How to Make the Most of Your Leap Day
Saturday is Leap Day, an extra day that is added to the calendar every four years because of … um … how the Earth moves around the Sun? Something like that? Basically, time is a construct, and every four years we build an extra day to make sure all other days are the same.
Now that we have it sorted out, what are you going to do with your extra day?
At Inc., Damon Brown (author of The Bite Size Entrepreneur ) argues that we should use Leap Day to reflect and recharge :
Every year Bill Gates needs two weeks to think : he stops working, spends time alone and reads a lot. His intention is to analyze business progress and develop a strategy for the next step.
Many of us can’t imagine ourselves unavailable for two weeks, but what about one day?
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Alternatively, you can spend a monk’s day by recharging certain areas of your life, professionally or personally. If you feel like you are on the verge of burnout, then this may be the best option.
This is very similar to the monthly Day Without Plans I talked about in yesterday’s Lifehacker post about planning mental health days in advance . It’s kind of like a last minute, but if you can turn a Leap Day into a day of rest, a day of recharge, a day of mental health, or a day with no plans, I would suggest doing it. (The fact that the leap day falls on Saturday this time should help, at least for people who work Monday through Friday.)
Of course, you can also go the other way and spend your Leap Day doing something unusual, wonderful, or extraordinary. I have seen many parents write about the joy of giving their kids a Yes Day , when every reasonable request is granted, from ice cream for breakfast to midday video games. You can do the same for your children or for yourself.
Basically, if you wanted to say yes to something, like taking a day trip or visiting a new restaurant, Leap Day is a great day to do that. If there is something that you have long wanted to turn down, for example, a regular weekend full of hassle and work, a leap day is a great day when you shouldn’t.
Because the Earth will continue to revolve around the Sun, whether we like it or not, and another Saturday full of commitment, cleaning and cooking is coming soon.
So go ahead and treat Leap Day as a very special event that happens every four years.