Most people in the US set their clocks forward in March and back in November for Daylight Saving Time (DST). But did you know that Massachusetts doesn’t actually follow it in the usual way? There’s also another state that shares this exception. Let’s break it down simply so you’ll understand why.
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time is when people move the clock forward by one hour in summer to enjoy more daylight in the evening. Later in the year, the clocks are set back again. Most states in the US follow this system.
Why Massachusetts Doesn’t Follow DST
Massachusetts has been talking about moving away from Daylight Saving Time for years. The main reason is its location in the eastern part of the US. The sun rises and sets earlier here compared to other states. This means even with DST, people don’t really get much benefit from the extra hour of light in the evening.
Lawmakers and experts also feel that changing the clocks twice a year affects people’s health and sleep schedules. Instead of adjusting twice a year, Massachusetts prefers keeping the time steady.
The Other State That Says No to DST
Apart from Massachusetts, Hawaii also doesn’t follow Daylight Saving Time. Since Hawaii is closer to the equator, there isn’t much difference in daylight hours throughout the year. So, changing clocks doesn’t really make sense for them.
Arizona is another state that mostly doesn’t follow DST, except for the Navajo Nation, which still does. This shows that not all states find the time change useful.
How This Affects Daily Life
For people living in states without DST, life becomes a little simpler. They don’t have to worry about adjusting their clocks, losing sleep, or getting confused about time differences with other states.
On the other hand, it can be tricky for travel, business, or meetings when dealing with people in states that do follow DST.
Massachusetts doesn’t follow Daylight Saving Time because its location makes it unnecessary and even unhealthy for residents to keep changing clocks. Hawaii and most of Arizona also skip the yearly time changes for their own reasons.
This shows that Daylight Saving Time is not equally useful everywhere, and sometimes, keeping it simple is the best choice.
SOURCES
- (https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/daylight-savings-time-by-state)
- (https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/daylight-saving-time)
- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_in_the_United_States)
