Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 3

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- As we dive deeper into fall, many of us are starting to enjoy the chilly mornings and may even look forward to an occasional pumpkin spice latte. As much as we enjoy seasonal changes, there is one hallmark of fall that sparks as much competition as the most storied football rivalries: the end of daylight saving time.

This year, daylight saving time will end on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m., so before you go to bed on Saturday night, don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour.

While some may like the “fall back” part of the time changes because it provides an extra hour of sleep on that night, the changes can disturb circadian rhythms and sleep, so prepare time to adjust. Your natural tendencies as either a morning person or an evening person, as well as how much sleep you get on a regular basis, can impact how disruptive the time adjustment will be for you.

Even though we may not like changing our clocks twice a year, it provides a convenient reminder for a few items around your house and community.

• Check your home safety list and review your family emergency plan.

• Have your furnace serviced by a certified technician to make sure it is operating safely and efficiently.

• Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector to help detect the colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death.

• Watch for children in your neighborhood. With fewer hours of daylight, it may be more difficult to see students going to and from the school bus in the mornings and evenings.

By taking these simple steps, you can make the transition to standard time smoother and safely prepare your home for the season ahead.