The Time Finder with Paula Eder
The way you use your time is the way you live your life.
Archive for 'Ask Paula'
Find Time Today: Move Some Priorities to the Bottom of Your List!
Posted on August 20, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Time Priorities.
Finding time by setting priorities is a wonderful way to organize yourself. But here’s a recent question from a reader that illustrates a common challenge when prioritizing.
Susan A. of Portland, Oregon wrote:
Dear Paula,
I have always tried to set priorities when I create my to-do list. My problem is that I have a tendency to think that every task is a high priority. Could you help me by explaining what a low priority task looks like?
Sincerely,
Susan A.
Dear Susan,
Your question is one that many people ask. One of the most difficult aspects of setting priorities is to develop a habit of not making everything a high priority.
You might want to set yourself this goal: Try to assign at least 50% of the tasks on your to-do list as a medium or low priority.
- A low priority task is one that can be deferred without a negative impact on anything if it doesn’t get completed.
- Also, a low priority task is one that can be moved to another day without any adverse consequences.
Keep in mind, when setting priorities, that being flexible and reality-based is key. Situations change every day, and you may, quite often, have a legitimate reason to re-order your priorities. Tasks that looked very important on Sunday night, may look different on Wednesday, after you have gained more information or the context has evolved.
In thinking about your top priorities, be rigorous about what belongs in that slot. Stephen Covey suggests keeping two words in mind while setting priorities. One is ‘urgent’ and the other is ‘important’. The best guide for determining which task is the highest priority is to select the task on your to-do list that is both urgent and important. Some tasks may be one or the other, but only the one that is both belongs at the top.
Likewise, you may find it helpful to establish a “bottom” priority. You may even have a small collection of tasks that fit this bill. They would typically be things that can be deferred without dire consequence, but that it would be nice to accomplish. Putting vacation photos into an album is something that springs to mind. Or, perhaps, reorganizing a seldom-used closet.
Breaking your tasks up into smaller pieces (“chunking” them) may also help. Even if you don’t have enough time to complete a task, you can use the time available to get it started. Some of these “chunks” might be lower-level priorities, but completing them will help move a higher priority task along.
It’s helpful to choose a time to review your next day’s to-do list and the priorities you’ve established. Look at both the task and the priority you’ve assigned it. This allows you to flex and fine-tune your priorities as you plan. You might even take a minute or two and visualize each task. This mental rehearsal enables you to identify the number of steps required to complete a task and keeps your stress level down.
I hope that some of these ideas resonate for you, Susan … and I’d love to hear how your prioritizing evolves over time.
Best,
Paula
PS Just a quick reminder that, though the call with Artist and Creativity Coach Ellene Breedlove Davis is over, you can still access the FREE MP3 by clicking the link for: Finding Time to Be Creative: Portrait of the Artist. When you use your creativity to enhance your life, you will develop even more incentive for developing your best ideas and making them a reality.
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Take a Breather and Recharge Your Energy and Productivity, Too!
Posted on June 30, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Self-Care Time, Time and Energy.
Finding time to take those all-important, refreshing breaks is one of the hardest things for busy and productive people to do.
There’s always that one more thing! You know, the one that keeps you task-bound and, ultimately, saps your energy, enthusiasm, and productivity. It can even affect your health.
Here’s what one reader has been struggling with …
Beth from Toronto writes:
I love how The Time Finder offers me lots of different ways to look at (and achieve) balance. I want to find time for more balance in my life … a LOT more … and my problem is that I drive myself to achieve and get it all done as soon as possible.
I tend to see anything that pulls me away from what I should be doing as frivolously wasting time.
So my question is, how can I ever take time for activities that aren’t absolutely productive and necessary?
Can you relate to this quandary? I am guessing that many Time Finder readers can … and I know that I certainly can! Read on …
Dear Beth,
I hear your frustration about the way that you drive yourself. It is essential that you allow time for relaxing activities that aren’t directly related to work.
Indeed, in order to be most productive, you need to change your pace, your focus, and your energy frequently throughout the day. Try to alternate a task where you are passively sitting at your computer with one where you are active. That is, where you are moving your body and therefore, your energy. Make sure you approach your non-work activity with openness, gratitude and compassion, and not with harshness or urgency.
