The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Finding Time to Stay Connected Through Your Transitions

Posted on May 22, 2012, under Transitions and Time.

Finding time to nourish yourself through your transitions is a time management skill that will stand you in good stead, no matter what changes and challenges life presents. And it’s helpful to remember that your transitions also are affected by and have an impact on the lives of those around you.

It can be difficult to stay connected and nurture relationships when much of your energy is being used to cope with the changes you are experiencing. However, it is important, and well worth the effort, to keep the people close to you involved and informed as you navigate life transitions.

What kinds of changes are we talking about here? Well, what constitutes a transition will vary from individual to individual. But some universally experienced transitions would include things like a death or illness, moving to a new city, changing jobs, the loss (or beginning) of a relationship, etc. There are also developmental transitions that we all experience as we age, and we adjust to the changes that that process brings.

Time is really a constantly-flowing river of transitions. So, here are some things to consider, as you strive to nourish yourself and stay connected with your friends and family through ANY kind of life change:

Ask them what they see as important about the event. Be sure to encourage each person in your circle to state what he or she thinks will be important during this life transition. What are the anticipated gains and losses? Do people have fears about what lies ahead? Are there things that they are excited about? This gives everyone a good sense of the emotional terrain you’re traveling together.

Allow each person making this life journey with you to be clear about what he or she expects to need from you.

As you plan for finding the time you need to nourish yourself, be as clear and sensitive as you can about each person’s feelings, needs, and the unavoidable changes each will need to make. This doesn’t mean that you need to ‘take care of’ everyone’s needs – but acknowledging those needs directly and validating their importance is a key component in staying connected.

For those of you who live alone, it is equally important to include your support system in your planning. Problem solving together creates a sense of teamwork and coordinates efforts. This will ease the transition for everyone concerned.

Remember that this is a dynamic process over time. Keep the lines of communication open and stay connected with each other to ensure that original decisions are still working. Be flexible and encourage everyone to be open to adjusting plans as the transition evolves.

So, how can you navigate changes, stay connected with your friends and family, and make even more of your time using time management tips?

Well. are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path? Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ - my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success! In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

As you work with the ideas I offer, you’ll explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them. You can give yourself the gift of this wonderful resource today, and get started on your journey toward success, Stepping Stone by Stepping Stone …just click this link to get the details!

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Find Time to Keep Yourself Focused and on Track with This One Simple Tip!

Posted on May 21, 2012, under Time and Technology.

Finding time to stay on track, especially if much of your work must be done on-line, can be a very big challenge. There are so many potential distractions that can pull you away from your planned work. Do you notice that you ‘lose time’ when you’re at your computer? It’s a very common problem and may well be your biggest time drain.

But don’t worry! Here’s one simple and sure-fire way to keep yourself focused and on track when you sit down to work at your computer: Use a timer!

There really is no better way to create time boundaries for yourself so that you can stay focused and on-track. There are lots of different kinds of timers that you can use – some on-line and some of the egg-timer variety. Both can work just fine; I personally prefer the egg-timer type, as I can use it to stay on track, not just at the computer, but when I’m doing other things around the house an farm.

For accomplishing tasks that require a lot of focus, I like to set the timer for no more than 20 or 30-minutes. Then, when it goes off, I get up and walk around a little bit, or do some stretches. It’s important to give yourself frequent “movement breaks” when your work is primarily sedentary. This refreshes your body and your mind, enabling you to return to your task with renewed energy.

I think you’ll find that your ability to stay on track is greatly enhanced when you work in shorter increments and give yourself clear boundaries. You’ll begin to establish a rhythm that both your body and your mind will appreciate.

Not only that, but the more you know that YOU are in charge of your time, the more you can stay focused and on track. As you use your timer to create and maintain your time boundaries you build self-trust around time management and time choices. This makes it easier to let go of that tempting website that you want to explore ‘right now’ – because you know that you will find time to return to it later. Clear time boundaries make that possible for you!

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Success is within your reach, so don’t wait, http://optimize.thetimefinder.com/tips-booklet/ and get started today!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with any of the resources mentioned here, and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

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Find Time to Nourish Your Way Through Your Transitions

Posted on May 16, 2012, under Transitions and Time.

