The definitive guide on how to make the most of 60 minutes this Easter bank holiday weekend

HOW have we all been coping this week with ‘the hour’? I won’t lie, I’m wrecked from it. I feel like I’m jet lagged and I’ve barely left the parish. But, in the spirit of positivity, and to reframe the narrative (I’m not sure if I’ve used that out of context or not, but I think it sounds good), I’ve come up with some suggestions on how to get the most out of those extra 60 minutes I see as been ‘gifted.’ Here goes:

Gift yourself some time gardening

My sister brought me a gift of a gorgeous ponytail grass in a lovely pot for the patio. It looked as fun and joy-evoking as it sounds. The advice was to comb through the plant to promote growth which also sounded like it was going to be a tonne of fun. It became a beacon of hope … for the whole two hours it survived.  Billy the retriever decided ponytails weren’t his vibe so he gave it a short back and sides. Then he devoured it completely. Instead of gardening, I should probably go to the garden centre instead.

The ponytail grass was lovely while it lasted... before Billy the dog got to it. (Photos:Shutterstock)

Dive into some decluttering

I got stuck into some major tidying/sorting/decluttering the other day and god, it felt brilliant. I’d thoroughly advise doing it both for your mental health and health and safety in the home. There was only one drawback. When I let everyone back in the house (what? it was very mild out) straight away they started touching things, moving things, and using things (specifically drinking glasses, so many drinking glasses), and using the toilets (define ‘necessary’ I told them!). Pretty soon all evidence of my toil was obliterated. I tried to resist the urge to say ‘and all I do for this family and no one appreciates it.’ I failed. I said it. No regrets. I mean all I do.

Do the Returnables.

Regular readers will know this task occupies a lot of my headspace: wondering when to do them; when is it too early and not worth your while; when is too late and you risk holding up the queue or being judged. There’s a lot to consider. In any case, use ‘the hour’ to do the job at some point this week. Maybe we could go together?

Go to an Easter ceremony

I love tradition and I’m a stickler for Easter tradition and in particular the Easter ceremonies. I used to go to all of them as a child. If my parents couldn’t go, I’d go with my grandparents, sometimes twice a day, the longer the ceremony the better, and the more references to thorns and crucifixions  better again. I miss the good old Good Fridays when the suffering was real. You’d be half lightheaded from the fasting, with nothing open, and nothing on TV … only more ceremonies. Sure you even go to the pub now, legally, and no one bats an eye. There is the ‘Good Friday salad’ to look forward to though: mainly egg, celery, beetroot – buckets of beetroot. It’s good for the blood.

Do some Easter crafting

How about some family fun, foraging for twigs and making a wreath? Or a pretty bonnet? Or hard boiling some eggs and getting decorative with the paint set? Triggering lockdown vibes? Yeah. Me too. Scratch that one.

Get a pedicure

Carve out some me time and book yourself a pedicure as brighter days are a coming. Or start the pre-pedicure work yourself and get pumicing. I’m still mortified at the reaction my therapist had to my feet last summer. Poor girl. I think she pivoted career after me.

Go for a spin

Hah! Just joking – and the price of petrol. Make no unnecessary journeys, as RTÉ’s Teresa Mannion warned! Walk as many places as you can. Bring along a black bag to pick up litter if you want to feel extra virtuous. Or just bring a bag of Easter eggs to lure the children around and keep the whining to an acceptable level.

Perhaps go for a little spin

Get out the flask, take a picnic and remind ourselves that summer days aren’t long off. Who cares if it’s drizzling or blowing a gale, we are lucky to live in such a safe place so let’s show it the appreciation it deserves. Don’t forget a few blankets though, and the deep breathing techniques for when the whining gets to an unacceptable level.

Watch ‘Amandaland’ on Netflix

I find there’s so very few things on our screens that will evoke a laugh out loud response but this is one. It’s a spinoff to the equally fantastic ‘Motherland’, and there’s seven episodes. I’ve watched them all twice and I’m still laughing. I might go round three. It’s pure genius.

Uninstall Instagram from your phone

This will gift you more than an hour and will work wonders for your mental health. I’m embarrassed at how much time I waste on this platform and how little it does for me. So go on, hit that uninstall button. No you do it first… !

Prepare for the last school term with military precision

Look ahead on the calendar and try to pre-empt those pressure points in the coming weeks. I think we’ve already have ever possible ‘dress-up day’ imaginable in school so thank the lord for that. But try to get a step ahead if you have birthdays coming up, and of course confirmations/communions (although truthfully you’ll have had to be all over these by now to get any suppliers).

Also stash away some dinners in the freezer along with a batch of brownies for an unexpected cake sale; sort the family’s dental appointments; do a family nit check; worm the dog and make sure everyone is getting their five helpings of fruit and veg a day. Basically, tap into that mental mother load and zap the life out of it. But also try and live in the moment as well. Yeah, give that one your best shot.

Or here’s a thought ….

Gift yourself the extra hour and just stay in bed, even for one single morning  if the situation allows. Just no scrolling on Instagram.