At 2 a.m. on March 8, 2015, we will turn our clocks ahead one hour marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time
Although most clocks will automatically make the transition (as opposed to back in the day when we had to manually turn the clocks), this time of the year can serve as a reminder to check on some important things – and no, not just checking on those smoke detectors and CO2 detectors.
So, here are a few things you can think about doing when you wake up and realize you lost an hour of your day (but, cheer up because you gained more daylight as we inch toward the lazy, hazy, longer days of summer!).
- Check on your pets. As the temperatures change and the seasons turn, it is important to think about the wellbeing of your pets. Do you need to get some heartworm pills or flea and tick medicine? Is your pet up-to-date on shots? Consider taking your pet for his/her biannual check up and get anything you may need for the coming months. You can also have a home security system installed and check on your pet with your smart home devices.
- Check on your finances. While you should always keep an eye on your finances and understand the full scope of your financial situation, now that you are two months into the year and almost at the close of the first quarter, it’s time for a quick check. Now is a good time to evaluate and see if your spending and savings are on-point with what you anticipated when the year began.
- Set goals. Maybe you set a New Year’s resolution or two and maybe you’re still on track. But, if you’re like the 83 percent who have abandoned those resolutions already, consider getting back on track. Check in with what you set out to do and figure out if it’s still feasible and then adjust. If you didn’t set any resolutions, consider setting a measurable goal now and create a plan to reach that goal. If you want to lose that weight for swimsuit season, then get on it now.
- Clean out your refrigerator. Although this is something you should do on a regular basis, you may not get around to it as frequently. At least twice a year, check all the expiration dates and safety of the food in your fridge and go ahead and ditch what needs to be eliminated.
- Check your home for safety. You may be considering a full-on clean out as spring-cleaning approaches, but there is no time better than now to do a walkthrough and walk around to check inside and outside of your home for anything that seems “off.” If you find anything, like a broken smoke detector, write it down and take care of it yourself, or hire a professional, as soon as possible.
Even though you may have lost an hour, you can still be productive and use this time of the year to your advantage and do these five easy things.