choice - The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

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

Find Time for April’s Time Finder Favorites

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Paula, under Time After Time.

This morning, as a soft rain falls on New Hampshire’s thirsty soil, I’m pleased to find time to share with you the top 5 Time Finder favorites for the month of April!

Topping the list was a post about a time tracking tool called Rescue Time. This is a powerful and flexible tool that allows you to see exactly how you spend your time – so that you can then make informed choices.

You can use Rescue Time to track how and where you spend your time on the computer, as well as to track off-line time. The nice thing about the on-line tracking function is that once you have set up Rescue Time, it does the tracking for you. There is nothing you need to record. And this means that you get a much better picture than would be otherwise possible, of how you are actually spending your on-line time.

The second most popular post in April was actually shared in March – and is another Cyber Monday post. This one is titled “Find Time with Zamzar and Evernote Clearly on Cyber Monday” and offered information about two more time-saving tools. Zamzar is a file conversion service, while what Clearly does is change “web-based material to a wonderfully readable (and printable) format. You activate Clearly with a bookmarklet that you drag to your Bookmarks Bar, and then click it to create a customizable, highly readable version of whatever you are viewing on the web. You can even adjust the font size!

Find Time to Accept Yourself and Transform Your Time with Empowered Compassion™ was the third top post for April and offers powerful, heart-based advice for revolutionizing your relationship with time.

Finding Time to accept all of who you are is a gentle, deliberate process that will transform your time and give you a solid base for action. That’s because being your most productive self, your most empowered self, means being your WHOLE self. And that’s where Empowered Compassion™ comes in.

April’s 4th most-read post offered practical ideas for incorporating movement into your daily life. Find Time for “Movement Moments” in Your Day! is all about making sure that we pay attention to our body’s need to move … and reap the benefits.

If you spend a lot of time working on-line, your day might easily have you glued to the computer hour upon hour. It can be engrossing work, but in order to be productive and take good care of yourself, it’s imperative that you find time to move.

And last but not least, “Find Time for These Cool Tools for Pinterest!” was another Cyber Monday post that found its way into your top 5.

Pinterest continues to be one of the fastest-growing social networking sites – currently in third place behind Facebook and Twitter. And now, developers are creating all sorts of applications that can help you pin more easily, find people with similar interests more quickly, and analyze your Pinterest influence. All of these enhancements are interesting and helpful – and they can be crucial if you are interested in using Pinterest for your business.

Was your favorite post here? I’d love to hear what YOU resonated to. Just take 5-minutes and let me know! ;>)

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.

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 “Hear” the Actions Beneath the Words

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time Choices.

Finding time to decipher “time messages” you received as a child always rewards you, if you like revising old patterns.

But this “chronological makeover” might require more than a good memory. Did Mom and Dad’s actions match their words? Or did “What I say” and “What I do” contradict one another? It’s quite helpful to explore this, for one very compelling reason: Mixed messages speak loudest.

Let’s say that a family member told you one thing about time and then did something completely different. How did you feel then, and how do you feel now about it now? Conflicting messages that confused you as a child can easily lead to “disconnects” in later life.

And those disconnects may create painful, missed opportunities. Fortunately, you can untangle these time knots and realign your energies. Even better, you can take an important step forward today!

Try an exercise about double messages with double benefits:

Think of an instance where you struggle to match your time choices with your expressed values.
Now, think back to your childhood, when someone you looked up said one thing about time and did something that differed.
Quickly write down what was said and what was done.
How did you feel about this? Write that down, too.
Compare and contrast your current conflict with what you witnessed others doing when you were young.
What’s similar? What’s different? What patterns emerge? Patterns always tell tales.
Now that you’re listening to the actions beneath the words, consult your heart. How might stories from your parents’ lives carry clues about your current situation? What past incidents narrow your sense of possibilities?
Envision a path to more rewarding time choices! Make this as vivid as possible, so you can really experience your progress on this path. This visualization helps motivate you and alerts you to opportunities to move forward.
Finally, ask your intuition about how to proactively walk this path and align deeds with words.

Engaging in this exercise will enrich you in at least 2 ways.

First, you gain a compassionate context for time choices you make that puzzle and frustrate you. That feels SO much better!
Second, you are in a much better position to change a troubling time choice once you understand its roots.

I would love to hear about your personal journey of finding time to live in power and harmony

And as you continue your journey, transforming yourself and your relationship with time, consider this: Are you an entrepreneur, consultant, or small business owner who’s ready to take the next big step? If you want to learn how to create and to keep a successful business running on your own, then this is for you! “How to Create Credibility as a Freelancer” is a booklet with 70 expert-proven tips that will help you recharge your energy and motivation, increase your visibility, and sharpen those vital organizational and time management skills.

Success is within your reach, so don’t wait, click this link and get started today! http://bit.ly/FreelanceTips

Find Time to Know the State of YOUR Union: Are Your Head and Heart in Sync for Success? (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Explore Your “Time Roots” (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Free Yourself from the Perfectionism Trap-Your Heart Holds the Keys! (thetimefinder.com)

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Finding Time to Feel then Deal with Disaster

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time Choices, Transitions and Time.