Springtime is a time of transition, and finding time to support yourself as you go through your life transitions is a time management skill that is key to maintaining your energy, productivity, and perspective … no matter what! The reality is that your schedule is already busy with relationships, work, and the logistics of daily living. And then there are times when you are faced with a major life transition.

What are major life transitions? This may vary from person to person, depending on your values, cultural norms, etc. So, for starters, it’s helpful to think about how YOU define a life transition. Starting or ending primary relationships, having a child, moving to new surroundings, and changing jobs are likely to be major life transitions for anyone who undergoes them. Other life events may also affect you profoundly. What is unique to you is how you experience such events and how you find the time to meet your personal needs.

To get yourself familiar with your own relationship to your transitions, take any example of an event that is a life transition. Set aside 15 minutes once or twice a week to think about it. During your 15 minutes of reflection, write down the support you will need and the changes you will need to make to find the time to successfully navigate this transition.

This is a process of developing and deepening your intimacy with yourself; and you may discover things that surprise you. That’s because transitions are times of great opportunity and also great vulnerability. Think of yourself as a new seedling, germinating and pushing its way up through the ground. A fundamental change is taking place – and your task is to befriend yourself, help yourself, nurture yourself, as you come through!

So, welcome the information that you glean from your inner dialogue, and follow-through on giving yourself what you need. In this way you build self-trust. You come to know, right down to your toes, that you will be there for yourself, no matter what!

Your life transitions often involve other people, too. So stay tuned. We’ll continue and expand on this next week, as we explore more of the in’s and out’s of finding time to nourish yourself through your transitions!

So, want to learn more about how you can expand and deepen your time and efforts … in whatever areas you choose? Here’s a great way to explore avenues to increasing your time skills and heart-based power – whether it’s in your business, or your personal life. I am so pleased to be able to offer my expertise and support as The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to “Time Management”.

You can visit by clicking the link, and when you do you’ll find lots of time management articles by experts in the field, along with a vibrant and welcoming on-line community. Stop by my Expert Page and leave a comment or question … or just say hello. There are lots of ways to connect … let’s get started!

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Find Time to Play Your Way Out of Paralyzing Procrastination

Posted on May 15, 2012, under Time Choices, Time Management Skills.

Do you find looming deadlines stressful to the point of stopping you in your tracks? It can be a nightmarish feeling when the clock is ticking, your panic is mounting, and you feel like you’re losing ground with each passing moment. Sound familiar? The harder you try, the more your mind goes blank. Ideas and inspiration dry up.

Finding time to play your way out of stress and paralyzing procrastination is an enjoyable and empowering way to break through logjams and get back into the flow of things. Read on to learn one unbeatable breakthrough tip that you probably haven’t thought of – and that I think you’ll enjoy!

Quite often things like brainstorming and mind mapping can open up options when you’re stuck in overwhelm. But high stress sometimes invites self-criticism and self-consciousness onto the scene when you least need them. Then you give yourself undermining messages like:

“Nobody’s going to like that!”
“This just has to be perfect!”
“You’re running out of time!”
“Everyone’s going to see how ____ you are!”

As the tension mounts, you try things that have worked before, like taking a quick walk to step away and clear your head. But when you sit back down and start working again, you find that those critical voices are still there and still have lots to say.

When faced with a situation like this, try this one tip – it is a real life-saver, believe me! You can try it at other times, too, because aside from breaking up logjams and relieving stress, it’s a wonderful tool for stimulating your creativity.

Oh, and it’s an entirely counter-intuitive tip – and that’s its beauty.

Ready for the game? It’s called “Turn Your Inner Critic on Its Head!”

The next time you are stuck, make it your goal to generate the very worst version of whatever you are working on that you are capable of creating.

If you are writing a sales page, or a blog post, or copy for a press release, your goal is to shock and disappoint. Throw yourself into your task with the mindset that you are going to stretch the limits of boring, blasphemous, and bizarre. Use everything that you might have censored, and exaggerate it to the hilt. In other words, have fun with it.

