Probably everyone knows that they put off unpleasant tasks from time to time, even though they are at the top of the to-do list. Unfortunately, „procrastination“ does not solve the problem, but in most cases makes it worse. The „Scary Hour Trick“ is a way to combat „procrastination“ so that you get annoying tasks done faster or at all. Thanks to this trick, you become more productive because you work more concentrated. It also eliminates the frustration of „not getting it done again“.
This is how the Scary Hour Trick works:
The method is not new, but it has become very popular again thanks to US TikToker Laura Wheeler. Others call these important 60 minutes „the hour of fear“. Some productivity coaches have also extended it to 90 minutes, but the basic principle is always the same.
Laura Wheeler forces herself to set aside 60 minutes first thing in the morning for the most unpleasant tasks of the day and then work through them without interruption. She sets herself a timer for this. If the timer rings after the hour has elapsed, she turns to other tasks. It is not worthwhile to go back to the same tasks. She repeats this procedure every day. The method is very effective because it creates order in the mind, and it also eliminates the unpleasant feeling of still having to do something. After all, you have done something.
The „Scary Hour Method“ is an excellent means of optimising productivity. If the hour of fear is overcome, it is often like a liberating blow. Many people only managed to tackle the most difficult tasks as a result. After all, the first hours of the morning are the most productive for most people. The ideal time for the „scary hour“ is 90 minutes after the usual start of work. Then you can devote yourself to your tasks with particular concentration. It makes no sense to postpone the tasks at hand until the evening, even if you claim to be a night person. As a rule, self-assessment does not match reality.
Procedure in detail:
Ideally, start with the task that is related to the most important goal of the month. Finding out the top priority is not always easy, but should only take a few minutes. If you can’t do this, the OKR method from project management can help you define the goal. It is easier to find out the most difficult task within a list than to sort the whole list according to priorities. Almost always, the most important task is the one that demands the most respect. To be successful, it is necessary to concentrate 100% on this task. Because the biggest time wasters are long brooding over a problem and being influenced by numerous communication channels. So that the Another rule is considered irrefutable: one must never interrupt one’s work more than once. Of course, it may happen that an emergency upsets the plans for the day, but in all other cases the interruption is counterproductive and failure is pre-programmed.
Three steps to successfully start the „Scary Hour“:
1. set aside 60 minutes in the calendar every day
2. define a reminder every evening before (ringing bell etc.)
3. block any form of distraction during this time.
Scary Hour: Additional support through practical management tools
If you want to be particularly successful, combine the „Scary Hour Trick“ with productivity tools such as time tracking tools and customer relationship management tools (CRM tools) that organise customer data. During the 90 minutes, one must not be tempted to surf social media or read emails. Those who can’t manage this can, for example, install browser extensions that block certain websites. Of course, you should also document your success at the end of the time and tick off the completed tasks in a list.