ORLANDO, Florida. – It’s that time of year again. When the clock strikes 2 a.m., it actually strikes 1 a.m.

After moving forward one hour on Sunday March 10 at 2 a.m. to switch to summer time, they now move back one hour on Sunday November 3 at 2 a.m.

(EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos)

Even though the time change may gain you an extra hour of sleep, Harvard Medical School And John Hopkins Studies have shown that DST can actually have costly effects on mental health.

A survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed that 55% of Americans feel an additional feeling of drowsiness following the time change.

Changing sleep schedules and fatigue can destabilize mood, leading to studies The broadcast may be linked to increased suicide rates among men in the weeks following the switch to daylight saving time compared to the return to standard time.

According to Harvard, daylight saving time can interfere with our regular exposure to light. Research shows that darker mornings decrease the body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that improves mood.

Beyond the mental consequences that lack of sleep can have, John Hopkins reports a slight increase heart attacks And blows linked to the time lag.

On the bright side (or dark side), this weekend marks the end of daylight saving time, which means brighter mornings and darker nights.

The Harvard website says that an earlier sunset can help the body start producing melatonin, the sleep hormone, at a normal time again, making it easier to fall asleep at night.

To make the transition smoother, Harvard recommends adjusting your bedtime by 15 minutes on the days before daylight saving time, taking afternoon naps, getting more light exposure, and reducing your consumption of caffeinated beverages.

Given the effects of the time change on mental and physical health, the debate over whether to maintain DST is still unresolved.

Studies show that 63% of Americans I would prefer to get rid of the time change altogether.

For years, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has pushed to “lock the clock”, making summer time a permanent feature throughout the year.

On Monday, Rubio released a statement calling the practice “ridiculous” and “outdated.”

For now, the clock is still set to go back, so take advantage of the extra hour of sleep and adjust to the darker evenings, until next spring.

Receive today’s headlines in minutes with Your daily life in Florida: