I tried productivity 'Hell Week' created by a former Norwegian paratrooper

Áine Cain

Over the summer, I spent several days going through hell.

That's a bit dramatic, but it's true. I was trying out "Hell Week."

To clarify, no I didn't train to become a Navy SEAL or get hazed by a frat. "Hell Week" is a book that promises to unlock your best self in seven days, by author and former Norwegian paratrooper Erik Bertrand Larssen.

The book itself is a breezy read, sprinkled with quotes about overcoming adversity and inspirational stories (no discouraging, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here," stuff like that other book on hell). 

The main feature of the book is its "Hell Week" schedule. If you adhere to it, the exercise promises to boost your professional and personal success. Two other sections detail life before and post-Hell Week. I admit I kind of skimmed over those parts. I usually like to just jump into things. It's really not a positive trait ... especially in this instance.

Here's how it went down:

The experiment

Before I tell you about my own experience, you'll want to understand the rules outlined in the book. Here are the seven commandments from Larssen's "Hell Week."

1. Go to sleep at 10 p.m. and rise at 5 a.m. That's seven hours of sleep every night.
2. "Look your best at all times."
3. "Exercise to the extreme." This means exercising every day for a minimum of one hour. Two of those sessions should be high-intensity.
4. Eat healthy foods. Junk food is out. So is booze.
5.  "Take charge of your digital life." Larssen bans personal use of social media during work hours, as well as all television.
6. "Get hyper-focused." Try to give everything you're doing your undivided attention.
7. "Step up your game." You've got to be in it all the way. This means putting in hard work, dedication, proactivity, positivity, and focus.

One other game-changing rule: You've got to stay up all night on Thursday, which the book describes as the "toughest day" of the week. You're supposed to be super productive and contemplative throughout the night. However, in the book, Larssen notes that you shouldn't try the all-nighter if it could jeopardize your health. My health is fine.

Monday

I went to bed way too late on Sunday night, but otherwise things got off to a relatively good start. I woke up at 5 a.m. (check!) and headed to the train station. I caught an earlier train than usual and arrived at Business Insider's office before the lights had even flicked on.

I'm not a morning person, but I didn't feel too zombie-like at this point. I can work through a little bit of sleep deprivation — or at least I could, back in college. I was the person with permanently bloodshot eyes who took regular naps in the office of the campus newspaper, so I didn't worry overly about the early wake-up time during Hell Week. (Hint: I should have.)

I skipped lunch altogether to get more things done. Later that day, I jogged around town on my way back home. That was my exercise for the day.

Not the best first day, but not the worst, either.

Tuesday

Tuesday, I slept through my alarm and woke up 30 minutes late. Oops. I then proceeded to forget my phone at home, which is not against the "Hell Week" rules but still isn't ideal. Rough start.

I'm not sure if I looked my best this day — or any day throughout the week, for that matter. I wasn't about to go around the office asking people what they thought of my look (cringe!). The book says that you don't have to rush out and buy a new wardrobe, but it does recommend brushed hair, manicured fingernails, and ironed shirts. I definitely did one of those things.

My exercise of the day involved power-walking from Grand Central to work and then half-heartedly jogging from the train station to my house.

My head wasn't in the game on Tuesday.