Here’s everything you need to know about the tradition.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is a yearly tradition of setting clocks forward by one hour in the spring to make use of the longer sunlight hours in the warmer months and setting them back in the fall.
The tradition was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 in an attempt to conserve energy, and formally adopted during World War 1, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Today, some researchers have conflicting views on the value of daylight savings time, with some saying it causes more energy to be used as people turn on air conditioning during extended daylight hours, according to the school.
Do all states participate in the time change?
No, not all states participate in daylight saving time. Hawaii and Arizona only observe standard time, according to the United States Astronomical Applications Department.
How to prep for daylight saving time
Since setting your clock an hour early means losing an hour of sleep, it can be tricky to adjust to the time change — even more so than setting your clocks back in the fall.
Some studies suggest an association between the tradition of “springing forward” and health problems, including risk of heart attacks, stroke, traffic accidents, emergency room visits and mood disturbances, according to Sleep Doctor, a sleep health website.
Here are some tips for adjusting to daylight saving time, according to the health website:
- Gradually adjust your schedule beforehand by going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier each day
- Get quality sleep the night before
- Consider relaxation techniques like deep breathing and mediation
- Set your clock before bed
- Prioritize daylight exposure
- Eat a healthy diet
Will this be the last time we set our clocks forward?
It’s possible. Right now, four daylight saving time-related bills have been introduced in Congress — but many bills have been introduced and discharged before.
In October, lawmakers tried to “fast-track” a bill to make daylight saving time the permanent standard time, but their plans were blocked, The Hill reported.
Individual states, like Mississippi, have also tried to introduce their own legislation and failed.
