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On Improving

Productive and Meaningful Ways to Spend Your Extra Hour

Daylight Saving Time has come to an end once again. For some, this is a relief, and for others, it’s a sad moment. But for all of us, it represents a rare gift: a full, unexpected hour. It’s easy to let this time slip away into the void of scrolling or chores. But what if you used it intentionally? This isn’t about adding more stress to your day; it’s about using this bonus time for something that truly refreshes you or brightens someone else’s day. 

This blog post is designed to help you use that time with purpose and it’s broken down into two sections: invest in yourself and invest in others. Then, each section is categorized by type to help you narrow down and make the most of every minute. 

Invest in Yourself: How to Use the Hour for Self-Improvement

The ideas here aren’t just for one day a year; you can embrace this “found time” anytime throughout the week. This isn’t about adding pressure; rather, it’s about choosing intention over inertia. Use this time for a little personal maintenance, growth, or much-needed rest.

Ultimate Relaxation

  • Sleep in. Seriously, just take the extra rest. No guilt allowed.
  • Enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee or tea in silence.
  • Take a long, hot bath or shower without rushing.
  • Sit outside and just breathe in the fresh air.
  • Listen to a calming playlist or a short guided meditation.
  • Go for a walk with no destination in mind.

Personal Productivity

  • Finish that job application you’ve been putting off.
  • Complete a small crafting project that’s been sitting in a closet.
  • Clean up and organize your desk or a single junk drawer.
  • Declutter one shelf or a single drawer.
  • Lightly plan out your upcoming week.
  • Refill your water bottle and water stations around the house.
  • Related: If a bigger project inspires you, read about how I studied for CLEP exams—it’s all about using small pockets of time effectively.

Mental Enrichment

  • Catch up on that one episode of your favorite show you haven’t had time for.
  • Pick up that book you left on the nightstand and read a chapter.
  • Watch a quick tutorial on something you want to learn.
  • Listen to an informative podcast on a new topic.
  • Journal for 20 minutes—write things you’re grateful for or goals you have.
  • Related: Get inspired by my review of In Search of Wisdom by Joyce Meyer for a quick read.

Invest in Others: Using the 5 Love Languages to Guide Your Hour

Transform your extra hour into a gift for someone else. The categories below are inspired by The Five Love Languages, a framework developed by author and counselor Gary Chapman. The core idea is that people give and receive love in different ways, often categorized into five primary “languages”: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Understanding your own and your loved ones’ primary languages can help ensure your efforts to connect are truly felt and appreciated.

Related: The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (book)

Words of Affirmation

  • Draft a couple of “thinking about you” texts or voice messages and actually send them.
  • Write a heartfelt thank-you note or a letter of encouragement to mail.
  • Leave a sticky note with a kind message for your spouse or child to find.
  • Leave a positive, detailed review for a local small business you love.
  • Tell a loved one something obvious, but that feels good to be reminded: “It’s good to see you,” “I’m happy you’re here,” or “Welcome home!”

Quality Time

  • Make a phone call to a loved one and spend the entire time engaged in the conversation.
  • Stop by someone’s house you’ve been meaning to visit for a quick, spontaneous chat.
  • Play a board game or put together a puzzle with your family.
  • Put away your devices and have an uninterrupted conversation with a loved one.
  • Invite someone for a walk or a cup of tea and truly listen.

Receiving Gifts

  • Put together a small care package for a friend who’s had a tough week.
  • Bake a batch of cookies or muffins and share them with a neighbor.
  • Leave a small, thoughtful gift on the porch of someone you care about.
  • Order a book you think a friend would love and have it shipped directly to them.
  • Pick up a small treat—a coffee, a favorite snack—for someone unexpectedly.

Acts of Service

  • Load and run the dishwasher your partner usually handles.
  • Take your neighbor’s trash bins back from the curb.
  • Help a neighbor with a minor task like watering plants or moving a package out of the rain.
  • Offer to walk a friend’s dog for them.
  • Tidy up a common area in your home without being asked.

Physical Touch

  • Give your partner a 20-minute shoulder or foot massage.
  • Give a quick shoulder rub or simply sit close together while talking.
  • Cuddle up with your kids on the couch and read them a book.
  • Give someone in your family a long, heartfelt hug and just hold it.
  • Brush your child’s hair or play a gentle game like patty-cake.

That “extra” hour is yours. Whether you spend it on yourself or pour it into someone else, the goal is to be intentional. Choose one thing from these lists and see how a single hour can make a tangible difference in your day.

About The 5 Love Languages

Since its publication in 1992, Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, has become a phenomenal resource, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and spending hundreds of weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Its principles are widely recommended by counselors and used in relationship workshops because they provide a simple, practical vocabulary for strengthening connections.

Related Blog Posts

Link and Resources

One Step

Pick just one idea from the lists above. Don’t feel like you need to do it all. The goal is mindful intention, not productivity.

Finish Line

However you choose to spend it, this hour is yours. May it leave you—or someone else—feeling just a little lighter, kinder, or more connected.

Questions?

How will you use your extra hour? I’d love to hear your ideas.  Comment below or X/Tweet @tracyaltheide #moveupfam.

Tracy helps self-starters and project finishers find the tools, strategies, and confidence to complete the work that matters most. She shares actionable tips, book notes, reviews, and personal experiments to help you start strong and finish well.