Every four years, there is an extra day added on to the month of February. Without this extra day, we would lose six hours every year. Here are some things you can do with the extra time you are given on this unusual day.
1. Give Someone A Call
Sometimes people don’t have the time to make a phone call to someone just to chat or have a long conversation. Talking with someone on the phone is a nice way to decompress, and it is easier to interpret what a person is feeling over the phone rather than sending them a text or an email. With this extra day, giving Mom or an old friend a phone call is a nice use of your time.
2. Start A New Hobby
During the regular year, people are so wrapped up in their jobs or schoolwork that they don’t have the time to do something they truly enjoy. On this extra day, starting up a new hobby is not only a good way to get your creative juices flowing, but experts have discussed how having a low-risk hobby can benefit your psychological help.
3. Re-Organize Your Things
Although it may be early for spring cleaning, the extra time given to you on Leap Day can help make room for much needed re-organization. Even if you are just cleaning out your desk or organizing receipts, rearranging and getting rid of unnecessary junk can help clear your mind. Spending the time to fix up things on Leap Day will also help you save time when you get ready for spring cleaning.
4. Clean Out Your Email Inbox
With the increased use of social media and emails, cleaning out your inbox is also helpful for clearing your mind. Having a clean inbox is also helpful for when you are looking for an important email, because you will have less unnecessary spam messages to go through.
5. High Five Or Wave At People
The smallest positive gesture has the ability to change a person’s day. To help add some happiness to your environment, use the extra day to wave or high five an individual passing by. Even if the person you wave to is a friend, the interaction could bring some much needed warmth and kindness into a room.
6. Take A Nap
Even though napping is a common activity for children, it can be used by anyone to help add some much needed energy during the day. The National Sleep Foundation recommends at least 20 to 30 minutes for the perfect naptime. Napping has also been proven to increase alertness and reduce mistakes, but make sure to not go over 30 minutes, or else you risk the possibility of falling asleep.
7. Eat Lunch Outside
With what seems like an early spring ahead of us, eating lunch outdoors with a group of friends is a nice way to enjoy the warm weather and chat with friends. With some snow still on the ground, you may also be able to avoid any of the small critters that try to take your lunch.
8. Read About A Subject You Wouldn’t Normally
The extra 24 hours given to us on Leap Day allow for extra time to do more things, like read about something we’ve never thought about. Even if the article is a simple online essay, you still have the ability to broaden your horizons and learn something new.
9. Strike Up A Conversation With A Stranger
Along with the high fives and waves, a positive conversation with someone has the ability to change their day, especially if the day has not been going very well. Sometimes the person doesn’t need to be a stranger. If you’re in a class and the person sitting next to you is not as talkative, creating a conversation with them may be as easy as asking them about their spring break plans.
10. De-Stress
As we make our way into midterms, using Leap Day as a way to clear your mind and relax can help you get into the right mindset for studying. There are many ways people can remove stress. Some more active people find working out helps them relieve stress, while others find more traditional methods like meditation more effective.
Although you can do any of these activities every day of the year, the uniqueness of Leap Day makes it seem like you are adding something special to your life. Leap Day only comes every four years, so using this day for some self -improvement and relaxation is a good way to celebrate this extra day.
