The Secret to Finding an Extra Day Every Month
Happy Leap Year Day!
Today we get an extra day tacked onto the end of February. I’m a little fuzzy about the importance of Leap Year, but I think it has something to do with keeping our calendar aligned with the seasons. We wouldn’t want to eventually get snow in the middle of summer, right?
How will you be spending these 24 hours? The same old routine: going to work or school, running errands, watching TV?
What would happen if you actually used this extra day to pursue your passion?
What could you accomplish with an additional day?
Instead of waiting 4 years to for another freebie, I’ve got a trick that will allow you to find an extra day every month.
That’s right, not every 4 years, not every year—but every MONTH.
Now, stand back while I wave my wand and say the magic words, “gnihtyna od nac uoy dna emit ruoy ezitiroirp!”
But seriously, I’m no magician, and you don’t need a mystical spell to find more time.
You just have to prioritize.
It’s easy peasy, I promise.
OK, so a day is 24 hours, and 24 hours is 1440 minutes. Divide by 30 days in a typical month, and you get 48 minutes per day (let’s round up to 50 minutes just to be safe).
To gain and extra day every month, all you have to do is find 50 minutes a day to devote to something productive. I say “something productive” because I don’t want you using this precious extra time on something that doesn’t build you up (no reality TV watching, please).
Do you have an extra 50 minutes in your day? Oh, I bet you do. Let’s find them!
Where are your extra minutes hiding?
- Do you hit the snooze button in the morning? Cut it out! People who use snooze alarms to get just a few more minutes of sleep actually feel more tired than people who get up with the alarm (or without an alarm if you’re really in touch with your body rhythms).
- Do you zone out on your commute? Of course, I want your eyes on the road if you’re driving, but why not combine that time with something engaging? Try listening to empowering music (pop, religious music, death metal, whatever it is that pumps you up) or an audio book.
- Do you ignore “waiting time”? If you’re waiting for an appointment, a meeting, a class, or if you’re standing in line at the grocery store, you’re overlooking valuable minutes. Use that time to journal, read, call a good friend, or flesh out your plans for world domination.
- Do you watch TV just to fill time? There’s no need to watch reruns or ads for things you don’t need. Your life is waiting for you!
- Do you get sucked into the internet for hours? I’m sure you can cut back your screen time. After all, Sage Grayson Coaching is the only blog you need, right? 🙂
Think about it. I bet you’ve found a ton of lost minutes in your day.
What should you do with your free day?
- Devote more time to your kids and spouse. They give better hugs than the TV.
- Start your own business. Baby steps, man. A few minutes a day really add up.
- Write a book. Get that story out of your head and share it with the world. Not a writer? Try catching up on your reading.
- Clean your desk, junk drawer, or pantry. It’s amazing how our attitudes can change when we clean up our environments. A organized drawer today may give you the push to clean the rest of the house.
- Exercise. You didn’t think I’d leave this one out, did you? Move your butt just a little each day, and you’ll see big results.
- Meditate. Sometimes being still is the most loving thing you can do for yourself.
3 Simple Steps to Become a Productivity Superstar
Dump your excuses, transform your habits, and become the most productive person you know.
When I lived in a big city I had a 40 minute commute each way. I started listening to podcasts. I found one that was listening to the whole new testament in 40 days. I did it in about 29. From then on I started using my drive time to build myself up, rather than just increase my road rage. Thanks for the tips on the rest of my day!
That’s an awesome idea to listen to something empowering on your commute. So many people get angry about the traffic but you saw it as an opportunity to build yourself up. I used to have a long commute too, but it’s super short now that I work from home. 🙂 What podcasts are you listening to now?
I definitely use my commute for a little quiet time/list making/pleasure reading and my husband and I are trying to make a conscious effort to stop watching reruns because we lose so much time doing that. I still need to cut down on my internet time, I get sucked in for so long!
I need to stop watching reruns too. It’s such a time suck. But it’s so hard to resist The Simpsons!
I’ve really cut down on my internet time over the last few months, which is where I tend to “lose” time. I could still work on it more, though. Great tips! Spending time doing something you love and/or something productive is so important!
I love the internet, and I hate the internet. It’s the most likely suspect when I lose time. If it’s not supporting my goals or making me feel good, then I gotta cut back.
Sage, tomorrow morning as I slide out of bed as a legless zombie, I promise having done so without hitting the snooze button. I have to grade organic chemistry exams all morning starting at 8 and if I can get even the illusion of adequate sleep then I’m all for it. Sage, you may have just changed my life with that little piece of information.
One more thing – since I have some time now Im going clean my desk. Damn. Straight.
You can do it! The snooze button is not your friend. It’s really true–you’ll feel more awake if you just force yourself out of bed. It gets easier every day. I’m changin’ lives one snooze button at a time. 🙂
You show that messy desk who’s boss!
Just checking in – you were right about the button. I actually disabled it on my phone now. I’m not a snoozing loser!
So true. I spend far too much time ‘surfing’ the web and not getting stuff done! I need to set timers again and just put first things first. I am reading a book right now and I love how the author said, “If it’s on your mind, do it!” It’s amazing how great it feels to accomplish even the smallest of things. Ok off I go, for real. NOT going to look at any other blogs–although I do want to read your links you provided–after I vacuum the upstairs! haha
Setting a timer is a good idea. I have little pink timer on my desk that I use sometimes, but I should get into the habit of using it more.
I tell myself that I’m not wasting time by reading a million blogs–it’s “research.” 🙂
You make such a great point in this post! I always complain that I don’t have time to do anything but there is a ton of extra time just hiding in between all of the crap that I already have going on. The waiting time is really try, I feel like a lot of time gets wasted waiting in waiting rooms or lines. I am super guilty of wasting time on the internet. I may have lost a few hours (yes hours!!) on YouTube last night. :X I guess I could rationalize and say I was doing it for the benefit of my training since I was watching women’s MMA bouts. haha 😉
As usual you offer great tips and insights! There is a ton of time out there for the taking, and I’m definitely going to try out some of your tips to get some of it back!
I waste sooo much time surfing the internet. And not for anything in particular either. If I want to reach my goals, I need to stop whining about not having time because it’s just not true.
I spend a minimum of 30 minutes on YouTube every time I visit. Why???