Since we’re all “springing forward” this Sunday, I’d feel totally remiss—or “amiss,” if you’re feeling fancy—if I didn’t dig up the wildest facts about this annual clock-shifting chaos.
For those of us in Merchant Services, time isn’t just money; it’s processing volume, PCI compliance windows, and catching that West Coast lead before they head to happy hour. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about Daylight Saving Time (DST).
From the Home Office in Daylight, Indiana
Here are the Top 10 Facts about Springing Forward
10. It’s Not “Savings” Time
First, a correction for your next networking mixer: It is Daylight Saving Time, singular. No “s.” Saying “Savings” is the industry equivalent of calling a merchant account a “bank account.” It’s a small detail, but getting it right makes you look like the smartest person in the Zoom room.
9. Ben Franklin Was Just Trolling
People credit Benjamin Franklin with DST, but he actually proposed it in a satirical essay. He suggested firing cannons at sunrise to wake people up and save on candle wax. It was basically a 1784 version of a “productivity hack” LinkedIn post.
8. It Wasn’t for the Farmers
Farmers actually hate DST. Cows don’t care about the clock; they want to be milked when they’re ready. DST was actually pushed by retailers and the recreation industry. Why? Because people are more likely to stop and shop (and swipe those cards!) when it’s still light out after work.
7. The Heart Attack Spike
Studies have shown a 24% increase in heart attacks the Monday after we spring forward. Between the lost hour of sleep and the stress of hitting monthly quotas, take it easy this Monday. Hydrate, breathe, and maybe save the “hard close” for Tuesday.
6. The “Candy Lobby” Connection
For years, the golf and candy industries lobbied to extend DST. They wanted the extra hour of light so kids could trick-or-treat longer, leading to more candy sales. In our world, that’s what we call a “strategic vertical expansion.”
5. Arizona and Hawaii Are Opting Out
Arizona and Hawaii don’t participate. They looked at the extra hour of sun and said, “No thanks, it’s already 110 degrees here.” If you have merchants in Phoenix, remember: their clocks won’t move, but your scheduled follow-up calls might.
4. It Almost Started in 1907
British builder William Willett proposed it because he was annoyed that his golf games were getting cut short by sunset. He spent his life’s fortune trying to pass the law. Talk about a guy who really wanted to “close the deal” on the 18th hole.
3. The Crime Drop
When the sun stays out later, robbery rates drop by about 7%. More light means safer streets, which means more foot traffic for your brick-and-mortar merchants. It’s a literal boost to their bottom line (and your residuals).
2. The Great DST “Birth” Mystery
There is a famous case of twins born right as the clocks shifted back in the Fall. The “younger” twin was technically born first, but because the clock moved back an hour, the “older” twin’s birth certificate has an earlier time. In Merchant Services, we call that a “back-dated contract” nightmare.
And the #1 Top 10 Facts about Springing Forward is …..
1. It Costs the Economy Billions
The “Sleep Loss Index” estimates that the US economy loses over $430 million in productivity the day after we spring forward due to “cyberloafing” and general exhaustion.
The Bottom Line is this Sunday, we lose an hour of sleep, but we gain an hour of “spending light.” Use that extra afternoon sun to visit those storefronts when the merchants are in a good, sun-drenched mood.
Have a Great Weekend,
David
