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5 ways to make the most of the extra hour that don't involve leaving the house

Red (UK) 26/10/2018 Anya Meyerowitz

It's that time of year again, when the clocks go back and we all gain an extra, glorious hour. However now begins the arduous task of deciding exactly what to do with it... do we sleep through it? Do we race out the house to fit in an extra boxing class? Or, do we scale things back a little and practice some self-care so that we start the day feeling like our best selves?

I think you can guess which one gets our vote.

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Here are five ways to use the extra hour that don't involve leaving the house or putting your body through an intense HIIT circuit.

Write a gratitude journal

Writing a gratitude journal is a brilliant way of cultivating an attitude of contentment and happiness, in fact we're such big fans of we eve wrote a piece about them here.

Invest in a beautifully bound gratitude diary like the ones below or just write it out in a notebook or on your laptop.

Write down as many things you can possibly think of that you are grateful for - no matter how small. Maybe you got the best parking space at the supermarket or the job you always wanted? Who knows, but writing them down and reflecting on them creates a mindful moment and sets you up for a more joyful day!

Kikki.K Gratitude Journal, £21

5 ways to make the most of the extra

Gratitude Journal: 100 Days of Gratitude Will Change Your Life by Natalie Fox, £17.29

5 ways to make the most of the extra

Dance

Moving your body doesn't have to mean a structured workout or pushing it to it's limits, sometimes it just means letting loose and shaking it out.

Moving your body lowers anxiety and is also a great way to shake off emotions (oh, and it's fun!), so just put on some upbeat music and get moving!

Do something creative

Doing something creative is proven to lower our anxiety and actually help us achieve more at work, plus it's fun so it's a great way to start the day.

Whether you interpret this as doing some digital art on your iPad or setting up an easel and doing some painting, it's a really calming and expressive activity for the morning.

We love the idea of buying a sketch book and just letting your pencil run free, or even writing something creative like a short story.

Make a coffee and get back into bed

We are coffee addicts at Red and so, of course, we had to include it as one of our 'self-care for the extra hour' options.

But there's a twist; instead of just making a coffee and then getting on with your morning, make your coffee and get back into bed. Sip it slowly while you read, watch a feel good nostalgic programme (ahem, Friends) or make another coffee for your partner and set the world to rights together before you both have to get up.

Cook a delicious breakfast

We normally call a slice of toast with peanut butter our breakfast, we eat it in bites in between getting dressed and we've forgotten all about it once we've left the house. Sometimes, if we're lucky, it's a bowl of porridge at our desk while we go through our inbox.

Feeding ourselves with delicious, healthy food is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself and so we love the idea of using the extra hour to make something a little special.

Why not pick one of these recipes that are perfect for an indulgent breakfast in bed, it will set you up for the day and make you feel like Nigella.

Watch: The one genius paint trick to make your space feel bigger [Real Simple]