The 2025 winter time change is shaping up to be a very special one, and is likely to come as a surprise to many. On the night of Saturday ,October 25 to Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 3 a.m., we'll have to set our watches back an hour to two o'clock. If you think this is earlier than usual, it's not an impression: we haven't changed time this early since 2014. A little calendar peculiarity that deserves a few explanations.
Every year, the ritual remains the same. We set our clocks back, gain a precious hour of sleep (which is great for lazy Sunday mornings), and find ourselves plunged into darker evenings earlier in the day. Some people love this extra hour of sleep, while others are much less enthusiastic, knowing that it will be dark well before the end of the day. But this year, the most observant will have noticed that the date is coming a little earlier than usual. In 2022, the switch to winter time took place on the night of October 29 to 30. In 2023, it was October 28, and in 2024, October 26. This year, the changeover will take place on October 26, and next year, it will be as early as October 24, 2026.
There's nothing mysterious about the time difference. The time change takes place every year on the last weekend in October, more precisely on Saturday night. A European directive has governed this date since 1998, harmonizing the times of all EU member states. The last Sunday in March for summer time, the last Sunday in October for winter time.
This year, this last Sunday simply falls earlier in the month. Nothing has changed in European regulations, it's just that the calendar is playing tricks on us. As a result, we don't experience the same number of days of winter and summer time each year. In 2025, we'll stay on winter time until Sunday March 29, 2026, the day we return to summer time. That's precisely 154 days before we return to the sunny evenings we love so much.
If you're wondering how we got into the habit of fiddling with our clocks twice a year, you'll have to go back to the oil crisis of 1973-1974. At the time, the objective was clear: to save energy by matching our hours of activity as closely as possible with the hours of sunshine. By limiting the use of artificial lighting, we hoped to reduce electricity consumption. In 1976, France officially introduced the time change.
In the 1980s, the system was extended throughout Europe, before dates were harmonized within the European Union in 1998. Today, all 27 member countries change time simultaneously, on the same day and at the same time. This facilitates trade and avoids disruption to transport and telecommunications.
In Paris and the Île-de-France region, as elsewhere in mainland France, this ritual has been part of the landscape for almost 50 years. In the overseas territories, on the other hand, there is no time change, with the exception of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Lucky for them, you might say.
It's the sea serpent that regularly comes to the fore. In March 2019, MEPs voted to abolish the seasonal time change, with implementation scheduled for 2021. Each member state would have had the choice between summer time or permanent winter time. But the Covid-19 health crisis threw a spanner in the works, and the project remained a dead letter.
Since then, nothing has really moved. The dossier has been blocked at the Council of the European Union since December 2019. Discussions on energy, coordination between countries and impacts on public health continue, but no concrete decisions have been taken. In the meantime, we continue to switch between summer and winter time, twice a year. Maybe one day we'll get around to it, but for now, we'll have to get used to it.
If you're one of those people who panic at the thought of forgetting to change the time, don't worry. Most of our connected devices - smartphones, computers and tablets - take care of updating the time automatically. On the other hand, we'll have to think about manually adjusting our watches, alarm clocks, wall clocks and other non-connected devices.
In concrete terms, on the night of Saturday October 25 to Sunday October 26, 2025, it will be two o'clock in the morning. This means we'll gain an hour's sleep, which is no mean feat for those who like to crawl under the comforter on Sunday mornings. The good news is that we'll be able to sleep one hour longer. But beware: this extra hour also means shorter evenings. Night will fall earlier, and we'll have to get used to seeing the sun set well before the end of the day. Some people are delighted to gain this hour of sleep, while others are less enthusiastic, knowing thatit will be dark by 6pm.
For those who work night shifts, particularly in the health, security and transport sectors, the time change has concrete implications. Employees who work during the night work an extra hour, which must be paid or compensated according to collective agreements.
The time change is not insignificant for our organism. Our biological clock, which operates on a 24-hour rhythm precisely tuned to the alternation of day and night, has to adapt to the time shift. This usually takes between three and seven days, during which time we may feel tired, irritable or have trouble sleeping.
To ease the transition, there are a few simple tips. In the days leading up to the change, we can try to gradually modify our bedtimes in 15-minute increments. You can also make the most of natural light during the day, even on overcast days. A stroll in a Parisian park (always a good idea) can help our bodies readjust their internal clocks.
In terms of diet, we prefer light meals in the evening and avoid stimulants such as coffee or alcohol after 4pm. Some people also find it useful to take dietary supplements, such as melatonin to help them fall asleep, or vitamin D to compensate for the lack of winter light.
In short, the 2025 winter time change comes earlier this year, but there's nothing to panic about. It's simply the calendar playing tricks on us. We'll set our clocks back an hour on the night of October 25 to 26, enjoy an extra hour's sleep (yippee for some, boo for others who'll see night fall earlier), and gradually adapt to the shorter days. And who knows, maybe in a few years' time, this habit will disappear for good if Europe finally decides to settle the matter.
Recommended age
For all
