The clocks will go forward on 27 March in 2016, signalling the start of British Summer Time (BST), and longer (and hopefully much sunnier) days and warmer temperatures.
Smartphones will change automatically during the night, along with other digital appliances and gadgets like television set-top boxes and DAB radios. Your PC or laptop will also likely adjust on its own.
Electronic diaries and calendars though are a different matter, and it's worth checking your settings in advance of the changeover to make sure you don't miss any important meetings or appointments.
This is doubly important for employees at international companies with staff in countries who may not be changing to summer time on the same day, if at all. The United States and Canada, for example, put their clocks forward on Sunday March 13, but most of Europe isn't until Sunday March 27.
Sometimes also known as Daylight Saving Time (DST), it’s a much longed-for signal that the gloom and doom of winter is on its way out, but sadly it can also play havoc with our sleep patterns.
Don't be late: Check the settings of your electronic diaries and calendars in advance
The time change can affect the body’s circadian rhythm (the body clock that controls mood, energy levels and alertness over a 24-hour period) and can cause stress as the body struggles to adjust.
When the clocks go back an hour, the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This year this will occur on 30 October.
Debate over the effects of turning the clocks back (and forwards) has been a British pastime for more than a century, when the first Daylight Saving Bill was brought before the House of Commons.
During the Second World War the Government moved the clocks forward one hour to help munitions factories maximise productivity and allow people to get home safely before the blackout.
Between 1968 and 1971 the Government carried out the same experiment but was forced to end it after complaints in Scotland and northern England.
Plans have also been mooted to move to Central European Time - something that would mean lighter winter evenings, which supporters claim would cut road deaths, boost tourism and reduce energy use.
But the proposals have faced opposition from many in Scotland who do not relish the prospect of an extra hour of darkness in the morning.
