Two Awesome Hours 

Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done

I love productivity hacks. Surprisingly, few books on the market offer unique tactics or research-based proof that their strategies will work. Thankfully, Two Awesome Hours is an exception. And as the subtitle says, there is a plethora of science-based strategies within. It’s a solutions book worth reading.

Author and director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute, Dr. Josh Davis, addresses the primary reason we long for productivity solutions: We want to get more done and, secondly, feel in control of our emotions and lives. While there is no perfection promised, hidden hours, or magic formulas, he has distilled numerous techniques into five strategies to increase peak performance. Some you’re familiar with, some maybe new. But the presentation and proof that they work is worth the read. 

Here are a few takeaways that earned this book a Gold Star Solutions Rating. 

I always appreciate any conversation around mindset and control. These two uniquely human qualities are often dismissed as we give away our time, energy, and power to others. Re-exploring them and reviewing novel insights is a helpful way to start. This doesn’t mean you can ignore your children’s cry for attention or your boss’s fierce deadlines; however, the author reminds you that you do have power here and how to thoughtfully wield it to redesign two “productive” hours each day that can tilt the axis in your favor.  

This starts with an exploration of emotions, especially as they relate to decision-making behaviors. Coupling this with creating conditions that support your success is often more successful than rising several hours early to find more time. And note that often, when you add longer hours to your day, you’re missing out on critical rest, and you often inadvertently take on more work because you suddenly have more time. Yes, we all fall into that trap. 

Instead, Dr. Davis suggests working with our biology is key to formulating optimal outcomes. 

What I found especially helpful was the writing and research on mindset, and how seemingly small things like rote work, ambient noise, and emails, to name a few, affect our emotions. Emotions affect our work. Redesigning how we work (and our lifestyle choices) allows us to capitalize on heightened energy and smart decision-making that, over time, can rewire the brain to increase productivity. 

Imagine if the books The Power of Habit and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People had a baby—Two Awesome Hours might be the doppelganger. 

But back to the book. Without giving away all the secret sauce strategies, I’d like to add that emotion, energy, environment, and engagement are central themes for success throughout this book. Thankfully, Dr. Davis sprinkles in a few case studies and illustrations for clarity, and as I mentioned earlier, plenty of statistics and research to drive home points.

Finally, it’s not necessarily about two hours, per se; it’s about finding the right amount of time needed to make a positive impact in your life. Then experiment with strategies and form new habits so that this precious time becomes a treasured, productive part of each day. 

Book and Image Courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers