There’s something a little bit magical about this time of year. The dark veil of winter is finally lifting – we’re all able to crawl out of our caves where we’ve been loafing to get a few more hours back in our day! To be honest, our bodies have been in hibernation mode a little too long and the fact that it’s Girl Scout Cookie season does not help matters. So while we may lose an hour of sleep in the mornings (shhh…), what we gain in Vitamin D is enough to make anyone forget about that little tidbit – after all, we’ve got a lot of life to catch up on and a lot of cookies to burn off!
In preparation for setting our clocks forward, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to make the most of Daylight Saving Time this spring.
Take the long way home.Who wants to be stuck in traffic for an hour when the spring weather is begging to be enjoyed? Ditch the highway for the back roads and catch a scenic drive that would have otherwise been missed in the dark. We’re holding onto the days of cruising with the windows down, the tunes up, and our cell phone relegated to our back pocket. Oh, and Metromile has you covered with their 24/7 roadside assistance, should anything happen while you’re out on the roads!
Go for an extra-long stroll in the park. Going for a long walk in your local park is the perfect way to leave behind all the struggles of your day and see some nature while you’re at it. If you have a pup, be sure to bring her along — your furry companion will most certainly appreciate the extra opportunity to stretch and play outside!
Meet friends for happy hour outside. Now that it’s staying lighter later, it’s the perfect excuse to rally your friends to try that new bar with the outdoor patio. Plan to meet after work for a drink at happy hour and relish the extra time you get to spend with your closest pals enjoying the extra hour of daylight.
Get in an extra workout. If working out in the mornings makes you want to die (same), the lighter days may leave you more energized to exercise after work. Ditch the gym or SoulCycle for an outdoor yoga class, boot camp, or light jog. Since it will be light later into the evening, you can safely incorporate this extra workout without feeling uneasy about nighttime prowlers.
Ride your bike home. Riding your bike when it’s dark outside is a risky game of will-they-or-won’t-they see me and should probably be avoided, if possible. However, once Daylight Saving Time goes into effect, it opens up all kinds of new possibilities. Try riding your bike home from work a few days a week and see just how refreshing it is to be outside in the fresh air again! (Oh yeah, and you can save on car insurance when you do!)
Clean up outside. If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor area and it’s looking a little worse for the wear after winter, it’s time to get out there and get sprucing! Use the extra hour after work to clean up outside and get your outdoor area ready for enjoying and entertaining. Then once it’s tidy, you can host happy hour at your place after work!
There are so many things to do with the extra hour of daylight — from scenic drives to meeting friends for happy hour al fresco, we’ll be using that extra daylight to the fullest here at Metromile. See you outside!
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Julianne Cronin is a Bay Area freelance writer, content creator, and founder/editor of the women’s lifestyle site, The Wink.