Despite a late-season dump of snow and some chilly temperatures, spring is on its way. With it comes a much maligned time of year – daylight saving time.
Manitobans will push their clocks forward Sunday night, losing one hour of sleep.
Experts say the shift in time can have a profound effect.
"Our body is a machine that works off rhythms. It just takes the body time to adjust to those rhythms," said sleep therapist Don Russell.
Changing the body's regular rhythm, even by an hour, can have serious impacts on functioning. Within the first five days after a time change, workplace injuries rise and productivity falls, said Russell. Not only that, but the province sees more collisions on the road.
"Drowsy driving is actually one of the leading causes [of accidents] in North America. It's very much akin to regular impairment," said Liz Peters of CAA Manitoba. "It's like drinking and driving. You're not focusing on the road in front of you."
Experts say it could take the body three to four days to adjust to the time change. They suggest getting to bed earlier, eating dinner earlier and getting more sunlight early in the day to help your body deal with the time change sooner.
But Winnipeggers hoping to catch some rays ice skating or snowboarding will have to do it fast. The Assiniboine Park duck pond officially closes for the season on Monday. And officials at Stony Mountain Ski Hill say they don't anticipate being open much longer than next weekend.
-- with a report from CTV's Rajeev Dhir
