Ever have one of those days where you really did try to work, or at least that’s what the guilt ridden denial is telling you now, but still got nothing done.

What ever the intention you sit there now with nothing of substance completed, the sun setting and the mountain of work rising before you.

What you need is an apathy-resetting, procrastination-busting, guilt-washing power hour.

Preparation – 5 min

1. Upbeat High Tempo Music, loud enough for you to question if its too loud
2. Glass of wine or other guilt dulling liquid, to be sipped as a reward after successfully completing each stage
3. Replay the Braveheart ‘freedom’ sequence if you must for motivation

Tidy Up – 10 min

Cleaning your working, living or food preparation areas, this not only helps make you feel more centred, with a clearer mind, but makes you feel like you have accomplished something.

Simplify your PC / Mac to, closing all programs, browser tabs etc. Possibly, yes you knew this was coming, even shut down. Its for the best, trust me.

Bonus: If you are of the male persuasion or the less tidy of the two, you just scored some bonus points.

For the triple word score in this department, prepare part or all of dinner, aim for the prep that takes seconds, and forever to roast in the oven. Faux-Multi-tasking secret level bonus points.

Clear you Inbox – 15 min or less

Get rid of all business related email, you goal is to clear your inbox in ten minutes. Anything that requires a response that will take longer than 60 seconds, archive for tomorrow. One or two line respectful responses are the format for this to work.

Anything automated – newsletters, tips via email, Amazon offers, etc, just delete move one. The world will not notice. Go go go!

Each email in your inbox is a little pipeline sending you stress slowly but surely like an incessant midnight dripping tap. Kill them all. When the dust settles the feeling of Zen and centred productive bliss is worth the carnage.

Tips:

Delegate: Get other people to do stuff for you. Email tag if you must, but try to clearly imply the benefit to the other person. done properly this could make tomorrow easier and more productive.

Automate: Filters baby filters! Less time spent on this tomorrow.

Obliterate: If you archive something three times in row, unsubscribe. Unread tips are simply wasting your time and making you feel guilty and unproductive. Stop the madness. Focus on what you can. Read real books, paid for knowledge and advice can have a greater impact if you are time starved.

Tricks:

Use the Gmail labs feature – multiple inboxes – star items appear in the second inbox helping you keep track of important emails that will take longer than a few seconds to complete.

Warning: Do not forget about these they pile up, if not annihilated at some stage. Aim to clear these at the end of each week at least.

Plan your Day Tomorrow – 10 min

One piece of paper, one pen, one plan. One minute if possible.

Then take any old ‘to-do’ lists and consolidate them onto this same piece of paper. Set out any meeting notes, pack any bags you need to, set this near the entrance of your house.

Bonus: This tidies too!

Warning: To not create any tripping hazards for partners, entering the front door after having fought through incomprehensible and unrelenting traffic.

Do Something Creative or Different or Significant– 15 min

Spend a few minutes on this, it will make you feel like you added, contributed or achieved rather than simply just only busied yourself with mindless tasks.

Try a blog post – you’re reading mine

Try a new recipe – see the tidy section above, multiple benefits is the only true way to multi-task

Try some phone calls or something on your to do list that is both important and quick to complete.

Try something, anything, get it done! Move on!

Review and Relax – 5 min

Have a look around, see the difference you have made to the world. The flames rising in the kitchen maybe? Review all that you have done, check if you missed anything. Stand there with hands on hips, smile smugly, refill glass and – this is very important so don’t skip it – relax glass in hand, and awaiting the arrival of someone to judge your unbelievable productivity.

Note: Relax means away from the screen or Internet, away from anything connected to the reason you got nothing done today. It will nullify the effects of the above Power Hour (Trademark and Patent Pending)

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Now that you know what to do, make sure you complete everything you start. Think of it as writing a paragraph filled with short productivity sentences. Short, impactful and rapid fire.

Ready, Set, Go!