Use leap day’s extra time to change your life for good

Once every four years, we get a bonus day on Feb. 29. Don’t make the mistake of letting leap day pass you by. Learn how to use this rare extra time as a springboard to personal change, turning a single day’s action into lifelong habits.

The leap day mindset: embracing the extra day

If you struggle with making time for yourself, set aside this day for self-growth activities. An extra 24 hours can make all the difference with the right mindset. By viewing leap day as a chance for a mini-reboot, you’re setting the foundation for transformational change.

Taking opportunities to make changes builds new neural pathways, which helps protect cognitive function. Reflect on your goals, struggles and needs through purposeful activities like journaling, meditation or booking a session with a therapist. With how busy life gets, it can be a rare opportunity to get the time to sit with yourself and check in on how you’re doing. That’s all the reason to leverage leap day as a launchpad for personal development.

“If you don’t take out time to focus on your own enrichment, sit with yourself and begin to tune into your inner voice, this can get harder and harder to do over time,” says Julia L. Pressman, a licensed clinical social worker.

Small leaps, big gains: micro-changes with macro impact

The idea of change can be daunting, but it doesn’t always have to be drastic. Start implementing small, manageable changes on leap day, like eating a healthy breakfast or taking a 15-minute walk after lunch.
Don’t underestimate the power of micro-changes, as they can lead to significant, positive shifts in your life. By taking that brisk walk on leap day, you may find that it’s something you enjoy and can easily incorporate into your routine. That one small change will slowly become a habit that promotes a healthier lifestyle.

“Over time, micro-changes increase our perception of what choices are available to us,” Pressman says. “When we try to do things differently than we typically do them, we learn more about ourselves and what works for us.”

Leap of faith: trying something new

Have you ever saved a new recipe or bookmarked a fitness video, promising yourself that you’ll get to it one day? As a wild card in the calendar year, there is no better day than leap day to step out of your comfort zone and finally try that thing you’ve been putting off.

Who knows? Trying out that honey cake recipe might end up with you falling in love with baking and creating a side hustle. That’s what happened to former U.S. national volleyball player Tui Tuileta during the pandemic. Tuileta used his free time to bake cookies and post his creations on social media. It quickly picked up and led him to fulfill orders locally, baking 400 cookies weekly from his parents’ oven. Attempting new things spices up your routine and can lead to unexpected opportunities. You never know if you don’t try.

The joy of the moment: celebrating the day

The rare occasion of having 366 days in the year calls for a celebration. Make this a special day by hosting a leap day-themed party. That way, you’ll make special memories to last until the next leap year.
As part of the celebration, indulge in festive foods. Make it a potluck so your friends and families can share foods they love, filling your dinner table with a variety of options like party favorite samosas — a flaky Indian pastry with potato filling.

Donovan is the author of more than 40 cookbooks. A food writer, recipe developer and food photographer, she is the creator of the food blog All Ways Delicious, where she shares easy recipes for the best dishes from around the world.