Welcome to day 7 of Blogmas! Today’s topic is all about organisation and the use of the power hour to get sh*t done!
We all have those tasks we’d rather keep putting off until the last moment, even though it inevitably causes us undue stress and sits at the back of our mind as a constant reminder of what we haven’t got done. Sometimes it’s because we feel overwhelmed or unsure, sometimes it’s because we haven’t been given the right tools to undertake the task and sometimes it’s simply because it’s something we just don’t like doing (hello budgeting!) Procrastination sneaks in and suddenly time has run away from you and it’s time for the school run/to make dinner/go to bed. We’ve all been there.
So, with a to-do list as long as Santa’s naughty and nice register where on earth do you start? There are a few things I’ve learnt in my time about getting sh*t done: 1) tasks nearly always take longer than expected 2) the majority of tasks I put off are actually not nearly as bad as I thought they would be and 3) in order to get any meaningful work done I need to dedicate focus time into my day. Welcome to the power hour.
“If you don’t know where to start, start with just one hour a day”
{Adrienne Herbert, Power Hour}
So what exactly is a power hour?
The power hour is a very simple concept that has a big impact. The Power Hour is simply dedicated time to tackle tasks you keep putting off, for long enough to make progress but not so long you resent it or find a reason to not do it at all.
How does it work?
1) Write a list of the tasks you’re not quite getting round to and what you need in order to complete those tasks
2) Put aside an hour each day / week and mark it in your diary as your power hour
3) When the power hour comes round, take something from your list and work on it
Why does it work?
Firstly, you’ve not only identified those tasks you have been putting off, but you have also dedicated time in your diary to work on them meaning they no longer sit at the back of your head niggling you to get them done. You know what they are, and you know when they’re going to get done. The principle behind the power hour is that you stop when the hour is up, regardless of whether you’ve finished your task or not. But what you may find is that once you get going on something you want to carry on, which is your prerogative.
What tasks have you been putting off?
Writing Christmas cards? Getting quotes for your car insurance renewal? Cleaning out the dump drawer? I always like to feel like I’ve wrapped things up in time for Christmas {excuse the pun} and using this technique has really helped me to focus and it’s really surprising what you can actually get done in an hour!
Coming up
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s Blogmas post. Come back or subscribe to receive the next post of the Blogmas 2021 series directly to your inbox.
Day 8: The ultimate Christmas checklist
Ellie
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