Finding Time by Managing Predictable Change

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

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

Finding Time by Managing Predictable Change

Posted on October 21, 2008, under Time Management Skills.

As they say about our climate here in New England, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait – it’s sure to change!” That concept, applied more generally, can be a very helpful tip for living life in today’s culture. (The stock market alone, gives us daily, if not hourly, reminders of the constancy of change!)

Yesterday I encouraged you to embrace the expectation of change and incorporate it into your time management repertoire.

There are two very different types of change:

The change that we can anticipate, like the change from summer to fall; and

The change that we can’t predict, or might never even imagine. (These are the unexpected changes that I wrote about last month when we explored Finding Time When Crises Arise and Finding Time to Plan for the Unexpected.)

Both kinds of change present challenges. Both present opportunities as well.

Consider the predictable change from summer into fall. There are many activities associated with this transition. You may harvest the bounty of your garden, put away summer clothes, get out skis and snowshoes, cut and stack wood – or any number of other seasonal chores.

The predictable nature of these changes means that you can plan for them. You may have developed templates, over the years, for particular seasonal tasks. This is a great way to incorporate what you learn from experience! It can greatly enhance your efficiency and save you lots of time!

A further benefit of your planning is that it can free up your mind and your energy, allowing you to experience these changes with a depth that can be very renewing.

You may choose to use this change as an opportunity to pause and reflect.

You might review your priorities and your time choices at this time, making it a point of new beginning.

If you choose to, you can invest a quality of ritual in these predictable changes. They then become a part of your life’s larger rhythm. You can deepen and refresh your spirit as you accomplish a necessary task!

How do you manage the predictable changes in your life? What opportunities do they present you with? What challenges?

Click where it says “Please Leave a Comment” below. I’d love to hear from you!

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Let’s explore time together …

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