France Shifts to Summer Time as Clocks Jump From 2 to 3 A.M.

Overview

• France advanced clocks early Sunday, which turned 2 a.m. into 3 a.m. and cost people an hour of sleep.
• INSERM-backed studies say the spring shift disrupts body clocks, with about a week for most adults to adapt and a brief rise in fatigue and accident risk.
• Doctors and sleep specialists recommend easing bedtime earlier, seeking morning sunlight, cutting evening screen time, and skipping long drives for a few days.
• The energy case has waned since the 1970s, with Ademe estimating 351 GWh saved in 2018, or roughly 0.07% of national electricity use.
• The European Parliament voted in 2019 to scrap seasonal changes, but the reform stalled over which time to keep, even after Spain revived the topic in 2025.