Finding time to deal with disaster is not a subject that we relish writing about. But it’s something we all need to be prepared for, as Hurricane Irene most recently reminded us.

When confronted with sudden change, one key coping strategy is to take a step back and give yourself time to let your feelings out about what has happened.

You’ll notice I didn’t say ”explore”, but “let out”. You can take time to explore later, but in the heat of the moment it’s vital to “take the top off” in a safe setting. This will help you think as clearly as possible as quickly as possible. Doing this gives you access to you best problem-solving abilities, as you meet whatever challenges arise.

Once you have done what you can to clear the air for yourself, it’s important to quickly assess the situation, and address emergent challenges and problems. Mitigate the immediate damage as best you can, and prepare for whatever the next step might be.

Throughout the process, as you sort things out, be aware that you may need to take moments here and there to safely vent feelings of frustration and loss that will muddy the waters if left to fester. Then you can return to your practical problem-solving with more clarity and positive energy.

Attitude of Gratitude. In the midst of unexpected change, there are always things to be grateful for. When you reflect on what you are grateful for you create a nourishing base of positive energy for yourself. This is a vital and affirming touchstone that can sustain you through turmoil as you deal with disaster.

It is remarkably helpful to open yourself to the process of unfolding change. Your focus will shift and narrow to what lies straight ahead as you deal with disaster. Don’t fight it. As time moves forward, your vista will widen again.

Here are 3 things that you can count on as you deal with disaster … even as you feel like your world has been turned upside down:

With each moment, the impact and ramifications of what has happened will be felt, like ripples on water.
With each moment you will have new challenges and opportunities to respond to.
And with each choice you make, you shape the next moment.

A disaster like Hurricane Irene can feel like it is a single event in time – but really, that event is just the start of a moment-by-moment evolution that can take you in directions that you might never have imagined. Remaining as open as you can to this process is a wonderful gift you can give yourself!

These skills will simplify and deepen your experience as you deal with disaster … or most anything. And they can be lifesavers! How can you apply them in your life?

Let’s explore time together …

And while I’m on the subject of exploration, transformation and empowerment, are you a solopreneur, consultant, or small business owner who’s ready to take the next big step? If you want to learn how to create and to keep a successful business running on your own, then this is for you!

“How to Create Credibility as a Freelancer” is a booklet with 70 expert-proven tips that will help you recharge your energy and motivation, increase your visibility, and sharpen those vital organizational and time management skills. Success is within your reach, so don’t wait, click this link and get started today! http://bit.ly/FreelanceTips

Find Time to Transform Your Feelings About Time by Tuning in to the Words You Use to Describe It (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Prepare, Adjust and Carry On When Life Throws You a Curve (thetimefinder.com)

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Find Time to Make Time Choices that Enhance Your Time Success

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Paula, under Time Choices.

Finding time to make sure that your time choices are working for your time success (and not against it) is a foundational time management skill.

Yesterday we started exploring the 3 P’s of time choices by looking at how being Proactive is a key to time success. Today I’d like to take a look at the other 2 P’s – assuring that your time choices are Productive and Positive.

Productive time choices contribute to your time success by moving you toward your goals. That seems pretty self-evident. However, what’s important here is that you base your choices on solid self knowledge.

In a situation where you are pushing to complete a project and are overtired or hungry, your most productive time choice might be to give yourself a break rather than to keep going at it. You are the best judge here, and what’s key is to take responsibility to know yourself and know what works best for you. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to time success … it’s what works that counts!

Making positive time choices is the third key to your time success. This skill has to do with the content of your time choices, your perspective on them, and most importantly, with what part of you is making these choices.

If you hear a self-critical tone embedded in your choices, or perhaps a voice that sounds victimized and beleaguered, then you can be sure that your choices aren’t positive and you aren’t fully behind them. And what this means in practice is that you are out of alignment. You are not optimizing your energy and effort. And you can pretty much guarantee that somewhere along the line, things will fall apart.

Time success is within your reach. That’s what I hope you will take away from these posts. When you recognize the importance of each and every time choice, and keep in mind the 3 P’s, you can attain your goals, whether they be big or small. In the meantime, here’s something else to consider as you continue your journey to time success …

Would you like to continue to address your time challenges so that you can find time to increase your effectiveness, efficiency, enjoyment … and heart-based success?

Then, 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 harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.

As one reader has said:

In fostering a climate of ever-expanding and deepening discovery, Paula’s system offers solutions that are founded in self-knowledge. They have a resonance and a wisdom that I find to be very unusual in the time management sphere. Jordy Cornog, Canterbury, NH

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!

