Hello spring: Clocks go forward this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins

Spain is considering abandoning the bi-annual clock change at the end of next year

As we welcome the arrival of spring, Spain is getting ready to make its annual switch to Daylight Saving Time (DST), which will usher in longer, brighter days. This weekend, we’ll need to put our clocks forward by an hour (remember the old saying: ‘Spring forward, Fall back’), with the idea of maximising daylight hours and saving energy.

This year, the change will take place on Saturday March 29, when clocks will spring forward one hour at 2am. However, 2025 may be one of the last years that Spain observes this tradition, as the country is considering abandoning the biannual time change.

So, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, 2am will become 3am, meaning we’ll have to trade an hour in bed for brighter evenings going forward.

Why does the time change?

The practice of changing clocks to maximise daylight hours and cut back on electricity usage dates back to 1974, when it was first introduced during the oil crisis. Since then, Spain has adjusted its clocks twice a year, once in March for summer time and again in October for winter time.

This year's DST change coincides with the official start of spring, which began at 10.02am on March 20 and a partial solar eclipse that will be visible across much of Europe, including Spain, on March 29.

Will Spain scrap Daylight Saving in 2026?

The main objective of DST is to make better use of natural light during the evening hours, which can lead to significant energy savings. According to estimates, the change could result in a 5% reduction in national electricity consumption, equivalent to approximately €300 million.

However, the practice is very controversial and studies have shown that the time change can also have negative effects on our health, including sleep disorders, decreased concentration and irritability. These effects are usually temporary but they have sparked a debate about the continued use of DST.

In 2018, the European Commission proposed abolishing the biannual time change, allowing each member state to choose between permanent summer or winter time. At the time, nobody could agree on how to proceed so the current system has stayed in place.

Technically though, Spain has only agreed to keep the time change in place until the last quarter of 2026 so the government could decide to do away with Daylight Saving Time altogether from 2027 onwards.

Either way, we probably won’t know whether or not Spain will abandon DST until close to October 25 next year, the deadline by which the government has to publish a five-year time change schedule.

To minimise the impact of the time change on your daily routine, it is recommended to:

Go to bed a little earlier in the days before the change.
Take advantage of natural light by doing outdoor activities.
Avoid excessive use of screens before sleeping.

Image: Freepik

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