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How spending a Shultz hour – with pen and paper and no distractions – allows time to ponder, process events, dream big and review your life goals
- Deliberately planned quiet time, named for former US politician George Shultz who practised it, is when we can delve into the big questions and set goals
- Writing down thoughts often helps us to see them more objectively, and can help increase mental clarity and reduce stress. Experts explain why
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The speed of modern life, with its constant barrage of information, smartphone notifications and interruptions, can make it difficult to stop and simply think.
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That is why we could all do with a “Shultz hour” – a time to ponder and process in what can be termed “focused daydreaming”.
Shultz hour gets its name from the late United States secretary of state George Shultz, who served under US President Ronald Reagan. The grand diplomat credited much of his success to his habit of holing up in his office for an hour, not to be disturbed – unless his wife or the president called.
He used the time to reflect on important tasks and goals. Most notably, he helped draft agreements that led to the end of the Cold War (1947-1991) between the Soviet Union and the US.
“You’ve got to dream a little bit if you are going to get somewhere,” Shultz once said.
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