"Power Hour" by Adrienne Herbert

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Adrienne Herbert’s "Power Hour" is, at its core, an invitation. An invitation to pause the endless rush of our daily routines and consider, deliberately, what an hour of focused intention could do for our lives. But she doesn’t rush us into action. The book begins with what I’d call the foundation: mindset and habits. Two simple words, but my, how deeply they resonate.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

You see, Herbert gently builds this idea that how we think about what we do, and what we repeatedly choose to do, shape not only our days, but the very framework of our lives. And how often do we, especially those of us navigating unique challenges, like disability or single parenting, stop to question that foundation? I mean, personally, I often find that mindset isn't static—it flexes, bends with circumstance—and yet stable habits provide me with the truest anchor.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Once those pieces are laid out, she explores four areas that could, that should, be our focal points. Movement, sleep, people, purpose. Now, at first blush, these might look simple. But Herbert teases out layers of meaning here. Like movement—it isn’t just about exercise. It’s about connecting with your body in ways that empower you. To me, this broad approach feels kinder, more forgiving. And the same goes for how she unpacks sleep, how rest becomes a foundation rather than an afterthought, and how relationships, or what she calls "people," are prioritized not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Then there’s purpose. And honestly, that feels like the quiet heartbeat of the book. Purpose, Herbert argues, isn’t always grand or monumental. It’s deeply personal, nuanced. She even challenges readers to ask, "What would you write a book about if you knew nobody would read it?" That question struck me, stayed with me, because it steps past performance, into self-understanding. Isn’t that kind of liberating? Like, what would your answer be?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

And then, in the final sections, Herbert gives us tools. Prompts to sketch out this thing called a "Power Hour." It’s deceptively simple: one hour, often in the morning, to focus on a personal priority. But the way she frames it—with practical steps and questions—it’s both adaptable and, surprisingly, inspiring. And for me, well, that idea of dedicating even one hour feels profoundly possible.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Lets pause for a second for a reminder - why do we want to deep dive into productivity books? Well, ion the churn of today's productivity culture, we're often sold these meticulously packaged ideals—those viral five a.m. routines with cold plunges, pristine gym sessions, and hours of uninterrupted focus. They're sleek, aspirational, and relentless. But have you noticed how much they lack? Almost glaringly so? Their absence of authenticity, of connection, and of resilience.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

That’s where feminist productivity offers a very different vision. It invites us to step back from what’s polished and prescriptive, and instead, to anchor our efforts in three key tenets: authenticity over perfection, community over individualism, and resilience over burnout. Let’s pause for a moment on each of these, because they’re concepts that, if we let them, reshape not just how we work, but how we exist.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Authenticity over perfection—it’s almost radical to think about, isn’t it? To choose integration, where the narratives of "doing it all flawlessly" have carved out spaces for nothing but guilt and exhaustion. But authenticity asks us to show up as we are, mess and all, and to find ways to fit our needs, our realities, into the process. That's not about lowering the bar. It’s about redefining what success means. And isn’t that empowering?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Then, community over individualism. Here, it’s about actively seeking connection. Because the hustle mindset, the glorification of independence above all else, can be lonely. And we do wear loneliness like a badge sometimes, don’t we? But fostering community asks us to remember that we thrive better, we thrive deeper, when we lean into relationships—when we let others see both strength and vulnerability.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Finally, resilience over burnout. I find this deeply resonant. It’s about honoring the different seasons of our lives—not just the full blooms, but the quieter, dormant ones too. And it teaches us to take intentional, sustainable actions, rather than sprinting toward the next big win, only to collapse before we’ve even crossed the line. I can’t tell you how comforting that shift feels for someone like me, navigating the realities of disability and solo parenting, where pushing through doesn’t just exhaust—it depletes—and where resting, too, has to serve its purpose.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

So how does Adrienne Herbert’s "Power Hour" help us get there? Her words act as this guidepost, reminding us to recalibrate, to reclaim. Because when we carve out even a single, deliberate hour, it can be this microcosm of all of those principles. Imagine what we might begin to cultivate...

