Daylight Savings Time is a term shrouded in positivity, especially at this time of year. The practice of advancing clocks by one hour at springtime traditionally marks the end of wintertime and brings in longer, brighter evenings. Or a longer ‘stretch in the evenings’, as we say in Ireland.

The psychological effects of DST cannot be underestimated. The start of longer evenings in springtime generally coincides with temperatures gradually increasing, in Ireland at least. A time to finally put away the hats, scarves and gloves until late autumn. Knowing that there will be at least a few hours daylight left after leaving work, giving opportunity to make the most of the light. A brisk walk in the park, allowing a chance to reflect on the day and put work deadlines and strains to one side. To take a deep breath and restore equilibrium, as the body and mind relax in nature.

For the more active minded, the longer evenings are a chance to catch up on outdoor pursuits. A run, a cycle, a sea swim, a kayak, a hill climb. For the most active, maybe all of the above! In all cases, an opportunity to exercise while seeing the beauty of nature and appreciating what life is really all about. For those who are intent on taking up a new sport or outdoor activity, the time of year presents the perfect opportunity. No chance now for using winter cold and darkness as an excuse!

It seems that winters are getting longer in recent years. In the past month or so in Ireland it looked like spring had broken through with milder tempatures and sunshine, only for winter to provide a sting in the tail via a cold snap or week of storms and rain. Personally, I had to take the scarf and gloves back out of the cupboard more than once in the last few weeks! Finally now though, a week after our clocks went forward in Ireland, it feels that winter is finally behind us. And what a great feeling that is! The late spring and summer months stretch before us now, and thoughts turn to long bright days. Thoughts of blue skies and hazy sun dappled days. To planning summer holidays! Planning family barbecues, weekend day trips, drives in the countryside. As we all know, half of the time all of these lovely plans and day dreams don’t always come true due to laziness or life getting in the way. But it’s great to dream them all the same! It’s good for the soul, good for the body and the mind too. And if we manage to make half of those plans come to fruition, then we will have done well.

So now, in the first week of April, the best days of the year await us. Time to start planning the year and making the most of each day, because it’s just over two months to summer solstice and the longest day of the year – June 21^st. And it’s downhill from there, as the days get shorter! Apologies for ending such a positive post with a negative thought, it’s an Irish thing…a unique trait we have of finding something to complain about amongst all the good!