We often feel pressed for time. But every four years, we get a one-day windfall.
How often have you griped that you don’t have enough time — for exercise, sleep, relaxing with your kids?
This year is a leap year, so we get a bonus day! (We wish it was a Saturday tacked onto June, rather than a Thursday in February, but we’ll take it.)
What will you do with this Leap Day? Ideas for putting these precious extra 24 hours to good use:
- Exercise your brain and read a book, or at least start the one you’ve been neglecting on your nightstand.
- Start a new exercise routine, or shake up your usual one with something new.
- Try a new healthy recipe. Good picks for midwinter? A hearty beef stew with butternut squash, a vegetarian chili or a new breakfast pick. Or explore healthy options we’ve been preparing in the kitchen with Vanderbilt University coaches in our Cooking with Coach video series, a partnership with VU Athletics.
- Sign your children up for summer camp. Yes, registrations for many camps start in winter.
- Save a life.
- Revisit that running goal you set a while back, make sure you have the right shoes to jumpstart it. Join a running group for support and accountability.
- Play with your children or grandchildren. These fun family activities can keep everyone active even while indoors.
- Prepare for an upcoming vacation.
- Destress.
- Walk somewhere new. These state parks have great hiking trails. It’s always smart to check the website or call ahead to check on wintertime trail conditions.
- Have deep, meaningful conversations with your kids. Talking about mental health is just as important as talking about physical health; here are tips for starting the conversation.
- Make today your quit-smoking day.
- Adopt a dog if you’re ready.
- Child-proof your house, or your parents’, with an eye toward medications, to prevent children from getting into them. And if you’re expecting a little one, here are tips for baby-proofing.
- Find some support if you’re caring for an aging relative, so you don’t burn out.
- Eat dinner with your family.
- Practice gratitude.
- If you’re a woman reading this, spend some time learning about why women heart needs and care are different.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Some evening yoga might help.
And if somehow today doesn’t magically feel like a leisurely extra 24 hours at all — sigh — we get it. Fall back on these tricks for squeezing in exercise when there’s just no time. Happy Leap Day!
