“We all have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyoncé” — remember when that was a popular saying? The sentiment is that if we use our time wisely, we can achieve greatness. The message holds true.
Unfortunately, 99% of the population does not have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyoncé. Most of us don’t have a chef, personal trainer, media team, a private jet and a massive fortune.
In The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life, Canadian author and journalist Karma Brown presents a compelling argument: Dedicating just one hour a day—equivalent to 4% of your time—to personal and professional growth can reshape the course of your life.
Here are five key takeaways:
1. One hour is powerful
Brown emphasizes that taking just one hour a day to focus on personal goals can lead to transformative results.
Whether it’s writing, exercising, or learning a new skill, this dedicated time allows for consistent progress without overwhelming your schedule—or your brain.
For some, one hour feels like too much of a commitment. For others, it doesn’t seem like enough time to get in the zone and be productive. The purpose of this is not to bang out a 500-page memoir or learn how to play Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons in two weeks.
It’s about exploring and discovering your interests at your own pace.
2. Try early mornings
Brown suggests embracing the early morning hours for the serenity and quiet that it can bring.
It can be a valuable distraction-free time to work on personal projects. Brown claims that her 5 a.m. writing routine contributed to her success as a novelist.
On that note, not everyone can be an early bird without sacrificing their health. If your circadian rhythm does not align with an early morning schedule, that doesn’t mean you’re lazy or unmotivated.
It simply means your body’s energy levels operate on a different clock and that you can perform optimally later in the day. There are certainly ways to condition yourself to handle early morning but only to a point.
Listen to your body. This time is best used when you are present and engaged, not fighting off exhaustion.
3. Be Intentional
Rather than following a militant, rigid schedule, Brown encourages readers to live intentionally and with some flexibility. Unexpected things come up, some days we have more energy than others and everyone needs a break—even from self-work.
By consciously deciding how to spend your time, you can align daily actions with long-term goals, leading to a more fulfilling life.
On that note, don’t feel pressured to achieve a major task in one hour. The point of the 4% fix is to give yourself that intentional space to slow down in the thick of everything else happening and enjoy the process of working on yourself.
4. Self-care is not selfish
The 4% Fix isn’t about adding more to your to-do list; it’s about carving out time for yourself. Brown underscores the importance of guilt-free self-care, suggesting that dedicating time to personal passions can enhance overall well-being.
Getting over that guilt can be really challenging, especially as a parent or caregiver. Let yourself sit with that discomfort rather than immediately acting on it and abandoning your self-time.
The pull to do so can be strong. However, the more familiar and accepting you become with this practice, the smoother and less distracting—and more productive—it becomes.
5. Slowly build momentum
Change doesn’t have to be drastic. If one hour feels like too much, start making small adjustments.
Wake up 10 minutes earlier than your current bedtime week by week. Exercise for 20 minutes or half an hour. Split up your 1 hour with 2 meaningful activities: 30 minutes writing, 30 minutes jogging.
Karma Brown’s The 4% Fix offers a practical and compassionate approach to time management, emphasizing that even small, consistent efforts can lead to important lifestyle changes.
Whether you’re looking to pursue a passion project or simply find more balance in your life, dedicating just one hour a day could all that you need to achieve your goals.
For more about Karma Brown, click here.
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