How many projects are on your proverbial back burner? If you’re like most people, there are more projects on the back burner than on the front. So, how do you get to them all? What you need is a “power hour.” At its core, the power hour is about reclaiming part of your daily time and devoting it to something intentional. The best time for your power hour is at the beginning of your day, but you can also use any time of day that makes the most sense for you. You’re likely to be the most productive when you have the least amount of stress. Use a daily journal to figure out when you have your most productive moments, then shape your power hour around those. For the most part, this is a habit you should try to build and stick to, so putting the power hour at a predetermined time every day is advisable; but if something like a big project crops up, you have some wiggle room to move it around to suit your needs. Once you’ve decided where in your day the power hour should go, it’s time to get started. Focusing solely on one task, you’ll need to work for one straight hour, uninterrupted. Depending on how you usually work, a power hour could take some time to get used to, especially if you’re someone who usually multitasks or loses focus. Once you get the hang of it, though, you can use it to blast through all kinds of tasks, whether those include work-related activities, cleaning your house, budgeting, or anything else you lack the time and attention to pull off in a typical day. Communicating that you’re busy and sticking to the schedule are key, so make sure to plan for this before you try it.
