Epoch Times reporters from Japan to Germany asked this and found some surprising results: Some people would simply apply the time to rest or leisure activities. But for others, a gift of just 60 minutes prompted a reevaluation of life priorities.
Heidenheim, Germany
Gudrun Esslinger, 45, Architect
I would be involved more in sports, would read more and at times even cook a meal. It would be wonderful to spend time with ones friends. More time would allow us to enjoy everything with greater awareness and one would learn to appreciate the little things, the ordinary things and the special moments much more, the things which one realizes after they passed us by.
Anne-Marie McInally, Solicitor
I would spend it with my granddaughter. She gives me absolute joy. It works on so many levels. It brings my family together; gives me so much more relaxation – get to know your family all over again, you know, that nurturing stuff.
Laza Oana, 29, Business Analyst
I would use every extra minute I have to spend more time with my family. It's a crazy rushed life, and you never seem to find enough time to simply take a walk, bike, play basketball, visit a bookstore or go out as we used do when we were just students. I would use the extra hour to do all the small things that make us happy and I never can get enough of …
Ali Reza Rahvare, 30, Hairdresser
If I had free time I would like to watch action movies.
Yoshihiro Abe, 45, Social Activist
To Sleep. In recent decades I sleep less than three hours a day. I have spent all my time to investigate alternative currencies and promote it because I expected today's financial crisis before it happened. Through studying finance and politics, I notice that we have to have 'our own money without interest.' Today's economy system creates a serious situation for the socially weak. I want to head that off. In Japan, no one does this action except me right now. So that's why I feel a sense of mission about conveying the needs of monetary reform.
Charaine P.L., 25, Student
If I would have an extra hour a day, I'd spend more time with my brothers. When we were young we always spent time together, we played cards, we invented plays that we would perform in front of our parents, but now we're all pretty busy and don't get to see each other much.
Yair Liberthal, 36, Information Technology Professional
If I had an extra hour of free time I would read more. In the last couple of years I've read more books about art and philosophy. Now I am reading a book about Goethe, but I also like lighter things like novels by Ian McEwan.
Maria Toniulescu, 48, Hotel Chambermaid
I am from Romania, I live and work in Italy. If I have one extra hour I am sure I would go shopping, shopping and more shopping. I am very passionate about shopping.
Rita Tsui, Sports Promotion Manager
Well, I'm kind of a sports fanatic, so if I had an extra hour I'd just use it to practice. Recently I'm very much into lawn bowling, so I'd just practice lawn bowling.
Melissa Pope, 25, Massage Therapy Student
If I had one extra hour free in the day, I would use it by going surfing. I would go get my swimmers, my surfboard, drive my car quickly down to the beach, jump in the ocean and take it all in.
Miroslav Valarik PhD, 38, Scientist
I enjoy various activities in my free time, like reading books, sport, or walking in nature. But as a father of two small kids, what I currently miss the most is a good rest. So I would probably just sleep.
Samir Harkous, 43, Christian Organization Coordinator
I would spend any extra hour with my wife. She is always busy with her job, and I am always busy with mine, and then we have our two kids and many other responsibilities. So we barely have time to be together. I am sure she would spend her extra hour with me too!
Stanislava Zajacova, 27, University Lecturer
Personally, I would be happy to have a 30-hour days. However, if the government decides to have 25-hour days I would appreciate that as well. The question is, how long would I be able to see the extra hour being really extra and not something pretty common. But, as long as I would be able to see it like that, I would use it for the things I neglect: family, friends, myself. One day, it would be an hour spent with my close ones talking over tea or wine, or having a walk; other days it would be an hour spent selfishly on myself—walking my dog, reading books I don’t have to read but want to, watching movies, listening to music, or doing something that I’m really lacking—sleeping.
Gary Steadman, 73, Retired Aeronautical Engineer and wife Mary Steadman
Gary: If I had an additional hour each day, I would like to spend it with some of my 28 grand children.
Mary: I think I would like to take an oil painting class. Yes, even in (rural) Tooele.
Marina Sasso, 49, European Karate Champion (1981), Bronze in World Karate Championship (1980)
If I would have an extra hour free in a day I will go to the sea, no matter if is winter or summer. There I manage to find myself again, staying relaxed and thinking in a positive way … There I feel that I’m a child again, and there I can establish again real contact with the element that’s indispensable for me: water. The sea with its colors, its sounds and its immensity makes me to listening this universe, and what’s more—the music of its silence together with my slow movements gives life to an ancient dance that brings me to that maternal womb that protected me and that I’ve never forgotten.
Tanja Stachelhaus-Reuber, 44, self-employed
If I had more time I would give it to myself—meditate. Maybe I would start to create and work more with stone-cutting. But first of all, I'd give more time to myself.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week, when Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspective on local and global realities.
Next week’s global question: Who do you think is the most influential person in your country and why?
