Hello Friends,

I am absolutely not the first person to write about the merits of a highly focused hour. What continues to make this conversation relevant is the ongoing need we have for focus. Read: from the myriad of distractions we face on a daily basis. We’re pulled in so many directions, and the lack of focus causes a lack of productivity with not only the work we’re paid to do, but also with the things we’d like to do, and even dream of doing one day. So, lack of focus can really eat into our joy.

International bestselling author Melody Beattie speaks eloquently on the dichotomy of focus in her book Journey To The Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul, “There is a time to be open, almost unfocused, as we take in what the world, the universe, is showing us. There is a time to get out of our heads and quietly take the journey our hearts lead us into – following with the openness and wonder of a child. But there also comes a time to aim our attention and focus our energy on what we want to accomplish. Instead of floundering with scatter thoughts and possibilities, we choose one, then act on it. We stay in step with the natural rhythm, but we’re pulling our scattered attention together and focusing it as part of that rhythm.”

At the current global speed, I believe one of the keys to living well and focusing is to slow everything down. And the good news is, we can start by doing so for just for an hour at a time. Being able to focus time is an absolute super power today. I’d go so far as to say it’s a downright miracle. Also, it does make me wonder, did ADHD come first, or was it the ultra-caffeinated, need for speed world we live in? I trust there’s an evolutionary process unfolding in all of this. And, as the world gets faster, and smaller connectivity wise, we’re forced to find new ways of navigating the demands. Training ourselves to utilize time in a way that actually serves us can feel like trying to find water in a desert. But that said, it’s not impossible.

For a moment, let’s put a pin in the power of an hour, and talk for a moment about a very large elephant in the room – our cell phones. Whether you’re Android or Apple, we all have in our possession, some of us 24/7, a computer. And now it’s moved to our watches, with whispers of a soon-to-be chip we can implant into our brains. I wouldn’t have believed it either, had I not had that pesky little conversation with a technologist. I didn’t know what the hell they were either until I did. Ends up these are some very smart people. Like REALLY smart. I can’t divulge my source, as it’s part of a technology cabal that made me sign an NDA. Don’t ask, I can’t tell. But here’s what I can say. When said technologist saw my iWatch he started saying how it was the step right before the implant, and if we want our internal computer to be commercial-free, we’d have to pay extra. I have never quite looked at my handy dandy super cute iWatch the same again. One step away. And this information rolled off his tongue like sharing the temperature outside. Like it or not, my friends, this is where we’re headed.

Whether you believe this or not, our main challenge still exists. How do we manage our energy usage, and the access to us these minicomputers create? Social media access to children has been banned in Australia until the age of 16. And I suspect that’s just the start. You’ve probably read the best advice these days – don’t take your cell phone to bed, or spend time on it right before you go to sleep. Too many ways to get yourself sidetracked from the most important task you have for living a sane, healthy life – your sleep. I’ll admit it, sometimes I sleep with mine. Now that’s probably something I need to discuss with my therapist, but she’s been hard to reach lately. She says she’s “busy,” to which I reply, “Scrolling?!” I’m kidding, I think, but these days it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

Our first step is admitting we’ve got a challenge here. And I think for the most part we have. Now onto some possibilities for better use of our energy and time management so we don’t become walking zombie’s barely living our lives, cut off from nature and the beauty that feeds our soul. I know it’s a little bit dramatic, but there is definitely some truth in there.

So, here’s one strategy I utilize for focusing. Practically speaking, I use this particular approach a lot for writing, and it has a fairly broad application. To focus writing wise, I sit down with my laptop open to a blank page or a piece of writing I’m currently working on. I then set the timer on my cell phone for sixty minutes. Now here’s the thing, life has a way of interrupting our focus time. That’s just how it works. There’s laundry, dishes in the sink, a bathroom break, you need water, and then children. I don’t have children, and they’re absolutely going to step into your focus time. Journalist, and New York Times Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman says in his fantastic living life well book, Mediation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts, “Going through life with a rigid commitment to the elimination of interruption and distraction might seem like a way to stay more absorbed in what’s happening. Yet in fact it pulls you out of it, by undermining your capacity to respond to reality as it actually unfolds – to seize unexpected opportunities and to be seized by an awe-inspiring landscape or fascinating conversation; to let your mind take an unplanned journey into fertile creative territory, or to find enjoyment, as opposed to annoyance, in a small child bursting into your study, while fulfilling your obligations as a parent.”

I share this bit about interruption because it’s a key component to the focused hour. When an interruption occurs, as they do, I stop my timer and address whatever it is that’s calling for my attention. If it’s the dryer buzzing that my clothes are ready, I can let that one pass. But if I need some water, or a snack, I get up and take care of that need. Then I sit back down, turn my timer back on, and write. I have found that this particular approach has led to a great deal more productivity writing wise, but it’s also had another benefit. I’ve stopped looking at what we call distractions or interruptions as bad. It’s life. On the basest of levels, sometimes you just have to go to the bathroom, so go. Over time I’ve also developed a deeper level of self-acceptance, commitment to what it is I want to do, and a greater ability to focus. I’m convinced it’s the timer piece. And let’s be real, cause you know I am, not everything is gonna need a timer, but if you’re challenged with accomplishing something important to you, this is a great way to re-train your brain in support of honoring yourself, your dreams, and your life. Again, many applications.

I hope this little timing tip for focus serves you. And if you do run this Power of the Hour experiment, please drop me an email at [email protected], and let me know how the experience was for you.

In the meantime, take good care of you, and…

All the love,
Barry

PS: thank you to everyone who participated in my Complimentary Kick-Start coaching offer. I had the joy of working with ten people in support of personal exploration that led to heart-felt discovery, as well as the clarification of life goals, and next concrete steps for getting there. And we laughed a lot.

PSS: I’ll be reaching out soon to share my latest offering with you. My WYNN Workshop – Writing Your New Narrative. It’s a powerful three hours to uncover your gifts, and create next actions for manifesting your life goals through writing exercises and coaching by me. And it’s going to be fun, I promise.

After almost a year of being trapped in a box.