Working Mom :: Get Those Nagging Tasks Done with a POWER HOUR

The Power Hour

I have no idea where I came across this idea of having fun while completing tasks that I actually enjoy. YouTube, a blog, Instagram … I really do not remember. I am talking about a POWER HOUR. Not the POWER HOUR you will find in the Urban dictionary about taking one shot of beer every minute for an hour. Ummmm, that actually doesn’t sound like a bad idea when Im having a mom moment of being overwhelmed. Who wants to digest all those calories though? This working mom needed something to help her balance all of her tasks from work to family to home to self! I am here to motivate you.

The POWER HOUR I am speaking of is a task GAME CHANGER / LIFE CHANGER and will allow you to have that extra time for a manicure, glass of wine, or lunch with friends instead of drowning in an entire day of housework / tasks. It is seriously the best thing since sliced bread. Before finding this powerful tool, I constantly made to do list that often were unfinished. The unfinished task would spill over to the next to do list and before you know it, I became covered in a tub filled with sticky notes. Simply drowning.

Not anymore, thanks to the POWER HOUR. So, let’s cut to the chase.

What is a power hour?

It is an adjustable task list that promotes productivity and produces results.  The time can be adjusted based on your schedule and time allotment.

Steps to a Successful Power Hour

1. Make a list of tasks to complete (be realistic, fold a months worth of laundry)
2. Open Pandora to your favorite playlist, press PLAY (my favorite station is Carrie Underwood or when I really need motivation, Ying Yang Twins will get me there)
3. Set a 60 minute timer, press START.
4. Start crossing off your list (it is some weird satisfaction I get when crossing off a completed task)

Things you can do during a Power Hour (can be categorized: home, family, self)

Laundry (reasonable amount)
Hang a picture
Check email (not empty 5k emails)
Schedule an appointment
Paint a wall
Declutter (5 minute declutter … walk your house a fill a basket with 10 things)
Purchase a gift
Upload pictures to an online photo site
Clean out fridge
Clean out bag or purse
File and shred
Update finances
Grocery List
Edit a video
Clean out car
Water garden
Organize a cabinet
Change bedding
Paperwork
Iron
Rotate kids clothes (yours too)

I do not schedule my POWER HOURS, but rather when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I will brain dump then pick and choose which tasks I can successfully complete within an hour. These PHs may happen early in the morning, when the kids are asleep, and even when I’m upset avoiding a fight with my wife, LOL! The joy I receive from successfully completing a PH totally changes my mood and makes me a more pleasant person to be around. They promote productivity without wasting time (huge PET PEEVE) or me procrastinating. Productivity is my ultimate goal when organizing a POWER HOUR, and I even get a workout (BONUS) while jamming to Ying Yang twins (BAD MOMS behavior).

What do you do to stay productive? How do you handle the little tasks that hound you?

Check out one of my late night power hours HERE.