I also suggest setting aside a time every day for exercise and relaxation. I routinely exercise in the earlier part of my day. This helps to balance my energy and ground me, so I begin my work with enthusiasm. With every hour of sitting, I take 10-15 minutes to move and reenergize myself. Going outdoors or playing with my “puppies” helps me counterbalance my work energy.
Try to make one small change for a week and document what you notice. After your routine becomes second nature, encourage yourself to add something else to your day.
Be gentle and kind to yourself!
Warmest regards,
Paula
If you think of self-care and balance as responsibilities on an equal footing with everything else on your task list, does that help you reframe those activities for yourself? In order to fulfill and actualize your potential, you need to have access to your fullest self. That means giving yourself what you need to thrive, each step along the way!
As we move from June into July … what are some ways that you can build breathing space into your life? I encourage you to give that gift to yourself!
Speaking of thriving … are you ready to explore your healthiest life? Ready to explore and consider some changes?
The MP3 of my interview with Nutritionist and Clean Eating Coach Wendy Battles-Plasse is just the thing for you! We explored how you can “Start Living Your Healthiest Life Today: Timely Tips on Clean Eating, Self-Awareness and the Power of Prevention.” We’ll send it to everyone who signs up on our teleclass page. This was a jam-packed, info-filled call … and it’s not too late to learn all about healthy eating and prevention from one of the best!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Stop Listening to Your Inner Critic and Reclaim Your Joy, Power and Purpose!
Posted on May 13, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Time and Energy.
Finding time to let go of the draining and debilitating messages that your inner critic whispers in your ear is an effort well worth undertaking. So many of us are plagued by this droning voice!
Here’s a question from one reader …
Barbara in Cincinnati writes:
Dear Paula,
Thank you for your E-zine. The topics you write about are just exactly what I need to explore!
I don’t think I’m critical, and I’m not aware of my critic or her voice; so I don’t think this part is big in my life.
But things do bother me a lot. I am easily irritated by others, and find I never have enough time. I always feel I “should” be accomplishing something other than what I am doing.
Can you help me?
Hi Barbara,
I think I can help you get to the bottom of this!
It is positive that you are in touch with your feelings. Use this access as an avenue to explore the distorting nature of your inner critic.
The first step is learning to identify her. Absolute statements that include words like “should”, “ought to”, and “must”, are clues. So are verbal and nonverbal judgments about yourself and/or others. Examples might include feeling statements like:
- “You’re so dumb!” (Translated to “I’m SO dumb”) or
- “I’m just no good”, or
- “Who do you think YOU are”?
To get acquainted with your critic, I suggest you keep an “inner critic” journal, or diary, like a food diary. In it, document all messages derived from your critic. That will provide a frame for you. The more swiftly you can identify this subself, the more effectively you can reduce her potency.
Counter her messages with your objective, adult voice or with an affirmation.
With time and practice, this becomes more automatic. As a result, you will develop more positive control over your life and your time choices.
To your time success,
Paula
PS: I just learned about a Free Teleclass that a friend of mine, Paula Gregorowicz of The Paula G Company, will be offering on Thursday, May 20 at Noon (ET). It’s titled “Discover 3 Common Pitfalls to Creating a Life & Career You Love & How to Avoid Them.” In this class Paula, who’s a dynamic and gifted coach and trainer, will talk about how to move away from the “should’s” that our inner critic uses to keep us stuck in careers and other pursuits that don’t really fit. I think you’ll find this an eye-opening and empowering teleclass!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Get Traction on Your Long Term Goals: Just Ask Paula!
Posted on April 15, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula.
Finding time for dialogue with members of the Finding Time community is one of my favorite things, and here’s a great question that recently came to me at paula@thetimefinder.com. Please feel invited to send your own questions … we answer as many as we can, right here on the blog! Here’s what Alice J from Brooklyn wrote:
Hi Paula -
I understand about being aware, flexible and specific when I develop goals. My problem is an inability to figure out where or how to start working on a long range goal.
I’m stuck, Paula, can you help?
Alice
Dear Alice,
Don’t worry, Alice, you’re almost there! Identifying your goal is a big step. The next biggest challenge when working on a long-range goal is getting started.
