Turn the Clock Back

How to gain more from the extra hour. “Not enough time in the day to____.” is finished with thousands of answers.

At 2 a.m. Sunday, November 4th, the clock gifts us with 169 hours instead of 168 hours. 10,140 minutes instead of 10,080 minutes. 608,400 seconds instead of 604,800 seconds. Popular choices for this annual adjustment from Daylight Saving’s back to EST include staying up later, sleeping in longer…or both.

What if we dared for a more intentional use of this 11th month bonus? Traditionally, November celebrates thankfulness. What if we chose an attitude of gratitude to short-circuit the “not-enoughs” and encouraged an hour of kindness, grace and healthy well-being instead?

Ideas for One Hour Gains from Practicing Gratitude: (May turn into weekly or daily practices.)

1. Start a daily Gratitude Journal. Pen 3 blessings each day.
2. Celebrate your fitness accomplishments with a 1 hour workout that pushes you just beyond your last goal. Listen to your body but refuse to complain about aches, pains and limitations.
3. Spend an hour walking outside enjoying the sights, sounds and people.
4. Photo journal a 1 hour ride in the city or the country. Capturing beauty and details you have never noticed before.
5. Donate 1 hour of service to the community.
6. Make a practice of 10 positive comments for every negative.
7. Cherish Family! Trade 1 hour (or more) of screen time for real interaction. No electronic devices allowed!
8. Celebrate friendship. Keep a promise to get together. Meet for coffee, a walk or a work out.
9. Hand-write a letter expressing gratitude to a family member, teacher, coach or someone who impacted your life or inspired you by their story. Could be a public figure, a fellow YMCA member, a server, a cashier or "differently-abled person.”   
10. Spend 1 hour minimalizing and simplifying. Too much stuff steals our time and emotional energy. Purge your home and life of excess. Or pick one area each day, like a drawer, to sort through and reorganize. Take photos to remember cherished items. Then donate or discard.