When You’re Forced to Change
“Daylight savings is the worst!”
I was with a friend on Sunday and she was complaining about having to change the clocks back. “Seriously,” she shared, “It’s so depressing that it’s dark by 5pm. I’m already dreading the long, dreary winter. It’s basically pitch black by the time we sit down for dinner. Ugh. I can’t wait until spring. I think it’s ridiculous that we have to be forced to make this change twice a year. Don’t you agree?”
She was very surprised when I told her that I disagree…
For me, daylight savings marks a new season and a shift in routine. I’m normally non-stop from dusk until dawn. I have a hard time bringing my day to a close when the sun is shining and the world is bright and awake. But when it starts to get dark out, I know it’s time to wind down, stop working/thinking, and begin shifting towards rest and relaxation. In the summer, that happens for me around 8pm. But this week, my shut-down happens much, much earlier. And for that, I’m grateful.
Why?
I know this will spark some debate, but I think daylight savings is a great concept. I appreciate that for the next four months my evening winds down earlier. The sun sets at 5pm. When I get home from the office, I immediately change out of my work clothes and put on warm pajamas and fluffy slippers before dinner. My brain begins to receive signals that it’s time to cozy-up and hunker down for the evening. You might disagree, but I love this forced change that happens twice a year.
Because of daylight savings, I feel like I’ve been given permission to hibernate. I give myself more time to relax during the winter months. The weather is chillier here in Massachusetts, so it’s not unusual to have a fire going at the end of the workday. I appreciate the contrast between the warmth inside our house and the frost out on the grass. In the winter months, I tackle house projects, get a little crafty, spend more time on the couch, crochet a lot of blankets, and don’t feel guilty.
What if you use daylight savings as your excuse for switching up your routine?
Instead of resenting the darkness, what if you learn to appreciate that it’s lighter and brighter now in the morning. Could you switch your evening routine of walking the dog at 6pm, and swap your walk for 6am? What if you take on a new project or hobby over the next four months? And when we all are forced to “spring ahead” on March 13, 2022, the clock change can be your indicator to switch your routine again.
My friend Rich loves golfing. He tries to get out on the course five times a week all spring and summer. Now that it’s dark early and his club is closing for the winter, he swaps time on the links for indoor strength training. He works out five times a week. He takes the winter months to lift weights, stretch more, work on his swing, and maintain his core strength. As soon as the clocks change in the spring, that’s his green-light to get out to the driving range and return to seven months of golf.
What about you? Are you feeling bummed that it’s dark so early this week? What if you used this time of the year as your opportunity to switch it up? Could you see how this forced change could be a built-in indicator to make a shift in your routine? Could you try something new for the next four months? Let your yard work and lawncare take a backseat to painting your living room or working on that woodworking project in your basement you’ve always wanted to tackle.
What if this was the year you welcomed daylight savings? How about, starting this week, you commit to a twice-a-year shift in routine? What would it be like if you gave yourself permission to hibernate in the winter, welcome warmer pajamas, and a new slowed-down pace? And then when the clocks change on March 13th 2022, it’s your indicator that it’s time to reawaken your senses, come out from your much-needed rest, and spring back into action?
This Week’s Resources
Pajamas for the Whole Family
Winter is coming, and so is the need for warm pajamas. Have you ever seen those families with matching pajamas and wonder where the heck they buy something so silly (yet adorable)? Pajamagram is your one-stop shopping for matchy-matchy family PJs. And if you use the code PETJAMMIES at checkout, they will throw in free pajamas for your dog! pajamagram
Keep the Home Fires Burning
Do you love having a fire in your fireplace, but find it challenging to get the flames started? Or maybe you’re looking for a cozy gift for someone for the holidays? Check out LL Bean’s Fatwood Crate filled with kindling wood that lasts. The wood comes in a refillable bucket that’s perfect for winter gift-giving: fatwood crate
My Wife is Awesome
This headline caught my attention when I read Jesse Itzler’s post about his wife Sara Blakely. He shared about how proud he is of her recent sale of her company SPANX. Last month, Sara sold SPANX to Blackstone for $1.2B. She could have celebrated privately. But instead, she thanked the people who got her there. As a show of appreciation to all of her employees for their 21 years of service in making SPANX so successful, Sara gave every one of them two first class plane tickets to any destination in the world, and $10,000 to spend on the trip! The story and accompanying video is pretty inspirational: sara blakely's thank you
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