Let’s break it down into steps:
- Begin by brainstorming all the tasks involved. Jot them down on a list.
- Next, categorize them. For example, if you wanted to build a house, you would put all the site development tasks into one category, and all the activities involved in obtaining permits in another. Remember to separate your task list from your materials list.
- After you have identified tasks that go into a specific category, prioritize them. Adjust as needed.
- In order to be most effective, break down each activity into the smallest pieces possible. That way, the tasks will be doable, and you will experience immediate success. This is very important and will help keep you going. It can be daunting to work on large tasks without building in places where you can feel a sense of accomplishment!
Good luck on your endeavor … I’m sure you’ll get there!
Warmest regards,
Paula
How do you approach your biggest goals? What kind of planning do you do? How do you give yourself the experience of success? We’d love to hear!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Recharge Your Creativity
Posted on March 11, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Time and Energy.
I received a wonderful question from a reader of The Time Finder last week, and I’ve been looking forward to answering it here ever since!
Mutuo Mbilla is an article writer, and she asked about the following quandary — one that confronts many of us in our writing work:
Paula,
Thanks for your great tips on time finding. I have a question for you, which I struggle with almost every week. I am a writer, and as a writer, I need creative energy. I have noticed though, that after putting lots of creative energy in, I am drained and on some days, just can’t work myself into putting down a single creative line. Sometimes this can happen for two days in a row. Is this bad? Of course it means I don’t get to achieve all my goals, but I am not sure whether its good or bad, and if I should stop it, how I should go about it.
Regards,
Mutuo Mbilla
The first piece of advice that I have for you, Mutuo, is to try to not think about these things as either good or bad. It’s normal to feel drained after spending a lot of creative energy. The key is not to be critical of yourself, but to find solutions — because that kind of self-judgment will just slow you down and also eat up even more of your energy!
Second, I would suggest that you build into your writing schedule a number of regular, small breaks. Step away from your desk and do something to relax your mind and also let your body and your energy move.
Using a timer may be very helpful for you in giving yourself breaks. Especially when one gets on a creative “roll” it can be tempting to keep going – ignoring breaks as you try to ride the creative wave. This is often the beginning of the path to the kind of exhaustion that you describe. So try to discipline yourself to take your scheduled, small breaks no matter what. This will sustain you for the long haul!
You mentioned your goals in your question. My third piece of advice is to take a look at your goals and see whether they are truly realistic. Are there ways that you could make them more flexible for yourself, so that you can take into account your energy levels? It’s okay to back off from time to time. Small chances to refresh yourself will enhance your creative energy over the long term.
I hope you find this helpful, and would love to hear how it goes for you. Have you tried any of these ideas already? Maybe it’s time to take another look at them. Best of luck to you in your creative endeavors, Mutuo!
Other Time Finder readers … do you have suggestions for Mutuo … we’d love to hear!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Manage Change … Just Ask Paula!
Posted on February 25, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Transitions and Time.
Finding time for dialogue with members of the Finding Time community is one of my favorite things! We invite readers’ questions and comments – and I love highlighting them here, most Thursday’s. Read on – and please feel invited to join in!
Here’s a question about dealing with sudden change, from Theresa in Chicago:
Dear Paula,
I need your help for a sudden change that my family is confronted with! My partner must relocate to Atlanta within weeks to keep his sales manager position.
He is our main breadwinner, and his saying no isn’t an option in this economy. But I have no experience moving to a new location, and must ready my 2 school-aged children, as well!
My head is spinning, I’ve lost my appetite and I can’t think or sleep. But everyone is counting on me! Can you please advise me how to make it through this ordeal? I hope you can answer this right away.
Thanks so much.
Theresa
And here’s my response …
Hi Theresa
You certainly have a lot on your plate! Here are some ideas for you to consider, as you navigate this challenging time!
- The first thing I would suggest is to stop and find a comfortable place to sit, perhaps in a favorite room. Close your eyes and become aware of your breathing. Make sure you are breathing deeply and from your belly.
- Next, create an affirmation that you can take with you at all times. For example, “I’ll get through this one minute at a time,” or “Step by step will get me there.” Use this as a mantra and a guide. Also, don’t be shy about changing it as things evolve. You can adapt your tools to your needs at each stage!
