Finding Time to Ask the Right Questions

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

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

Posted on December 5, 2008, under Time Management Skills.

Finding time to move yourself from procrastination to action is a perennial time management challenge. When you just can’t budge on a task that you’re procrastinating about, what do you do?

Some time management ideas to help you in this situation might include taking steps to get more organized or more disciplined about your time choices. However, with really stubborn procrastination, tactics like this can sometimes leave you feeling like you are running into a brick wall.

I suggest that you try something different.

Try letting go as a first step. Step away from the time management struggle, take some deep breaths, and work to stop feeling annoyed with yourself. Then create a friendly question to help yourself develop a better strategy.

Ask yourself “What am I waiting for?” or “What will happen if I get started?” Listen to yourself as you would to a friend. Don’t judge or censor. Write down the answer or answers that come up for you, and then move ahead to tackle the clarified issues realistically.

Asking yourself a friendly question is always going to elicit helpful information. The friendly tone is reassuring and goes a long way toward overcoming self-critical attitudes that are generally unhelpful in overcoming procrastination. (Indeed, if you are berating yourself for not moving ahead, that pretty much ensures that you’re going to stay stuck.)

So the next time you find yourself putting something off over and over, and becoming frustrated with the way you are managing your time, take a moment to ask yourself a couple of friendly questions.

How does that work for you? Drop me a line – I’d love to hear!

What if you could find another hour every week? You can! For more Time Finding resources, you are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, twice-weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

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There are 3 Responses to “Finding Time to Ask the Right Questions”

#1 Judy H. Wright - 07 December, 11:56 AM

Hello from beautiful Montana:

We are both part of Connie’s Mentee program. Your blog is very well done and I will look forward to learning more about Time Management.

Good Luck and have a great day today.

Judy H. Wright aka Auntie Artichoke, family relationship coach and author

my blog is http://www.AskAuntieArtichoke.com

#2 Paula - 07 December, 5:59 PM

Hi Judy – and thank you for the kind words. I enjoy reading your work on The Artichoke Press, too! Have a wonderful evening – and I look forward to connecting in Connie’s Mentee program!
Paula

#3 Find Time and Define Your Values with Time Boundaries | The Time Finder with Paula Eder - 08 December, 6:24 AM

[...] to hear from Auntie Artichoke (aka Judy H. Wright) via a comment on last Friday’s post about Finding Time to Ask the Right Questions. I’ve long admired Judy’s work, and enjoyed reading her most recent post on Ask Auntie [...]

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