Every March, Americans groggily adjust their clocks forward an hour for daylight saving time (DST), losing precious sleep and facing a week of grogginess, increased car accidents, and disrupted routines. And for what? The biannual ritual of shifting the clocks—a practice once thought to conserve energy and benefit agriculture—has long outlived its usefulness. It’s time for the U.S. to abandon daylight saving time permanently.

The original purpose of DST, implemented during World War I and later standardized in 1966, was to make better use of daylight and reduce energy consumption. However, modern research suggests that any energy savings are minimal or even nonexistent. Air conditioning, heating, and electronic device usage have made the benefits of extra daylight irrelevant.

More importantly, the negative effects of DST are well documented. Studies show that heart attack rates spike in the days following the spring time change, and workplace injuries and car accidents increase due to sleep deprivation. Students and workers alike struggle with disrupted sleep schedules, which can take days or even weeks to fully adjust.

Public sentiment has shifted as well. Many states have introduced legislation to either eliminate DST entirely or make daylight saving time permanent, avoiding the clock changes altogether. In 2022, the U.S. Senate even passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which proposed making DST permanent nationwide, though the bill stalled in the House. The overwhelming public frustration with clock changes should be enough to push lawmakers to finally act.

There’s no good reason to continue this outdated tradition. The U.S. should follow the example of states like Arizona and Hawaii, which have abandoned DST altogether. Whether we adopt permanent standard time (which aligns better with human circadian rhythms) or permanent daylight saving time, one thing is clear: it’s time to stop changing the clocks. March should be a time for spring’s arrival—not sleep deprivation.