We spend so much time staring at screens that we often become entirely distracted from what is happening right in front of us.

We have busy days. We carve out time to do something that brings us joy—something fun, entertaining, or relaxing—only to find ourselves so engrossed in our phones that we completely miss the very thing we set out to enjoy.

So, I’ve been trying an experiment called the power hour, a habit encouraged by my movement coach. The rule is simple: turn your phone off for one hour a day and focus entirely on something that brings you joy. This isn’t about waging a war on screens or stopping technology use altogether. If you want to spend an hour watching TV, do it. It is about presence—bringing yourself fully into the present moment.

Before mobile phones, being unreachable was the default setting. You could go out for a walk around a local lake, go to the cinema, or spend an evening undisturbed, and you simply weren’t reachable. We’ve gained a lot from modern connectivity, but we’ve lost that sacred disconnect in the process.

For the past month, I’ve locked into a daily minimum of one hour with my phone switched off.

When I’m video gaming, my phone is off and I am immersed in the game.
In the evening, I switch it off for an hour to focus on something else.
At lunchtime, I take my digital camera with me on a walk and leave my phone locked in the car.


The benefits have been immediate. I feel more present. The reality is, very few messages or calls actually require an immediate response. We do not need to be eternally available on our personal phones. Switching the phone off puts me back in control.

It has also deepened my appreciation for the things that genuinely bring me joy. Take my weekly boxing lesson, for example: there is no opportunity to check a text mid-round, nor would I ever fathom breaking off to do so. So why do we do it while gaming, walking, or resting?

This practice ties directly into my broader philosophy of putting myself first more in life. Other people’s messages can wait an hour.

I challenge you to try a Power Hour. Turn the device off, step away from the noise, and guard that sixty minutes fiercely. It doesn’t belong to the rest of the world—it belongs to you.