By Aadi Mehta, March 17, 2026
The sun shone brighter and longer over campus as clocks sprang forward in time for warmer weather, but for students living in on-campus housing, getting an extra hour of daylight means losing an hour of sleep.
Especially for students with early morning classes starting at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., losing sleep can lead to less focus, alarm clock issues and more fatigue, according to the National Education Association. While the clocks move one hour ahead at 2 a.m. Sunday, students may find it difficult to adjust before the workweek begins Monday.
“It’s definitely nicer to have more sunshine and be out more during the day,” said Nicholas Hoang, a computer science student who lives at The Current Apartments. “But I think it’s kind of a trap.”
According to Stanford Health, changing the clock from daylight saving time to standard time and back has a negative effect on one’s circadian rhythm, the body’s physiological 24-hour clock.
Here are five ways students can get better sleep while dorming during daylight saving time:
- Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Hoang said keeping a consistent sleep schedule is the most helpful tip for not losing sleep.
“Consistent sleep schedules are probably the best,” Hoang said. “Sleeping at the same time every day really helps set your internal clock.”
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, adults should sleep at least seven hours every night to support well-being because disruptions like daylight saving time can cause sleep issues for five to seven days.
Even when class schedules vary, maintaining similar bedtime routines can make the transition to daylight saving time smoother.
- Communicate with Roommates
Daylight saving time affects students across campus housing, from the traditional dorms and residential suites to The Current. The shared walls and roommates can make it challenging to adjust students’ sleep.
“I think communication between roommates is very important because sleep schedules can sometimes clash,” said Angelina Hernandez, a pre-vet animal science student who lives in the residential suites.
Hernandez said she and her roommates agreed to stay quiet after 10 p.m. on weekdays in case anyone wanted to sleep.
Besides students, daylight saving time influences RAs, or resident advisors, who are trained leaders assigned to support and supervise student residents.
“I’m going to be really honest, I’m not entirely great at getting ample rest, both as a student and as an RA,” said April Kim, a pre-vet animal science student and resident advisor.
As a 24/7 job, being an RA means the person is always working, day and night, according to The Volante. The large number of inquiries submitted by students, coupled with late-night emergencies, makes the RA job one of the most demanding, especially during daylight saving time.
- Block Out Noise
Especially since residents share walls, noise travels easily between rooms. For some, this has made sleep more difficult.
“The biggest sleep challenge I face living in the dorms is the noise from the people who live above me,” Hernandez said. “The stomping and the sound of opening and closing drawers can make it difficult for me to fall asleep.”
Hoang said he used earplugs and occasionally took melatonin to deal with loud neighbors in previous years.
However, according to Healthline, the recommended melatonin dose is 0.5 to 3 milligrams taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Higher doses, such as more than 10 milligrams, can cause side effects such as headaches, nausea and increased anxiety.
- Control the Light
As daylight saving time makes sunrise earlier, students may find their rooms are brighter sooner than their bodies are used to. According to the National Institutes of Health, more morning light signals to the brain to wake up earlier, regardless of whether a student went to bed late the night before.
Hoang said wearing an eye mask helps reduce light from the sunrise and maintain rest.
“Eye masks and earplugs were the top two right away for me,” Hoang said. “It can be pretty bright when I wake up.”
For students with large windows in their room, blocking out light can make a noticeable difference during the short period where students are adjusting to the new time.
- Create a Downtime Habit Before Bed
Students say having a calming routine before going to sleep can ease the transition from being awake to falling asleep.
“I leave music playing softly in my room and set a timer for an hour to try and block out the stomping noise from above,” Hernandez said.
Hoang said meditation music before bed helps him relax after studying late.
Though daylight saving time occurs only twice a year, many students say its effects, while short, can have lasting consequences on exam preparation, sleep schedules and social anxiety. For some, the key is finding what works for them.
“Try to find something specific that helps you fall asleep faster for emergencies, whether it’s music, an eye mask or earplugs,” Hernandez said. “I don’t always rely on music, but when I find myself struggling with sleep, I turn to it.”
