How many times have you wished for an extra day in your life to get things done?
This year, it’s actually happening, as it does every four years. 2020 is a leap year, which means it includes leap day—an extra day tacked onto the end of February.
The extra day every four years helps keep the calendar on track because it actually takes a few hours more than 365 days’ worth for the Earth to revolve around the sun. (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds in case you want to impress your friends.)
Here are some ideas for making the most of your extra day.
New Year’s little sister
Setting goals on leap day can’t compete with the required New Year’s resolutions, but it can still be a good time to check up on life.
Think about what you’d like to do in the next four years. Put the ideas down in writing, seal it in an envelope and open it in four years. Knowing it’s sitting in that envelope just might motivate you to do more.
Make a Leap Year Call List
Who haven’t you called in a long time? Write down a list of friends or relatives and commit to calling them every leap day.
You don’t have to have a long conversation; they’ll be thrilled just to hear your voice and that they’re on your Leap Year Call List. Little, positive gestures like this will not only make their day, they’ll make yours, too.
Take advantage of the discounts
Leap Day is the perfect reason for stores and restaurants to offer deals. Who wouldn’t want 29 percent off while they shop?
Look for the ads or go online. And when you get hungry from all that shopping, check out restaurants for leap day deals.
Plan a Leap Day Dinner
Use the extra day to have a Leap Day Dinner with friends. Frog legs or hasenpfeffer would be fun leap day offerings, as would some other decadent or complicated recipe you would only make every four years.
Or just get your favorite takeout – it’s the company that counts!
Do that thing you don’t want to do
You could do that very annoying household task you only want to do every four years, like cleaning the attic or tackling the dirt and dust behind the washer, dryer and refrigerator.
Or maybe use the day to do some adulting: write a will, learn how to invest in stocks, set up a retirement plan.
Say yes to something new
Try something new you’ve always wanted to do. Skydiving or climbing a mountain would probably win the What Did You Do on Leap Day? contest among your friends.
Easier ideas might be going to a float spa, trying kayaking, taking a road trip to a city you’ve always wanted to visit or purchasing that ukulele you’ve always wanted to learn how to play.
By the time the next leap Year comes around, you can throw a ukulele concert for your friends at your Leap Day dinner.
Unplug
It’s only 1,440 minutes, folks; you can do this. Turn off your computer, hide your phone, unplug your TV and keep your hands off any other electronic device you own.
Plug into your family and friends instead or get outside and enjoy nature. Walk the dog. Read a book. Practice some self-care. Write in your journal. Make cookies and frost them with the letters L, E, A, P, Y, E, A, R.
Then eat them, of course. This day only comes around every four years.
