Because procrastination isn’t a strategy, unfortunately. Trust us, we’ve tried it! Here’s our attempt at a Life Admin Power Hour
Capsule x Ninja
Ever since I left the safe, lovely halls of university, I feel like admin has been constantly slapping me in the face with an unnerving and increasing intensity – and this is BEFORE I have kids!? (I know all of you mums are laughing at me right now and look, fair enough!)
If I’m not at work, my calendar and notes app are constantly pinging at me.
“Have you RSVPed to that birthday?”
“Did you return that dress you were supposed to two weeks ago?”
“Have you scheduled that dentist appointment you’ve been nagging yourself to book?”
“Where the hell is my keep cup?”
“I’m paying HOW much in car insurance?”
I’ve come to the realisation that the to-do list will never be complete – rather, it’s a revolving door of tasks that doesn’t stop, no matter how much you want it to and yes, it’s enough to make you feel a little nauseous sometimes and you’re one missed direct debit away from a Baycorp letter. The FEAR.
And then I read about the Life Admin Power Hour. An hour, once a week, where you sit down with a coffee, a fully charged laptop, and a grim sense of determination, and you get. it. done. According to its devotees, the hour should change my life. I’ll no longer be haunted by expired WOFs, rogue bank letters or overdue returns lurking in the back seat of my car.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Catherine Houlihan explains that procrastination around petty admin isn’t laziness – in fact, it’s often rooted in perfectionism: “When people worry about doing things perfectly… guilt and shame and self‑detrimental talk can come in.” Scheduling time helps sidestep that spiral.
Cognitive scientist Micah Goldwater backs this up: blocking time in your calendar makes life‑admin tasks far more likely to happen. “If it’s not on the calendar, I will most likely forget about it.”
That’s life‑admin cognitive behavioural therapy right there: create structure to protect your mental energy.
I’m interested. I’m intrigued. I’m… somewhat desperate? So you best believe I gave it a go!
Here’s what the Life Admin Power Hour is, why you need one, and how to make it actually work, based on my experience.
Firs up, what is a Life Admin Power Hour?
Great question – It’s one hour a week – a scheduled, non-negotiable hour – dedicated to clearing the annoying-but-essential tasks that build up in the background of your life. Think bills, forms, birthday presents, subscription cancellations, courier returns, school emails, calendar planning, and mystery charges on your credit card from something called “ZEMEDIX PRO LTD.”
You don’t need a bullet journal or colour-coded system (though you do you if that’s your vibe!). All you need is a list, a timer, and possibly a snack. Or glass of wine. And I mean I love romanticising anything and everything, so go on, chuck one of your good candles on as well.
How to Have a Life Admin Power Hour
1. Schedule it like a meeting (because it is)
Put it in your calendar. Literally. Make it a recurring event – ideally when your energy isn’t already in the gutter. For me, it’s Friday at 2pm, when I have finished my work week (I don’t work Friday afternoons, one of the BEST perks of running your own business ever). It’s my time to focus on my personal life, rather than my work life, and because organisation makes me happy (I swear I am fun at parties) this is an ideal way for me to wind down from work and transition into personal mode (and I like going into the weekend feeling smug!).
But you need to schedule it for your own version of smug-life – when you’re not feeling drained or unmotivated. Some people call it a ‘CEO Hour’ – you’re the CEO of your household, etc – others call it ‘Crazy Chaos Hour’. I personally think of that quote from The Holiday – “you should be the leading lady of your own life, for God’s sake” – so for me it’s the leading lady life admin hour. Thank you, Nancy Meyers.
2. Make a running list throughout the week
You won’t remember the seven random things you meant to do unless you write them down. I keep a ‘Life Stuff I’m Ignoring Right Now’ note in my phone and add to it whenever I remember something mid-toothbrushing or in the supermarket car park. By the time my admin hour rolls around, I’ve got a ready-made to-do list waiting which is fab.
Last week’s list included:
– Pay the car rego for once in your life before it runs out, for God’s sake
– RSVP to that hen’s party
– Buy a dress in said hen’s do’s colour palette
– Return The Iconic order that’s been in the boot for three weeks
– Book doctor’s appointment
– Cancel streaming app charges I’m not using you are LITERALLY THROWING AWAY MONEY
– Book house movers
– Buy new towels, yours are gross
3. Use a timer (and race yourself)
I set a 60-minute timer and treat it like an absolute sprint. There’s no time to spiral about the power bill or why my RealMe doesn’t remember my password. I move quickly, ticking things off with the manic joy of someone who’s very close to inbox zero. (Spoiler: I’m not. No one is. No one ever will be)
4. Set the mood, because ambience helps
This might sound ridiculous, but I swear music is the secret Big Mac sauce to getting the admin done. I’ve got a Life Admin Power Hour playlist that includes just enough upbeat, get-shit-done energy without turning into a full rave (although… not a bad idea!?).
Some Capsule-approved options: (these are high energy but if you’re a calmer gal, first of all congratulations, but go with what motivates you and makes you happy).
- Work B*tch – Britney Spears (obviously)
- 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
- Wake Me Up – Avicii
- Level Up – Ciara
- Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
- Work It – Missy Elliot
- Get Right – Jlo
- I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
- Clarity – Zedd
- Levels – Avicii
5. Create a “Returns + Repairs” zone in your house
How many times have you meant to return that thing – the one still in its original packaging – and then just… didn’t? Same. Constantly. There’s a Glassons blazer that’s sitting in its courier bag in my hallways that’s been there for months and is now destined for Designer Wardrobe. But now, change is afoot! I have a literal basket by the door called “Returns + Repairs,” where everything that needs to leave the house goes. Each week during my Power Hour, I book couriers or find drop-off times immediately, so things don’t age in there like fine cheese. It also serves as the ‘put in car’ basket, which is handy.
6. Multitask smarter, not harder – enter the Ninja 14-in-1 Combi 14-in-1 Multicooker
There are only so many hours in a day, and if I can roast a chicken while unsubscribing from five newsletters I never signed up for, that’s a win. The Ninja 14-in-1 Combi is my secret weapon during Life Admin Hour – it steams, bakes, air fries, and pretty much does everything except take me to the doctor in 15 MINUTES.
Throw in your lunch (or dinner) before you start your hour, and by the time you’ve conquered the inbox (actually, in a quarter of your power hour), you’ve also got your meal prep for the week sorted. And yes, this did unlock peak smug because I have never been so GOD DAMNED ORGANISED.
7. End with one “future you” task
At the end of each hour, I try to do one thing that Future Me will thank Present Me for – booking a haircut before I get to the shaggy ponytail stage, ordering birthday presents ahead of time to avoid the last-minute, or setting up an auto-payment so I’m not rage-Googling “IRD penalty grace period.”
Future Me is now mildly less stressed. She still doesn’t floss every day, but baby steps.
TL;DR: Did the Life Admin Power Hour Work?
The Life Admin Power Hour won’t solve everything, but it will help you feel like you’ve got a handle on the mess – and sometimes that’s enough. It’s one hour a week that creates a ripple effect of calm, organisation, and fewer 3am “did I pay that?” moments.
Honestly? It felt like I cleared out a whole mental junk drawer. I didn’t finish every task, but I made a serious dent in the backlog, and I’ve scheduled the same hour for next week. I’m now genuinely looking forward to it.
It’s not sexy. It’s not revolutionary. But it works. And sometimes, the most powerful form of self-care is dealing with the crap that’s quietly ruining your mental and emotional bandwidth. If you need me, I’ll be returning things on time and pretending I’ve got it all together.
So light the candle, press play on Britney, and go make chaos your sidekick.