The golden hours, as so-named by time management writer Laura Vanderkam, are the hours between work and bed. This part of the day is an often under-utilized stretch of time, as people tend to be tired from their day and don’t feel up to doing much. However (as LV suggests), with a little intention and forethought, the golden hours can still be used in a more meaningful (albeit low-key) way than sitting on the couch scrolling.
As you well and truly know, I love a list, especially of things you want to do and/or things that bring you joy. So having a list of things you might use this time for is (in my opinion) a fun idea. These would be items that actually feel meaningful and productive in that you are interested in doing or experiencing them, but that don’t require a lot of thought, energy, or creativity.
One of the ways I use this time is — as often mentioned — doing things in the city after work, such as attending the occasional show or talk. I often find it easier to simply go someplace straight from work than to make that happen at a different time of week.
Another way I have been using my golden hours is to watch “All Creatures Great and Small” with my mother. This has been the most unexpected bonding experience. I had wanted to re-watch the show, and my mother expressed interest in it, so we started together one evening and kept at it. We have watched seasons 1 and 2, and started season 3 (total of 17 episodes watched so far). Episodes are just under an hour each and we watch one or two at a time.
One night I baked the oatmeal squares from Dinner Done, which took about a half hour from start to finish (I halved the recipe and baked them for 22 minutes) and rewarded me with a warm treat surprisingly easily. Baking often seems to me to be a time-consuming project, but not necessarily!
An obvious use of the golden hours is to get ready for bed really early, and read. This feels so incredibly cozy and indulgent, but you might just fall asleep early.
Another potential use of this time is to go for a long walk-and-talk with a friend. Or go out to eat together (my friends and I have been known to simply go out for pizza to catch up). Or any number of things!
This concept is not so much about maximizing every second — we all need downtime — but about ending off the day in an intentional way that makes you happy.
I hope there are some helpful ideas here and I would love to hear how you spend (or might spend) your golden hours!
(Photo credit: Blaque X/Pexels)
