Spring time’s arrival means we’re that bit closer to the summer with the long hours of daylight and all the inherent advantages that brings. Spring is a time when flowers bud and lambs are born but it’s also a time when most of us scratch our heads about the hour change.

The outdated and some would say unnecessary tradition of changing the clocks occurs this weekend. On Sunday March 30 the clocks go forward an hour so 1AM becomes 2AM in a blink and 1 hours sleep is lost. The upside is lighter evenings, which is great, but it’ll be darker in the mornings when the alarm clock is bleating and you’re struggling to find the motivation to peel your head from the pillow. The clocks won’t change back until October 26.

Although a lot of people see this tradition, which only began in 1916, as a confusing waste of time, there are a few advantages. Energy is saved because people use less electricity when it’s lighter in the evenings and the longer evenings promote outdoor activities like walking, running and cycling so people tend to be fitter.

Some argue that changing the clocks is good for British farming but those in the know say that farmers rise with the sun no matter what the clock says and that daylight saving just messes up their schedule.

If you’re struggling to remember whether to put the clocks forward of back, the American phrase “spring forward, fall back” might help you. Thankfully though there’s no real need to worry as the hour change happens on a Sunday when most of us don’t have the commitments we have during the working week. This Sunday’s also Mother’s Day so maybe telling your children to give Mum an extra hour in bed wouldn’t be a bad idea.