Can you change your life in an hour

The Red team try 10 different things to find out…

We know what you’re thinking: surely you need a bit longer than 60 minutes to change your entire life? We thought so, too. But a new book by Laura Archer, Change Your Life In An Hour, explores the myriad ways that will help you do just that. Ranging from journaling to dancing, Archer writes that every day we are making life-changing decisions when we choose how to spend our time. Inspired, 10 of the Red team spent one hour (either all at once, or by splitting it up into 10 minutes a day for six days, or five minutes a day for 12 days) testing out a different habit or experience. Here’s what happened…

1 WAKING UP 10 MINUTES EARLIER

By Sarah Tomczak, editor

Not commuting hasn’t freed up the extra hours I thought it might, but has instead lured me into hitting the snooze button more often. As a result, my family starts the day slightly frazzled. So does waking 10 minutes earlier change my life? Sort of. I realise no matter what I do with it, that handful of extra time is useful. Whether I shower before everyone else gets up or go through my mental to-do list, it allows me to have a moment to myself before the craziness commences. What I’ve found to be even better is waking 30 minutes – or an hour – earlier. This extra time always sets me on the right path for the day.

2 SPENDING TIME IN NATURE

By Emma Justice, acting features director

I’ve always enjoyed a country walk, but mostly for the pub at the end of it. Then I read Forest Therapy by Sarah Ivens, and realised what I was missing. Spending time in nature can help reduce blood pressure and depression, while improving sleep and focus. So rather than putting the kettle on each time I fancied a screen break, my ‘green prescription’ was to take a 10-minute walk with Mother Nature. I made a mental note to listen for birdsong rather than the buzz of traffic, and to watch clouds float by rather than people rush past. I was surprised to feel calmer and more energised after just one week, so I’ve embraced this natural remedy and now try to walk outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. Forest Therapy: Seasonal Ways To Embrace Nature For A Happier You (Piatkus) by Sarah Ivens.

3 LEARNING A NEW SKILL

By Ella Dove, commissioning editor

I have long doubted my artistic abilities, and so it was with scepticism that I logged on to a Skillshare painting course. I thought art couldn’t be taught, but the short tuition videos soon proved me wrong. From setting up your workspace to basic colour mixing, just five minutes a day boosted my knowledge, technique and indeed my self-esteem no end. Turner I am not, but I no longer fear judgement when painting. It may not have changed my life drastically, but it has given me the confidence to try new things again. It just goes to show a little dedicated time can go a long way. skillshare.com.

4 ATTENDING A SELF-DISCOVERY CLASS By Beverley Croucher, picture director

‘What am I anxious about? What am I afraid will happen? I can probably cope because...’ This is part of the first exercise on The School of Life’s How to Develop Self-knowledge Zoom class. Writing down what it is we’re afraid will happen (and how to deal with it if it does) puts things into perspective. Often, the reason either doesn’t justify the worry or there are actions that we can take. I put this into practice the next day in a conversation with a friend whom I miss. Of course, she had no idea how I was feeling and missed me, too, so I’ve tackled one of the niggles I’ve been carrying. Now, I’ve realised the importance of communicating and I’m armed with an exercise I can use to clarify my thought. theschooloflife.com.

5 INVESTIGATING CAREER COACHING By Arielle Tchiprout, features writer

For a while, I’d been feeling uninspired at work while also finding it difficult to switch off. I dismissed these feelings as side-effects of 2020, but having an hour with career coach Arit Eminue revealed other causes. Non-judgemental and warm, Eminue asked me questions such as, ‘When was the last time you loved what you were doing?’ challenging me to reflect in new ways. Together, we discovered I’d fallen out of a good routine, and came up with an approach to help me prioritise my favourite tasks and my free time, which I’ve followed since. Now, I understand myself better; I feel less tired, and more inspired. ariteminue.com.

6 HAVING DAILY COLD SHOWERS By Armelle Ferguson, sustainability columnist

When I first took on the challenge of a cold shower every morning for six days, I was apprehensive. I’m not a morning person, and this sounded very aggressive to me. Now I can confidently say it’s one of the simplest, most powerful ways to transform your day. My first cold shower awoke my senses and gave my body energy I didn’t know I had. After a few days, my mind felt clearer, my thoughts sharper, and my mood better. I still grab a tasty brew as part of my morning routine, but I don’t depend on it as much to function. I might even make it a regular thing!

7 TESTING OUT A THERAPY APP By Bryony Firth-bernard, features intern

As a typical Virgo (self-critical, workaholic, perfectionist), I get stressed easily, especially with work. It’s something I’ve always known that I need to keep an eye on, so I thought spending five minutes a day on a mental health app recommended by the NHS would be a good start. I downloaded Catch It, where you log any negative feelings and reflect on how you can approach your situation more positively – professionally known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT. At first, I was apprehensive about how something so simple was going to stop my mind going into overdrive, but after just a week of using it, I found myself naturally tackling stressful situations – such as juggling work deadlines – in a more constructive way. Can it transform my Virgo ways? I think slowly, but surely, it can. nhs.uk/apps-library/catch-it*.

8 DEDICATING TIME TO KINDNESS By Julie Powell, health director

It’s obvious how spreading kindness can help others. But doing small kindly acts every day has also been a game-changer for me. It’s made me realise that I often behave in a competitive way. Practising a kinder approach – signing petitions, phoning a lonely friend, waving someone into a parking spot – I’ve not only witnessed the warm appreciative glow in other people, but felt it myself. Kindness is infectious and committing to it daily has subtly shifted my focus towards compassion – not just for other people, but also myself.

9 PRACTISING MEDITATION By Jodie Dunworth, senior fashion assistant

I recently discovered the quote ‘If you don’t make time for your wellness, you’ll be forced to make time for your illness’. As my anxiety and stress levels verged on unbearable, I knew something had to change. I chose to meditate using the Calm app for 10 minutes a day for six days. Although I knew I wouldn’t master the practice in an hour, it seemed like a good place to start. I did find meditating easier on some days than others, however the techniques are already helping me to curb my anxiety when I feel it starting to spiral. So, while it might take me a few more sessions to tap into true Zen, making time for my wellness is finally on the agenda. calm.com.

10 TRYING DAILY BREATHING EXERCISES By Anna Bonet, features writer

Not wanting to get bored of doing the same breathing exercise 12 days in a row, I decided to ask myself how I was feeling each time and find an exercise to match. For example: on the first day I’m worried when my partner starts coughing, so I find a guided breathing exercise for anxiety on Youtube. On Friday, I follow a ‘breathing exercise to wind down’, and on Monday, I search for one to combat stress. For me, the breathing wasn’t life-changing, but checking in on my emotions daily has been revolutionary.

‘Kindness is infectious and committing to it daily has shifted my focus towards compassion’