What this does, as you may have guessed, is not only silence but absolutely flummox your inner critic. Actually, you put yourself in control of this voice by choosing to use it as a contributor to your project (rather than being a negative nay-sayer calling from the sidelines).

Harnessing the voice of your inner critic to overcome stress and stasis, ask yourself:

What does your inner critic think is a really terrible headline for your next E-zine article?
What would guarantee that your report would create shrieks of outrage?
What opening paragraph is least likely to capture your readers’ interest?

Go ahead and begin writing from this vantage point. Better than trying to drown out or silence your critical voice, you have neutralized its negativity and stripped it of its power. It provides comic relief and nothing more.

As you relax, you will find that your ideas begin to flow – possibly in new and unanticipated directions – and you can move ahead on your project with empowered energy. And I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the new inspirations that come about as a result of this counter-intuitive time management tip!

Now, how can you expand your life and make even more of your time using time management tips?

And are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path? Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ - my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success! In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

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Find Time for Some Digital Media Resources from Mashable on Cyber Monday

Posted on May 14, 2012, under Time and Technology.

Finding time to keep up with all the developments in the world of digital media is next to impossible. There are so many different platforms, and so many thousands of applications and tools being developed and marketed for each that sorting out what’s what could be a full-time job.

That’s why I like to check sources like Mashable, Lifehacker, CNET, Wired, and PCMag.com occasionally – and most especially when they offer Top 10 Lists and other aggregations of information. There are people for whom monitoring the digital world is a full-time job (as well as a passion).

So I take advantage of their good work periodically. It’s a quick way to scan the digital landscape, and I nearly always notice something that interests me.

Today I want to share a weekend post from Mashable’s Matt Protonzio titled 47 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed. The entire post is worth a look, and here are just a few of the items that caught my eye:

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Klout: Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Klout and the man who created it.

The Best and Worst Times to Share on Facebook, Twitter: Link shortening and tracking service bit.ly has released new data on the best and worst times to share links on popular social networks.

8 Ways to Get the Biggest Marketing Bang Out of SlideShare: SlideShare is a vibrant, mobile-friendly, Google-indexed community. Here are eight ways savvy social marketers should use it.

How to Optimize Your Headlines for Google and Humans: Google and SEO may make you cringe, but the combo matters in search. Here are SEO examples from news outlets that range from bad to best.

With time at a premium, and digital media tools and opportunities changing every day, it’s worth taking a look at developments and trends at least weekly. I suggest that you check out one of the venues noted above, and stay familiar with the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Not only that, but as you discover helpful tools, please let us know … we’d all love to hear!

Success is within your reach, so don’t wait, http://optimize.thetimefinder.com/tips-booklet/ and get started today!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with any of the resources mentioned here, and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

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Find Time by Factoring Dependencies Into Collaboration: Increase Your Priority Power™

Posted on May 9, 2012, under Time Management Skills, Time Priorities.

Finding time requires working in collaboration sometimes. And working closely with others can be complicated; there are lots of variables to consider.

So, to combine forces as effectively as possible, try thinking in terms of dependencies. When you do, your Priority Power™ will rise appreciably.

Is “dependency” in project management a term that you’re familiar with?

Basically, when an enterprise you’re engaged in calls for collaboration, the “dependency” is someone outside of your immediate work group who plays an essential role in your achieving your goals. When you prioritize tasks, dependencies must be factored in and accounted for.

Let’s say, for example, that you work closely with a number of different departments at your job. You establish a working budget for each quarter, and the finance department supplies you with the figures. Since they usually take four weeks to gather and compile the necessary data, you prioritize your request and make it well in advance of your due date. This way, you get the data you need with time to spare.

And of course, others depend on YOU, too.

Maybe it’s your daughter, who counts on you to create her costume for the school play. To be ready to play her part, she depends on you to do yours. And, without a second thought, you give this task top priority. Your openhearted commitment to support your child, and her reliance upon you, establish this project’s high priority as you plan your week.

So try consciously welcoming dependencies as you frame your collaborative work. See how your productivity increases with every incremental step forward.

Notice, too, how your greater sensitivity to others’ schedules and needs creates more flow and good will. That is a time-enhancer that not only makes you more efficient and effective, but also adds quality and inner quietude to your busy day.

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