If you prefer to “fall back” than to “spring forward,” you’re in luck. Daylight saving time ends for 2023 on Sunday, November 5th, at 2 a.m. local time, pushing clocks back an hour to 1 a.m. This means you get an extra hour in your schedule.
Through the years, many people have tried to end daylight saving time. For example, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) proposed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2018 and reintroduced it in 2023. The bill gained momentum in 2022 but stalled in 2023. Federal law prohibits states from enacting permanent daylight saving time. So the clock changing will continue for now, twice each year.
What will you do with the extra hour you’re getting back in your schedule since we lost an hour back in March, when standard time went into effect again?
If you prefer to do something other than get an extra hour of sleep, here are several productive ways to use your extra hour.
1. Declutter a drawer or cabinet
The busier we get, the more likely it is that clutter can get out of control. Which area of your home or office is starting to drive you a little nuts because you can’t find anything? Take a few minutes to clean out a cabinet, a drawer, your purse, your briefcase, the glove compartment in your car or something else. Take everything out of that space, clean it well and then put everything you want to keep back in.
2. Clean out the cache on your phone
Americans spend more than five hours a day on their smartphones. When you use your phone, it is accessing, retrieving and saving browser cache and cookies, which can negatively impact your phone’s storage space.
Browser cache is website content that’s stored on your phone during a browser session to help the browser perform faster the next time you visit the same page. But cache data can slow down your phone’s browsing performance because it takes up storage space in your device, so it’s good to clear it out regularly.
3. Clean out your emails
Go through your email account(s) and take action on each email. Delete those you don’t need, move those you want to save to folders and reply to others. And, now that you have some “found time,” take a moment to unsubscribe from those emails you somehow signed up for but don’t want or need.
4. Catch up with someone important to you
Send a text or email to someone you haven’t connected with in a while — or give them a call. Even though we consider the people in our lives to be important, they often get the short end of the stick when we’re busy. If you really want to surprise someone, send out a card or letter by snail mail, or order a gift or flowers to be delivered to someone special.
5. Write down your goals for next year, if you haven’t already
Setting goals is one of the keys to success for a lot of accomplished people. You’ve probably heard about “SMART goals.” The acronym SMART stands for goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound (tied to a specific timeline).
We first heard about SMART goals in a 1981 article written by George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham.
6. Schedule an appointment or two
Have you been putting off a doctor’s appointment or a dental appointment? Could you use a therapeutic massage or a haircut? Does your cat or dog need a checkup at the vet? Make those appointments now.
7. Show your vehicle some care
When was the last time you had the oil in your vehicle changed? The tires rotated? Take it in for maintenance. While you’re at it, take it to or through the car wash.
8. Get an insurance review
How long has it been since you checked the coverage and cost of your auto, home, health and life insurance? This is especially important if you have experienced any changes in your life that would require revisions to your coverage. Check in with your agent(s) to find out if your coverage is appropriate and if you’re getting the best possible rates.
9. Check your bank and credit card accounts
Cyber thieves are constantly on the move, stealing from people. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, your credit card company or bank will thwart the suspicious activity, decline the transaction and contact you to see if you were the one trying to get cash at a casino in France or buying a shed from Home Depot.
If the financial institution doesn’t catch any unauthorized activity, the only way you’ll find out about it is by taking the time to log in to each of your bank accounts and credit card accounts, reviewing every transaction and reporting any unauthorized purchases. The more often you do this, the less likely you are to lose money to thieves.
Enjoy your extra hour — whether you sleep in or take care of some important tasks.
Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Raymond James. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or a loss regardless of strategy selected. No investment strategy can guarantee your objectives will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.