Every developer knows the feeling: a ticket sits in your backlog for days because it’s “too big” to start right now. You tell yourself you’ll tackle it when you have a solid 3-4 hours of focus time… but that perfect block never comes.
That’s where the One-Hour Rule comes in.
The idea is simple: if you’ve been putting off a task, commit to spending just one focused hour on it. No multitasking. No Slack. Just one hour.
Why It Works
1. Momentum Beats Perfection: Starting is often the hardest part. Once you’ve invested an hour, you’ve broken the mental barrier - and chances are, you’ll keep going beyond the timer.
2. Shrinks Big Problems: Large, intimidating tasks get broken down into something manageable. That one hour often turns into a clear next step or a simplified scope.
3. Reduces Procrastination Loops: By lowering the commitment, you sidestep the “I don’t have enough time right now” excuse that keeps tasks stuck for days.
4. Fits into Any Schedule: Even on meeting-heavy days, you can carve out a single hour to push something forward.
How to Apply the One-Hour Rule
- Pick a Blocker - Choose the task you’ve been avoiding.
- Set a Timer - One hour, no interruptions.
- Define a Mini-Goal - Something achievable in that time (e.g., set up the API client, write the first test, refactor one component).
- Stop on Time - Ending at the hour mark keeps the rule sustainable - and makes it easier to restart tomorrow.
The Ripple Effect
Teams that encourage this approach find fewer “stuck” tickets in their board, more predictable progress, and higher morale. It’s especially powerful for:
- Tackling tech debt
- Investigating tricky bugs
- Starting a new feature spike
One hour a day may not finish the work, but it will keep it moving.
Conclusion
The One-Hour Rule isn’t about working less - it’s about working smarter. If a task feels overwhelming, you don’t need to conquer it all at once. You just need to start… and an hour is all it takes to turn “stuck” into “in progress.”
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