Can An Hour Alter a Non-Social Day or Week or Month? Yes.

   Can An Hour Alter a Non-Social Day or Week or Month? Yes

It’s difficult not to watch the news. Not wanting to look versus being compelled to look. Like witnessing a global crime scene unfold day after day, week after week, month after month.  Depending on your age, you may be able to watch now and again.  A sophomore in high school or college may well watch less often than a 30 or 40 year old supporting a family.

Sunday, I made the decision to go “news less” for 24 hours, to be laser-focused on the day in a grateful way.  By the way, I only watch the news for an hour a day.  Can this be helpful to you? Maybe.

Results: elation! News free has proved to be as refreshing as jumping in a swimming pool on a sweltering summer day or relaxing in a hammock under a shady tree. The revelation: “News less” can be as rejuvenating as restful slumber. No local, national news, no Twitter news, no Yahoo news. Nothing. Instead, just joy. Do you watch the morning news, the evening news and two versions of national news? That’s two hours that may be spent in a more joyful way. A news vacation can reboot the day.

Any other suggestions?  Yes, sit outside to read a book or write a novel or simply spend an hour or more watching the hummingbirds, cardinals and butterflies. Nurture the nature lover. As Camille Pissarro said, “Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places. Where others see nothing.”

What else? Sit in a child’s swing, under a shady Heritage Oak, then swing like an over-caffeinated eight year old.  On Sunday, did I time myself? Yes. Why? To make sure I devoted at least thirty minutes to the experiment. Results? More smiling, more gratitude, more bliss. And of course, the sunshine melts away a lot of worry. No surprise it’s a natural anti-depressant. Actually, the smaller lens in the smaller space, a park or a backyard, can be more elevating, important and breathtaking than the big one. More times than not, it’s more uplifting than the big picture migraine-inducing national news.

Anything else to amp up the volume? Yes, laughter. Laughter is the best medicine. According to Today’s Caregiver, laughter has many positive health effects. It relaxes the body for up to 45 minutes afterward, it improves the function of blood vessels, it increases blood flow that can help shield against a heart attack and the subsequent, morphine-like, endorphin release reduces physical and mental pain. To enjoy comedy from a comfy recliner, try watching Netflix comedy specials. I recommend 23 Hours to Kill  by Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan’s Obsessed.  For Jerry’s specials, keep a box of Kleenex on the ready to dab away the many happy tears.

Finally, even an hour a day focused on gratitude, even an hour spent outside, even an hour spent laughing instead of watching the news can change perspective and add quality to an otherwise challenging day, week or month.

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