“Spring forward” is a phrase that means you set the clock one hour ahead in spring for Daylight Saving Time, usually to get more daylight in the evening.

Quick Scoop: What does “spring forward” mean?

  • It’s part of the rhyme “spring forward, fall back,” used to remember which way to move the clock for Daylight Saving Time.
  • In spring, you move clocks forward by one hour , which means you lose one hour of sleep that night but gain lighter evenings.
  • In autumn (“fall”), you do the opposite and move clocks back one hour, regaining that hour of sleep.

When does “spring forward” usually happen?

  • In many places that observe Daylight Saving Time (like much of the U.S.), clocks go forward one hour on a Sunday in March (often the second Sunday).
  • The change is typically scheduled around 2:00 a.m. local time to reduce disruption to daily life.

Why do we “spring forward”?

  • The idea is to shift one hour of daylight from the early morning to the evening, so people have more light after work or school.
  • It’s often justified as a way to save energy and encourage more activity and commerce during brighter evening hours.

How it affects you (simple example)

  • If it was 1:59 a.m. and “spring forward” starts at 2:00 a.m., the clock jumps straight to 3:00 a.m.
  • A 7:00 a.m. alarm the next day will feel like 6:00 a.m. to your body, which is why people say they “lose an hour of sleep.”

In short, “spring forward” = clocks ahead 1 hour, darker mornings, brighter evenings, and one rougher night of sleep for many people.

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“Wondering what ‘spring forward’ means? Learn how this Daylight Saving Time change works, when it happens, why clocks move one hour ahead, and how it affects your sleep and daylight.”