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This coming Sunday, October 26, 2025, it will be that time again: in large parts of Europe, the clocks will be set back one hour—from daylight saving time to winter or standard time.
For Austria, this means that on the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clocks will change from Central European Summer Time (CEST) to Central European Time (CET) — i.e., from UTC+2 to UTC+1.
This means that we have – at least mathematically – one more hour of sleep that night.
At the same time, it means that it gets light earlier in the morning, but also dark earlier in the evening.
Why do we still do this?
The switch between summer and winter time is based on an EU directive: All member states switch to summer time on the last Sunday in March and back to standard time on the last Sunday in October.
Summer time was originally introduced with the aim of making better use of daylight and saving energy.
What does this mean in concrete terms for everyday life?
Those who get up at their usual time on Sunday effectively get an extra hour “for free.”
For those who are out and about or working in the evening: dusk begins earlier—the earlier the sunset, the earlier the evening “feels.”
For technical devices: Many smartphones, computers, and smart devices update the time automatically. For analog clocks or older devices, you still have to do it yourself.
Our biorhythm: Some people notice slight effects—e.g., fatigue or fluctuations in concentration. It helps to keep your sleeping habits stable.
Looking ahead – The discussion about abolishing daylight saving time continues.
Several countries, including parts of Europe, are considering whether to permanently introduce one time (summer or winter time). But until then, on October 26, it’s time to set the clocks back one hour again.
- Hector Pascua/picture: pixabay.com
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