What to do with that “extra” hour

This Sunday, November 6th, marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, which means our time “falls back” by an hour, effective Sunday at 2am. While most people won’t want to stay up to change clocks at the transitional moment, it does mean that many people will enjoy an extra hour of daytime in the last half of the weekend.

Of course, you can always sleep in. But if you’d like to start November with a sublime sense of accomplishment, here‘s a baker’s dozen home upgrades that can be handled in about an hour (not including shopping and procurement time), for a mini-refresh that will celebrate fall and help set you up for whatever holiday celebrations you have coming up:

• Check batteries in all smoke detectors, alarms, and other sensors. Make sure the coming year is safe and prepared.
• Power wash your walkways. Assuming it’s not already freezing where you are, regular maintenance can reduce slipperiness and improve safety for your home paths.
• Replace your faucet. Read about this first, but it’s probably easier than you think, and you’ll enjoy your upgrade every day.
• Install new hardware on your cabinets. This is one of the fastest ways to give your space a new look.
• Declutter one closet. Clearing out can not only help other people when you donate your items, it can give you an almost instant sense of zen.
• Reorganize your bookshelves. There are so many approaches to making your shelves look put-together and intentional!
• Level up to a curved shower rod. This one item can make your bathroom feel more spacious, and installation is very manageable.
• Switch to LED bulbs. Check the voltage, but most of your fixtures can probably be upgraded just by swapping out the bulbs.
• Paint your front door. A simple thing can improve curb appeal and give your home a welcoming new face.
• Swap out your switchplates. Are those little frames getting grimy, cracked, or just boring? This is an easy pick-me-up you’ll see daily.
• Re-caulk your tub. This is important to prevent leakage around and below your tub, which can cause big problems over time. It’s a simple thing that can save you a bundle.
• Clear out your dryer ducts. This prevents fires, and will save energy as your dryer won’t have to work so hard.
• Replace your surge protectors. This is recommended every 2–5 years. Consider marking each strip with the replacement date to help you remember, and bear in mind: not all power strips are actually surge protectors!
• Install or replace your weatherstripping. Stopping drafts in their tracks can reduce energy costs and keep you more comfortable all year round.

There are so many more things that might fit this bill: check your to-do lists to see if there’s something you’ve been meaning to get to.

Whatever you do, enjoy that “extra” time, and have a beautiful autumn!