A minute per hour.
An hour per day.
A day per week.
A week per month.
A month per year.
I ran into this concept in a book on voluntary simplicity back in my early 30s, and it’s been a bit of a compass for living a more grounded, intentional life—so much so, I even shared it in our recent retreat, Stress and the Spirituality of Uncertainty.
If something brings joy, slows you down, or breathes calm into your world — how do you infuse your life with it meaningfully and sustainably? How do you commit?
Imagine yoga is your grounding practice. What if you stretched for a minute every hour, practiced for an hour each day, lived more meditatively one day a week, did a special yoga immersion one week a month, and spent one month a year on retreat or deep study?
Now imagine working the same way with something that drains your energy, like social media. What if you took a complete break for one hour each day, a full day off each week, reduced or eliminated it one week a month, and took a true social media sabbatical one month a year?
How might your life feel different?
I love this framework because it’s gentle enough to weave into everyday life, yet bold enough to challenge your comfort zone. It invites small, mindful rhythms and the occasional radical act of heart-racing commitment.
Think of it as a way to align your time with what really matters:
- Time in nature — from stepping outside for one mindful breath each hour to planning a month in wild places.
- Connection with loved ones — from daily snuggles to a month centered on shared experiences.
- Volunteer work or social justice advocacy — from posting awareness online to leading an event.
- Learning something new — from a podcast or audiobook to a deep-dive course or training.
So here’s the question for you:
What’s important enough to be this kind of radical about?
And what if, this year, you tried it?