diff --git a/core/decorators.py b/core/decorators.py
index 2ec900a..df555ff 100644
--- a/core/decorators.py
+++ b/core/decorators.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import util.format
 
-def every(minutes=0, seconds=0):
+def every(hours=0, minutes=0, seconds=0):
     def decorator_init(init):
         def call_init(obj, *args, **kwargs):
             init(obj, *args, **kwargs)
             if obj.parameter('interval') is None:
-                obj.set('interval', minutes*60 + seconds)
+                obj.set('interval', hours*3600 + minutes*60 + seconds)
         return call_init
     return decorator_init
 
diff --git a/modules/core/brightness.py b/modules/core/brightness.py
index 78f65d3..54598a7 100644
--- a/modules/core/brightness.py
+++ b/modules/core/brightness.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # pylint: disable=C0111,R0903
 
-'''Displays the brightness of a display
+"""Displays the brightness of a display
 
 Parameters:
     * brightness.step: The amount of increase/decrease on scroll in % (defaults to 2)
     * brightness.device_path: The device path (defaults to /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight), can contain wildcards (in this case, the first matching path will be used)
 
-'''
+"""
 
 import glob
 import shutil
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ import shutil
 import core.module
 import core.widget
 import core.input
+import core.decorators
 
 class Module(core.module.Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(seconds=30) # takes 30s to pick up on "external" changes
     def __init__(self, config):
         super().__init__(config, core.widget.Widget(self.brightness))
 
diff --git a/modules/core/date.py b/modules/core/date.py
index 38c4e62..2da8639 100644
--- a/modules/core/date.py
+++ b/modules/core/date.py
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 # pylint: disable=C0111,R0903
 
-'''Displays the current date and time.
+"""Displays the current date and time.
 
 Parameters:
     * date.format: strftime()-compatible formatting string
     * date.locale: locale to use rather than the system default
-'''
+"""
 
+import core.decorators
 from .datetime import Module
 
 class Module(Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(hours=1)
     def __init__(self, config):
         super().__init__(config)
 
diff --git a/modules/core/nic.py b/modules/core/nic.py
index 7f98ca0..b54680b 100644
--- a/modules/core/nic.py
+++ b/modules/core/nic.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pylint: disable=C0111,R0903
 
-'''Displays the name, IP address(es) and status of each available network interface.
+"""Displays the name, IP address(es) and status of each available network interface.
 
 Requires the following python module:
     * netifaces
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Parameters:
     * nic.include: Comma-separated list of interfaces to include
     * nic.states: Comma-separated list of states to show (prefix with '^' to invert - i.e. ^down -> show all devices that are not in state down)
     * nic.format: Format string (defaults to '{intf} {state} {ip} {ssid}')
-'''
+"""
 
 import shutil
 import netifaces
@@ -18,10 +18,12 @@ import subprocess
 
 import core.widget
 import core.module
+import core.decorators
 import util.cli
 import util.format
 
 class Module(core.module.Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(seconds=10)
     def __init__(self, config):
         widgets = []
         super().__init__(config, widgets)
diff --git a/modules/core/redshift.py b/modules/core/redshift.py
index 24cc6f1..d8850a8 100644
--- a/modules/core/redshift.py
+++ b/modules/core/redshift.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # pylint: disable=C0111,R0903
 
-'''Displays the current color temperature of redshift
+"""Displays the current color temperature of redshift
 
 Requires the following executable:
     * redshift
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Parameters:
         'auto' uses whatever redshift is configured to do
     * redshift.lat : latitude if location is set to 'manual'
     * redshift.lon : longitude if location is set to 'manual'
-'''
+"""
 
 import threading
 import logging
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ except ImportError:
 import core.module
 import core.widget
 import core.input
+import core.decorators
 
 import util.cli
 
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ def get_redshift_value(widget, location, lat, lon):
                     widget.set('transition', ' '.join(line.split(' ')[2:]))
 
 class Module(core.module.Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(seconds=10)
     def __init__(self, config):
         widget = core.widget.Widget(self.text)
         super().__init__(config, widget)
diff --git a/modules/core/time.py b/modules/core/time.py
index a800103..f35186e 100644
--- a/modules/core/time.py
+++ b/modules/core/time.py
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 # pylint: disable=C0111,R0903
 
-'''Displays the current date and time.
+"""Displays the current date and time.
 
 Parameters:
     * time.format: strftime()-compatible formatting string
     * time.locale: locale to use rather than the system default
-'''
+"""
 
+import core.decorators
 from .datetime import Module
 
 class Module(Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(seconds=59) # ensures one update per minute
     def __init__(self, config):
         super().__init__(config)
 
diff --git a/modules/core/xrandr.py b/modules/core/xrandr.py
index a62e0f5..4b7d8b6 100644
--- a/modules/core/xrandr.py
+++ b/modules/core/xrandr.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import sys
 import core.module
 import core.widget
 import core.input
+import core.decorators
 
 import util.cli
 import util.format
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ except:
     pass
 
 class Module(core.module.Module):
+    @core.decorators.every(seconds=5) # takes up to 5s to detect a new screen
     def __init__(self, config):
         widgets = []
         super().__init__(config, widgets)