- Be creative about options, and flexible. Family members may be unsettled for a while. So it may help to relax your expectations a bit until new routines can be established.
- Concretize everything in writing, including an ongoing list to record items as they come to you. That frees up your mind for other tasks. Focus on one thing at a time. Validate even the smallest successes. This is key!
- Delegate tasks and ask for help. Engage your children in age-appropriate activities. That helps them develop understanding and ownership of the move.
I hope you find this helpful.
Best of luck to you … I’ll be thinking about you as your move unfolds!
Paula
What kinds of sudden changes have you had in your life? How did you cope? Do you have time questions you’d like me to explore here? Please drop me a line at paula@thetimefinder.com – I’d love to hear!
Oh, and don’t forget to join me on Wednesday, March 3 at 7PM ET as I interview Certified Life Coach and Professional Organizer Maggie McCauley, LICSW about moving yourself “From Chaos to Peace—Creating an Inspired Workspace.” Maggie will let you in on the secrets to stop letting chaos and clutter drain your time and energy, sap your creativity, and cost you money! Be sure to grab your free seat and join us!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Remember to Use Your To Do List-Just Ask Paula!
Posted on February 18, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Time Boundaries.
Finding time for dialogue with members of the Finding Time community is one of my favorite things! We invite readers’ questions and comments – and I love highlighting them here, most Thursday’s. Read on – and please feel free to join in!
John Fieglein from Annapolis, Maryland, writes:
Dear Paula,
When you write and talk about communicating time boundaries, one of the suggestions I like best is the use of the scarf on the door to remind people that you want to work undisturbed. Can you suggest a similar structure that would remind me to look at my To Do List?
Dear John,
Your question reminds me of how important it is to communicate, not just with others, but with ourselves! And yes – no matter how good our lists and systems may be, if we don’t remember to use them, they can’t really help!
There are a number of great ways to give yourself helpful reminders about your To Do List. One is to put a sticky note with the word “lists” printed on it in a place where you are sure to see it.
For example, if you want to review your list at night, perhaps you can put your sticky note on the mirror in the bathroom. This way, you will see it when you brush your teeth! Or, if you want to review your list in the morning, you might put your sticky note next to your coffee pot, your tea kettle, or on your orange juice container in your refrigerator.
Here are two other things to consider …
- A bright color like fuchsia or fluorescent yellow helps the note stand out.
- If you leave your reminder too long in the same place, it may just become “part of the landscape” – so be flexible and move it around if need be.
You can adapt this idea to whatever best fits your personal routine. Play with it and find what works best for you. And please let me know what you decide to do and how it works – I’d love to hear – and to share with other readers who have asked similar questions.
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for your FREE Finding Time Success Kit. It puts 3 key tools for your time success right into your hands! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Give Your Dreams Some Landing Gear!
Posted on February 11, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula.
Finding time for dialogue with members of the Finding Time community is one of my favorite things! We invite readers’ questions and comments – and I love highlighting them here, most Thursday’s. Read on – and please feel invited to join in!
Not too long ago I had a Tweet from CozyCoach (aka Jennifer Scovil). Jen is a new Mom who’s also in the process of developing a website and a coaching practice. Her question?
@PaulaEder I wish you would write more about The Overambitious Goal. That’s me and I never go in with an understanding of how I’ll reach it.
This is a great question, because while we don’t want to shackle our dreams, it’s important to learn to fashion goals, objectives, and action steps that can make our dreams into realities. Anything less, and we’re actually sabotaging our dreams (in addition to frustrating ourselves). As CD Jackson has said:
Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings.
So, what does that mean in practice? It means, in a nutshell, “chunking” your dreams down into goals, objectives, and actions steps ’til you get to doable pieces.
Of course, setting goals isn’t magical. And setting goals is not a requirement for being an effective and successful person. If your goals are “shoulds” you may find yourself rebelling against them. But, if your goals are steps toward your dreams, they are more likely to be aligned with your values and your energy … and you are much more likely to follow through on them!
Here are 3 tips to help you as you think about goal-setting:
- Setting goals is based in what you want in your life. Try writing your goals in clear, concrete, and simple language. This helps you see exactly what you want, and creates an image of the outcomes in your mind.