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Authenticity over perfection. To some, it might just sound like another catchy slogan, but let’s think about what it truly means and what it asks of us. At its heart, this concept is about showing up, embracing our imperfections, and allowing them to coexist with our strengths. And you know, in our hyper-curated world, that's no small task. It's much easier to strive for an image of perfection than it is to sit with our real, unfiltered selves. Yet, when we choose authenticity, we lay the foundation for sustainable productivity—productivity that respects our humanity instead of overriding it.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

I’ve seen, in my own life, how the pressure for perfection can be exhausting, even paralyzing. As a solo parent with disabilities, there have been countless moments where the 'ideal' standard wasn’t just out of reach—it was entirely irrelevant to my reality. And I think we’ve all felt that in some way, haven’t we? There’s this societal script whispering that if we don’t achieve flawlessly, it somehow means we’ve failed. But authenticity reminds us to rewrite the script. It gives us permission to acknowledge that productivity might look different depending on our circumstances, and that’s okay. It’s not about lowering expectations—it’s about aligning them with who we genuinely are.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

So, how can we incorporate authenticity into our daily lives? Well, for me, one practice has been small acts of brutal honesty with myself. For instance, I’ve redefined what success looks like on a daily basis. Success might mean taking a mid-morning break to stretch because my body demands it. It might mean planning around energy peaks and valleys instead of shoehorning my tasks into someone else’s idea of a ‘productive day.’ These sound like simple shifts, but they anchor my work in reality rather than aspiration, and that’s what makes them effective.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Adrienne Herbert’s "Power Hour" resonates so strongly here because it invites us to do that kind of personal recalibration. When we dedicate an hour to something that truly matters to us, without the pressure of it being flawless, we’re practicing authenticity. That hour becomes a space to integrate—not separate—the different aspects of who we are. And isn’t it empowering to think that authenticity can be as much about where we choose to direct our focus as it is about how we show up?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

If there’s one takeaway I’d offer, it’s this: authenticity isn't static—it’s a practice. And every moment we spend being honest about our own needs, capacities, and priorities is a moment spent building that practice into something life-sustaining. Because, ultimately, when we allow ourselves to be fully seen—even when it’s messy—that’s where the real growth begins.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Community over individualism. It’s such a profound idea, and yet, in today’s productivity culture, it feels almost counterintuitive. We’re so conditioned to believe that productivity is a solitary endeavor. You know, the lone hero rising early, tackling endless to-do lists, and accomplishing great things all on their own. But where does that leave us, really? Isn’t it isolating? Even exhausting?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Adrienne Herbert’s "Power Hour" challenges this narrative, reminding us that we’re not, nor should we be, alone in our pursuits. Instead, she nudges us to reflect—what would it look like if productivity wasn’t just about me, myself, and I? How might our lives shift, even subtly, if we sought connection as a foundation for how we work and grow?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

For me, this resonates deeply. I think about how easily we default to independence, sometimes out of pride, sometimes out of necessity. And I’ve done it too, plenty of times. But when I pause and let others in—whether it’s friends, colleagues, or even my son—it’s not just the task at hand that benefits. I do too. I learn, I share, and perhaps most importantly, I rest in the knowledge that I’m not carrying everything alone.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Feminist productivity takes this even further, asking us to embrace not just collaboration, but community. It’s about recognizing that there’s strength in weaving our efforts together. It’s about seeking belonging—not to prove anything, but to foster a space where we can each thrive, uniquely and authentically, yet together.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Of course, community doesn’t mean giving up individuality. It’s more like a symphony, where every instrument brings its voice to the collective sound. And isn’t that what makes it beautiful? The shared energy, the exchange, the co-creation. If you close your eyes, you can feel it—the synergy of people leaning into one another’s strengths, and offering support where the other falters.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

