Daylight savings time: clocks should 'spring ahead'

The proverb “spring ahead, fall back” is appropriate, so remember to set your clocks ahead one hour Sunday morning. The official change takes place at 2 a.m., but most people adjust their clocks and watches Saturday night before going to bed.

Many don't relish the thought of losing 60 minutes of sleep, while others take consolation in the extra hour of daylight in the evening. For those who worry about sleep loss, the University of Connecticut has some good tips. This includes avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, as well as taking a brief nap on Saturday.

For those who are truly desperate to escape time shifts, Hawaii, a majority of Arizona, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands do not observe daylight savings time. They may be nice places to live and sleep. But if relocation is impractical, you’ll just have to hang on until the first Sunday in November when daylight savings time ends.

The biannual ritual is also a time when fire departments encourage people to replace batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Daylight savings time is a handy reminder to swap new batteries for old. Smart phones, computers and even some digital clocks will make adjustments without human intervention.