- Once you have defined the outcomes you want, it’s much easier to design relevant action steps. This is key! Be as concrete and incremental as you can, as this puts the feeling of accomplishment within reach as you complete each step!
- Setting goals introduces two states of mind that can improve your life. They are “awareness” and “agility“. Awareness is what keeps our eyes on the prize. Agility, on the other hand, allows us to adjust to the unexpected things that arise along the way.
As a recipe for realizing dreams, remember these three concepts – chunking down, awareness, and agility. Hope that helps!
And before closing, I note that today is the anniversary of the untimely passing of Thomas J. Leonard, founder of Coachville and inspiration to thousands and thousands of coaches around the world. His spirit lives on in the work of Andrea J. Lee, and others … and here is a quote of his that captures, to my mind, some of his wonderful energy, humor, and wisdom!
Deliver what people expect and more; but don’t just give them eleven apples instead of ten, toss in a kiwi.
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for The Finding Time Success Kit. It’s FREE, and it provides you with key tools for your time success! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Find Time to Stay True to Your Time Boundaries
Posted on February 4, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula, Time Boundaries.
Finding time by setting time boundaries is a key component in your time management toolbox. But it’s not just a matter of setting those boundaries. You have to maintain them – and that’s not always easy!
Here’s a question that I received some time ago from Sara D in Maine:
“I have trouble maintaining the boundaries that I set around how I use my time. I set them and then I get talked out of them.”
This is not an uncommon problem by any means. Here are some quick tips that will help!
- Be sure to decide, before going into a discussion with others about your boundaries, whether or not the boundaries you have set are negotiable or non-negotiable.
- If they are negotiable, strive for a compromise that meets the needs of everyone involved.
- If they are non-negotiable, courteously explain in the beginning that these boundaries probably won’t be modified in the short term, and explain why.
It’s always important to enlist the support of others as much as possible. When you ask the people in your life to support your boundaries, it’s a good idea to also assure them that you will be open to discussing and perhaps modifying your Boundaries if (or when) your current time requirements change.
This builds in room for flexibility down the road, and may be helpful to everyone (yourself included, perhaps) in respecting the boundary right NOW!
What do you think? Are you using time boundaries and staying true to them? Please feel invited to drop me a line – I’d love to hear … and respond!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for The Finding Time Success Kit. It’s FREE, and it provides you with key tools for your time success! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
Finding Time to Ask Paula!
Posted on January 28, 2010 by Paula, under Ask Paula.
This morning we’re introducing a new category to our blog here at The Time Finder – Ask Paula!
We anticipate that it will be a good spot to highlight questions (and comments) that come to us in response to blog posts and to our e-zine (which will be firing today a little before noontime ET, by the way)!
We’re looking forward to being able to expand on the already-lively dialogue in our Finding Time Community – and this is a great way to start!
So, to inaugurate Ask Paula, here’s a question from Bruce K. in California:
How do I know if my choices around time really do fit with my values?
What a great question! This is a topic that Heather Dominick actually touched on in our interview on Tuesday night.
In response to a question about making choices and taking risks, she suggested doing a body scan and noting where your feelings about a particular choice reside.
She went on to say that if you feel the energy of the choice in and around your heart, it is probably in sync with your values and core direction. If, on the other hand, the feelings are centered in your head, you may be over-thinking and forcing something.
To delve further into this – on a daily or weekly basis, ideally, I’d encourage you to step back and think about your values.
Then also, periodically, pause and assess how you are feeling about your time choices. Ask yourself:
How do I feel at the end of the day?
Do I feel satisfied?
Do I feel like I’ve accomplished something?
Or do I feel anxious or indecisive?
Do I think about the things I could have done or should have done?
The answer to these questions will tell you if your time choices fit into your values.
Knowing how you feel about your choices helps you see your priorities – and then you can tweak things, to bring them into better sync with your core values!
Do you have questions you’d like to Ask Paula? Please feel invited to drop me a line – I’d love to hear … and respond!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up for The Finding Time Success Kit. It’s FREE, and it provides you with key tools for your time success! Grab it and see how you can recharge your energy, reduce overwhelm and frustration, and come to learn that 24 hours really ARE enough!
Let’s explore time together …
Other Posts You Might Enjoy!
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