How to be Happier - POWER HOUR

I have been listening to more and more podcasts in the studio these days. For two main reasons. One, because I learn stuff; filling my brain with probably useless facts, but filling it nonetheless, is a bit of an addiction of mine. Two, lately music lets my mind wander too far, whereas podcasts keep me focused.

My new favourite podcast is Happier with Gretchen Rubin - Gretchen is the author of best-selling books The Happiness Project and Better Than Before. She and her sister give tips for living a happier life and how to develop good habits. They are a hilarious duo.

This week, I thought I'd try one of their tips. They call it the Power Hour - when you take one hour a week to get something (or many things) done that would otherwise NEVER get done. These are tasks or chores that don't have a timeline attached to them, so you could literally NEVER do them. For some this might be sorting through tupperware bottoms and lids, it could be replacing all the burnt out lightbulbs that you never got around to. It could be cleaning the inside of the kitchen cupboards or sorting through old junk in the attic. Whatever it is, you spend one hour a week doing it, and you will feel happier.

This week is my first time hosting classes in my studio space. I NEEDED the power hour. Since leaving Sheridan 3 years ago, I have moved dried out clay from studio to studio without ever reclaiming it. I have left pots that need to be smashed pile up. I have about 8 teapots that just need handles attached, but have I attached them? NO! After every woodfiring I have a collection of pots that need to be ground down or burnished before they are saleable. Have I taken the dremmel to them? NO!

I have all this crap in my studio that needs OUT. So this week I started with the dremmel. I spent two hours (because I was on a roll!) dremmeling wadding off the bottoms of pots, drilling out holes that had been filled with ash and grinding off sharp bits. I even dealt with all the pots that needed to be smashed.

I've only had one Power Hour so far, but I can tell you that smashing pots with a hammer did indeed make me happy.

I hope you take an hour to get something done in your home. It is INCREDIBLY satisfying. Plus, listen to this sweet beat  on repeat while you work and the whole process will be way more groovy.