North Dakota’s Daylight Saving Time Weekend: Time for More Than Clocks

Hey, guess what's coming up this Sunday? Yep, you guessed it - Daylight Saving Time! Although it's the time change that everyone initially hates because we lose an hour of sleep Saturday night, it is usually forgiven by most people who enjoy having an extra hour of daylight in the evening.

Daylight Saving was actually implemented in 1918 with the Standard Time Act and was intended as a wartime measure during World War I to conserve energy resources. And it is "saving" and not "savings."

But hold on a sec before you dismiss it as just another clock-changing hassle. There are a few other things you might wanna tackle while you're at it. Here's the lowdown:

1. Swap out those batteries: While you're resetting your clocks, why not swap out the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors too? It's a good practice to do this annually, and syncing it up with the clock change makes it super easy to remember.
2. Check your emergency kit: Take a peek at your emergency kit stash. Make sure nothing's expired, and if you don't have one yet, this weekend's the perfect time to put it together.
3. Give your kitchen and medicine cabinet a once-over: Take a moment to clean out your fridge, pantry, and medicine cabinet. Toss anything past its prime and use up those items nearing their expiration dates.
4. Don't forget your mattress: It's not just about the clocks - your mattress needs some love too! Flip it to ensure even wear and tear. Doing it now helps you remember to do it regularly.
5. Check your wheels: While you're taking care of household tasks, don't forget about your vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Vehicle Safety Recalls Week," happens twice a year, including March 4-10 this spring. Hop online to NHTSA.gov/recalls or use the SaferCar app to see if there are any outstanding recalls on your ride.

So, there you have it - a few extra tasks to tackle alongside resetting your clocks. Happy daylight saving!