The early sunshine beckons! How are you responding? It’s the time of year when “clocks start ticking to a different beat”... daylight saving time is upon us.

There is research aplenty that indicates how people respond more positively to increased levels of sunlight. Just ask around and you will likely hear how people are feeling more energetic, are having less trouble getting up in the morning and are more likely to do something when they get home from work in the evening.

Why not take advantage of these natural urges and refine your exercise and activity program? Spring and summer activities are on the horizon – are you (and your body) ready for them?

We often take ourselves for granted and jump into the new season’s activities without thinking about the potential consequences. Even though we haven’t swung a golf club for six months or thrown a ball since last August we often “pick up where we left off” – which may lead to injury and frustration.

This is particularly the case if you’re older (and aren’t we all older than we were last year?) As our bodies age their ability to recover from activity diminishes. You can decrease the likelihood of injury and increase your activity satisfaction (and probably performance) by easing into activity this spring.

There are a couple general guidelines to consider when re-establishing an activity routine. For instance, if you’re itching to get back on the links you might consider introducing some stretches for your hips and shoulders over the next couple of weeks. You don’t have to do much – a few minutes a day will do – just be regular, and gradually increase the degree and amount of stretching you do.

Same with your strength – if you want to add a couple of yards to your tee shots you might want to consider a light resistance training program. Remember that “all programs are not created equally, and that strength is joint and muscle specific. A program that focuses on the muscles involved in your activity will be more beneficial than a generalized program.

Like with any new activity, you’ll probably feel a bit stiff and sore afterwards. This is usually a sign of doing more than your body can tolerate. Good advice is to “listen to your body” and give it the attention it deserves.