The question then is this: how do we make space for community in our daily productivity? For me, it’s been as simple as asking for help when I’d rather not, or offering my time for someone else’s project when I can. Adrienne Herbert talks about this too. Surround yourself with those who invest in your growth, she says. And it’s a reminder that community isn’t about the number of people—it’s about the quality of connection. The people who see you, who lift you, and whom you, in turn, uplift.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

These connections don’t just energize; they anchor us. And in embracing that, we take one step closer to a sustainable, more inclusive vision of productivity. One that doesn’t leave us depleted but instead, nurtures us through shared purpose and collective care.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Resilience over burnout. What an idea, right? It almost feels like a quiet revolution, especially in a world that praises endless hustle and celebrates working through exhaustion like it’s some kind of medal to be earned. But Adrienne Herbert approaches resilience as the antidote to that, and honestly, it’s a proposition worth sitting with.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

She invites us to think of resilience not as this immense inner strength that carries us through crisis, but as a deliberate practice—one that respects the natural ebb and flow of our energy, our creativity, our seasons. And by seasons, I don’t mean just the literal turn of the calendar. I mean the chapters within our lives, marked by growth, rest, and even retreat. How often do we give ourselves permission to recognize those rhythms, to move with them rather than against them?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

I’ll share something personal here. As a solo parent with disabilities, resilience isn’t optional—it’s survival. But survival in itself isn’t sustainable. What I’ve learned, slowly and sometimes painfully, is that resilience doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from stepping back, recalibrating, and—when needed—resting. And that’s what feels so revolutionary about Herbert’s perspective. It invites us to reframe rest, not as weakness, but as strategy. Isn’t that a profound shift, to see rest as part of resilience rather than its opposite?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Then there’s this idea of belonging, woven into her narrative almost quietly, but with immense impact. Herbert doesn’t just talk about individual action; she subtly emphasizes how resilience grows within connection. When we belong to something larger—a community, a purpose, a shared mission—it bolsters us. Because resilience, in that sense, isn’t just about self-reliance. It’s about interdependence. And in that way, resilience and belonging aren’t separate threads; they’re tightly interwoven, each strengthening the other.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Adrienne Herbert, of course, offers us tools to bridge these ideas into our daily lives. Journaling prompts, for example, that encourage us to map out our rhythms, our seasonal shifts, and to notice—not override—the signs of burnout before they spiral. Purposeful hours, or as she puts it, ‘Power Hours,’ are another. These focused, deliberate moments allow us to center ourselves, to ground our days in intention rather than chaos. And when they’re designed with resilience in mind, they feel doable. They feel sustainable.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

To me, this form of resilience—not grand, not performative—feels attainable. And belonging, well, it feels like the glue that holds it all together. So where does that leave us in this productivity journey?

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

And that’s all for this episode of Periodically Productive. Today, we’ve taken a journey through Adrienne Herbert’s "Power Hour," and explored how its principles—mindset, movement, connection, and purpose—resonate deeply, not just within the realm of productivity, but in how we approach our lives. We’ve examined how feminist productivity pushes back against perfectionism, individualism, and burnout, inviting us all to embrace authenticity, community, and resilience instead.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

For me, what’s stood out most is how these lessons align with the kind of intentional living I strive for—a life where every effort is anchored in what truly matters. Because, as we’ve heard through Herbert’s words, it’s not about doing everything. It’s about deliberately choosing what’s meaningful, and creating space for it to thrive.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

So, as we part ways today, I leave you with this thought: what will your next hour look like? Not a perfect hour, not a flawless one, but one rooted in authenticity, connection, and self-care. Take that time, whether it’s sixty minutes or ten, and let it reflect your priorities. Because that’s where real, sustainable growth begins.

Dr Elizabeth Blakelock

Thank you for joining me here on Periodically Productive—a small space for big reflections. Until next time, I hope your hours are filled with purpose, and your days are shaped by what matters most to you. I’ll see you next time.