The Magic 3 Hours
I had the privilege and opportunity to hear Hyrum Smith speak many times. One of his personal convictions was a philosophy that he called "the magic three hours." He would encourage those in his seminars that said, "I just don't have time to do what I want to do," to consider the 3 hours before going to work or the 3 hours before going to bed. Which 3 hours you consider would depend on whether you are a morning person or an evening person. The concept is to focus on those 3 hours and make them an effective part of your day. Now you may be saying, "I go to work at 8:00 AM. Does that mean that I have to wake up at 5:00 a.m.?" Well, the answer is YES!
The magic 3 hours for me are in the morning (I am usually exhausted and my brain is toast by the evening). I find that I get so much more done when I get up early and have some "uninterrupted time." Uninterrupted time is important-especially with a young family (a blog for another day).
My magic 3 hours include exercise, reading, planning my day, spending time with my wife and daughters before school and work (breakfast, packing lunches and last minute homework, planning dinner), playing the guitar and then getting ready to get out the door for work.
I find that I do better at work when I have had a successful "magic 3 hours." I am more focused, more relaxed and have more energy. I will admit that it takes some time to get accustomed to 5:00 AM. But, if you are consistent and try it for 3 weeks, it becomes a habit and whole lot easier. If you are not a morning person, focus on the late evening. Keep your time clear and make that your magic 3 hours. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish.