Have a Power Hour
Last week, I discussed the tips you could accomplish in one minute to make your life easier. Today I want to expand that minute to sixty minutes and encourage you to create a power hour. A power hour includes setting aside time each week and dealing with the small (often nagging) tasks in your life. These tasks typically take more than one minute but also do not take an excessive amount of time. These tasks don’t have deadlines and thus they often linger from day to day or week to week. These are the tasks that often annoy us because they need to be done and can be overwhelming because they remain undone. By creating a power hour, you are giving yourself permission to tackle the ongoing list. Within this time frame you can’t focus upon other items that do have deadlines, only the tasks that fit into the above definition. Tasks to include in a Power Hour:
- Changing out that light bulb
- Sewing on a button on a piece of clothing
- Fixing a broken item that perhaps need to be glued or nailed together (think about a broken chair leg or handle)
- Dropping off the bag of clothing that needs to be donated
- Organizing the photos on your computer (I know for many of us this could take longer than an hour but it is a start)
- Cleaning out the refrigerator
- Organizing a drawer or a cabinet (how is the cabinet under your sink?)
Will you consider creating a Power Hour? What tasks might you place on your Power Hour list?
I love this series, as you know, and this is something I definitely need to implement. I have several nagging tasks that need my attention: perhaps I should set a timer, pour a drink, and get to work tonight!
So, did you get anything done? It takes practice but feels so good.
Those are some good ideas! There are so many little tasks that can be completed in an hour. Thank you for the ideas.
It is amazing what we can do in one hour! Glad this was helpful.
Awesome ideas! I need to pay some attention to a few areas of my house. I am going to do this one later today!
Trish, would love to know if you try this tip! I’m going to guess it makes you feel better!
This is great, Sheryl. It’s so funny how I can completely waste an hour doing something mindless/meaningless but when it comes to scheduling time for things I need to accomplish, there never seems to be enough of it! Great advice and I’m going to follow this today 🙂
Yea Charlotte!! Each of us waste time (not that it is a bad thing all of the time). Putting it on your calendar helps and is also something goes by very quickly.
This is a great idea! I would certainly benefit from taking my eyes off my computer screen and turning my attention to undone tasks in my life. Going through my paperwork, filing system and shredding what I don’t need anymore would be a good place to start. My paperwork tends to get out of control. Thanks Sheryl for the great suggestion.
Lisa, I am right there with you regarding paperwork in the office. It helps to just tell yourself you are going to tackle it (and you feel better).
This is a great idea! I can totally see how something like a power hour would be so beneficial. I’m going to work on incorporating it into my life.
I hope you find it helpful Crystal! Would love to know if you start using it.
I think this is just what I need. I have so many small things that I need to get done, and they can be overwhelming!!
You should try it Corey. It’s helpful to have a list or an area where those things are. (I have a pile of clothes that simply need buttons or a hem fixed). Would love to know if you try it.
I have a friend who was just talking about the idea of a power hour! I think it’s seriously a great idea, it would easily force you to get some things done and think of how much you can do with a focused hour of time!
Having the hour set aside is truly about focus. If we know we only have 60 minutes, we can get a lot done and end up feeling a little bit in control.
This is a great idea. I do think it would be good to have one hour a week to get some of those pesky tasks out of the way!! 🙂 It’s so easy to just waste time.
-lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I think we all waste more time than we realize. Setting aside an hour helps focus!
This is a really good idea. I definitely lose track of time and let what should be quick tasks just balloon and take way longer than they should because I dawdle. A time limit might help me!
Great idea! I am making use of the one minute rule so often these days. Going to try this power hour now as well.
Such a great idea! If you set your mind to it, there’s so much you can get done in that amount of time!