Let’s explore time together …

Find Time for These 3 P’s Whenever You Make Time Choices (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Create a Goal-Setting Mindset to Achieve Success: 3 Timely Tips (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Step into Heart-Based Success! (thetimefinder.com)

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Find Time to Stop and Really Listen to What You Tell Yourself About Your Time

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time and Values, Time Choices.

Find time to listen to your time language

What are you telling yourself about time?

Finding time to listen to the messages that you give yourself about your time is the first step in beginning to make changes in your time choices. It’s like looking at a map of the terrain, before setting out on a journey.

In order to begin to see the important landmarks and signposts on your map, you need to hear what you are telling yourself about your time. These are the messages that provide the backdrop to your daily living. They can, quite literally, shape what you do, what you see, and what you feel about your day … and often they are entirely hidden.

Powerful and hidden … that can be a dangerous combination!

So that is why it is so important to cultivate habits of attentiveness. The language that we use offers us sure clues to the feelings, values, and old scripts that we may be working off of. Do you hear yourself using words like never and always when thinking about time patterns or recurring tasks? How do you feel when you give yourself this frame to work from?

Are there particular phrases that you hear yourself using when you feel stressed? When you have a block of unstructured time, how do you describe it to yourself? Your language offers some very good hints about how you are likely to spend that time!

What inner voice is most often active when you are thinking about your time? The Critic? The Victim? What kinds of words might your Inner Adult or Inner Nurturer use?

Once you begin to hear what you are saying to yourself, you will see places where you can make changes that will shift your perspective and boost your energy and effectiveness. The power truly is in your hands … and the first step, as always, is to see how you are wielding it now … so that you can change it for the better!

Give it a try … and I’d love to hear how it goes for you.

And here’s some Time Finder news that I am so pleased to share! I am now The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to “Time Management”. When you visit you’ll find time management articles by experts in the field, along with a vibrant and welcoming on-line community. Are you inspired to explore time management tips and tools to increase your effectiveness, efficiency and enjoyment? Then, I invite you to check out SelfGrowth.com and explore the many resources available there. And don’t be shy – 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!

So, 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 …

Find Time to Move Ahead by Knowing You Can Stop When You Need To! (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Move Through Fear (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Listen to What Your Time Choices Have to Say to You! (thetimefinder.com)

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Finding Time Can Mean Saying No, Even When You’re Scared to Death!

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Paula, under Time Boundaries.

Finding time might begin for you, today, with finding the courage to say No. Maybe your schedule and To Do List are jam-packed, and adding one more thing will throw everything else out-of-whack. But saying no to a request (or a demand) for your time can present challenges.

Sometimes, refusing to engage in low-priority activities and commitments is quite easy, isn’t it? You’re direct and you set limits clearly. Furthermore, the results speak for themselves. You exercise positive control over much of your day.

But every so often, the refusal may get caught in your throat. Your chest tightens, and… you’re just scared to death to say no.

How do you handle situations like this when they arise in your life now? Try a quick quiz to broaden your understanding of how you approach stressful demands. Note how often you resort to each of these actions, using “0″ for “never” and 5 for “always”:

“When I feel scared to death to say No, I:

_____ Push my misgivings aside and charge blindly ahead.

_____ Mutter about how impossible the other person is.

_____ Criticize myself for feeling so apprehensive.

_____ Hint that my refusal is the other person’s fault.

_____ Postpone the big talk until the ideal time, like never.”

If your score is 0-5, saying No isn’t much of a problem for you – unless you’ve figured out yet another self-defeating stratagem to avoid the issue!

But what if your score is higher? In that case, your avoidance of saying No probably hurts you even more than you comprehend. Anger simmers, and relationships and self-esteem become more fragile. Over time, anxieties compound. Paralyzing fear takes quite a toll.

There’s another way to handle this impasse. To do so, you must break outworn promises you made to yourself long ago!

Today we’ll explore 3 powerful questions to help break the chokehold that fear has on your assertiveness. Ask them as often as you need to. And let the answers bubble up, as you listen to each response. They will be brimming with useful information for you!

Ask yourself:

1. What is the origin of my fear of saying No? Compassionately see the younger you, who had fewer options than you do now. Think how much stronger and more autonomous you are today! Is there any friendly message that you can offer to the part of you that is stuck in the past?

2. What made silence my safest choice back then? Perhaps your course of action really was the best option you had at the time. At any rate, it can be helpful to understand how your current difficulty is based in approaches that once made a lot of sense to you. You are then much less likely to judge yourself as weak. Also, consider how circumstances have changed.

3. How does this fear of saying No trap me now? Seeing all the ways your old promises to yourself hold you back helps you replace your outworn approach with a more appropriate one.

Does this help as you strive to set meaningful time boundaries and find more time? Stay tuned … in an upcoming post, we’ll explore 3 simple strategies for putting these fears behind you!

Are you inspired to find time and increase your effectiveness, efficiency and enjoyment?

Then, 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 harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.

The in depth interviews contained in this book provide practical and heart-based ideas to get you moving as you embrace yourself and your own uniqueness!

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!

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 …

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