Adding A Scary Hour To Your Morning Routine Can Save The day

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Ever catch yourself waking up with a tight chest over the looming day ahead? It’s usually accompanied by racing thoughts about responsibilities in the near future. It sucks being on edge before you’ve had your first cup of coffee.

Morning anxiety is a dreadful feeling. You feel under siege before even rolling out of bed. It’s a surprisingly common experience and chances are you’ve landed on this post searching for a reprieve.

The solution? Adding a scary hour to your morning routine. Wondering what this entails? Well, stay with me.

I’m usually skeptical of productivity hacks (believe me, I’ve tried a ton!), but one stands out from the rest. Here’s where adding a scary hour to your morning routine comes into play.

This simple change could be the key to shaking off those nerves and starting your day on the right foot. Interested? 

Let’s unpack how a ‘scary hour’ can transform your mornings.

What is Scary Hour?

So, you’re probably wondering, “What on earth is a scary hour and how can it help with morning anxiety?” 

It’s not as terrifying as it sounds! Scary Hour is a dedicated part of your day – often in the morning – when you tackle the hardest duties on your to-do list. 

The concept is super simple. Think of it like a power hour where you push through the most difficult responsibility of the day. 

Pinpoint the scariest task, the one that gives you a little shiver down your spine when you think about it. The one that first popped into your head this morning that made you want to roll back over. That’s what you’ll tackle during your Scary Hour.

The term was coined by TikToker and copywriter Laur Wheeler, who shared the hack, which has taken off. In her original Tiktok video, she shares her process in 2 simple steps, set a timer for an hour and complete the most anxiety-inducing activity on your list for the day.

Adding a scary hour to your morning routine is all about facing what you’ve been avoiding head-on. I’m all for simplicity; I take this approach when I feel task paralysis coming on. 

Why Does Scary Hour Work?

I can almost hear your next question: “Why would I want to start my day with the most challenging task? Doesn’t that make my mornings miserable?” Well, not really. 

There’s science backing the scary hour hack. It works because of a few basic principles. 

First off, we have what’s known as ‘decision fatigue.’ This concept was popularized by social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister. Simply put, as we make more decisions throughout the day, our ability to make good choices progressively gets worse. 

So tackling the scariest obligation first can lead to better outcomes because our decision-making skills are at their peak. I can vouch for this. When I knock out something early in the day I’ve been avoiding, it gives me a boost for the rest of the day.

Secondly, the Scary Hour uses the idea of ‘Eat That Frog,’ a time management method popularized by Brian Tracy. The concept here is that if you do the most challenging thing on your plate first thing in the morning, the rest of the day will be a breeze in comparison.

Adding a scary hour to your morning routine: How to Start

Incorporating this technique into your morning routine can be transformative in multiple ways. Whether you’re trying to be more productive or just looking for a more peaceful morning, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Identify Your Scary Task

At the end of each day, look at your to-do list for the next day and identify the most daunting responsibility. 

That’s your Scary Task for the next morning. If that scary task is floating about in your head and you haven’t put it on a list yet, do a brain dump of everything you need to get done. Organize it by priority and start with the most pressing.

Set Up Your Environment

Make your Scary Hour as enjoyable as possible. Have your favorite coffee ready, a comfortable workspace, and minimize distractions. I have a morning playlist set and turn my phone on focus mode to ensure I won’t be disturbed. 

Be sure to let the people you live with know that for one hour you’ll need to focus on the goal at hand.

Set a Timer

This is most effective when it’s time-bound. It’s pretty straightforward. Set a timer for 60 minutes and devote all your focus to your Scary Task during this time.

Get to Work

Once the timer starts, dive in! If you finish your task before the hour is up, use the remaining time to plan your next steps or start on your next task. Make sure to use the entire hour and put in the full effort with the intent to finish in that time if it’s reasonable for the end goal.

Reward Yourself

After your Scary Hour is over, give yourself a small reward. It could be a cup of your favorite coffee, a break to step outside in the sun, or even a delicious breakfast. This will help create positive associations with your Scary Hour.

The Takeaway

There you have it – a practical, easy-to-follow guide to adding a scary hour to your morning routine. Although it’s not always easy facing the hardest thing first, believe me, the benefits outweigh the temporary feelings of fear. 

Facing the most intense task at the start of the day frees up time, reduces stress, and boosts productivity later on. 

We’re turning fear into fuel, and what better way to do that than by taking on your Scary Hour head-on? There’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve already made it through the hardest part of your day.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with the Scary Hour concept if you’ve tried it. If you haven’t, try it out and share your results in the comments below!