Time and Energy - 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.

Archive for 'Time and Energy'

Find Time to Listen and Learn What You Need

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Paula, under Self-Care Time, Time and Energy.

Finding time to be productive starts with taking care of yourself. And taking care of yourself starts with knowing what you need.

And going a step deeper, here’s where it all starts:

Knowing what you need begins with finding time to listen to yourself!

And believe it or not, knowing what you need doesn’t come naturally for us adults. There are tangled thickets of old messages, beliefs and learned behaviors that get in the way.

That’s why it’s so important to build an authentic dialogue with yourself, so that you can ask about what you need, listen to the answer than comes, and then address it in whatever way seems appropriate.

Think about a good friend who is going through some challenges. I am guessing that you might want to be helpful in some way; but you wouldn’t assume that you knew what he or she needed. You would probably ask.

And that’s what is so helpful to do with yourself, as well. When you are stuck on a project, say … feeling irritable or antsy or restless … that’s a point where you can offer yourself some help.

So, stop what you are doing and ask yourself some open-ended questions:

What am I feeling right now?
What do I need?

This is a simple, straightforward dialogue. The more you do it, the more easily the answers will come – and they may surprise you!

Now that you have some information, you also need to respond. Do this (always) from an adult and caring place (NOT from a critical place). In some cases, you will be able to immediately give yourself what you need (a brief walk outside, for example). Or you might make an ‘appointment’ with yourself for later. (And be SURE to follow through on this – it builds your trust in yourself.)

I some cases, what you want may not be possible or advisable. Say you are working on a deadline and are tired and what you really want is to get to bed, but if you do you will disappoint lots of people. In this case, you can’t give yourself what you want, but you can respond from a calm, adult place (as you would with a friend). And perhaps there is something else you can give yourself that would help.

Often, the simple fact of feeling heard, seen, and acknowledged is refreshing and nourishing. Indeed, this kind of honest dialogue with yourself can blossom and grow into an ever-deepening self-knowledge that will nourish you in unimagined ways.

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!

Let’s explore time together …

Find Time to Be Yourself, Respect Yourself, and Do What You Can: 3 Timely Tips-Part 1 (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Put a Little Love in Your Heart (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Let Your Routines Deepen Into Rituals (thetimefinder.com)

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Finding Time to Nourish Yourself

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Paula, under Self-Care Time, Time and Energy.

Finding time to nourish yourself isn’t just about food – although that’s certainly an important part of the equation.

I like to think of nourishment as what keeps me going – whether it’s food, silence, companionship, exercise … or any combination of these things. What nourishes me energizes and sustains me, no matter what challenges come my way.

So, what nourishes you?

People need dreams, there’s as much nourishment in ‘em as food.

Dorothy Gilman

Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.

James Brown

The first, most fundamental step in finding time to nourish yourself is getting to know yourself and identifying what you find nourishing. It’s not going to be the same for everyone.

And it may not be easy to get to that information. Be patient and open your heart … and it will come. As you contemplate the things that nourish you, you may first run into a collection of ‘should’s.’ They can certainly confuse things and bring up feelings. But don’t let them stop you in your tracks – instead, recognize them for what they are – messages from your Inner Critic!

If you’re like most people, you will react to those ‘should’s’ in one of two ways:

Compliance or
Rebellion.

Either way, if you attempt to nourish yourself based on a ‘should’ that is coming to you from your Inner Critic, you will not be able to sustain it. Your nourishment will be tainted and you will, soon enough, let it go.

The sad thing is that this pattern can lead to discouragement and a feeling that you ‘can’t’ nourish yourself as you’d like to.

But that’s not the case – not by a long shot!

Stay tuned, as we continue to explore this truly fundamental element in your self-care and time management toolbox.

And in the meantime, 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 … I’d love to get started!

Find Time to Nourish Your Courage with Love: Today’s Timely Tip (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Create a Morning Ritual: The Heart-Based Way to Start Your Day! (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Create Quiet-Some Timely Thoughts (thetimefinder.com)

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Find Time to Put a Little Love in Your Heart

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time Boundaries.

Finding time for love is important. We can probably all agree on that. Yet in our busy everyday lives, love isn’t something that often has a slot on our To Do Lists. So, not surprisingly, it can get lost in the shuffle.

We focus on it at times … like Valentine’s Day … but then more pressing things intrude. Sound familiar?

And yet, finding time to put a little love in your heart is a foundational time choice that is key to your (and my) heart-based journey. It’s the underpinning to everything else that we do, whether it’s serving clients, spending time with friends and family, or (maybe most importantly) spending some time alone.

A heart that holds compassion can hold anything!

And the good news is that letting love into our hearts doesn’t take a lot of time – what it takes is creating some space for yourself and simply opening. (And opening your heart is a skill that you can develop and hone, with practice.)

Creating that space requires boundaries. It may not take a lot of time, but it does require some, so setting boundaries is key to giving yourself the opportunity to open. As I’ve shared in other posts, you need to be able to say “No” (i.e. have boundaries) in order to say “Yes”!

I’m very excited to be speaking at the Mompreneur Mojo 2012 Virtual Convention today about how “Unbeatable Heart-Based Boundary Tips Keep You Moving Easily Through Your Busy Day.” Sign up and tune in to learn more about how boundaries can help you create the life you want for yourself! It’s FREE and it’s going to be great!

And, in the meantime, set some boundaries and take a quiet moment today to open your heart with love and compassion. See what happens. See what changes. I know you’ll be refreshed and I think you’ll be surprised by what comes to you!

Let’s explore time together …

Find Time to Be Yourself, Respect Yourself, and Do What You Can: 3 Timely Tips-Part 1 (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Celebrate and Feel Grateful (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Create Quiet-Some Timely Thoughts (thetimefinder.com)

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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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Find Time to Know the State of YOUR Union: Are Your Head and Heart in Sync for Success?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time and Values.

Finding time to stay connected with yourself – to have your head and heart in sync, is one of the most powerful time management choices that you can make for yourself. So, whether you are a follower of politics or not, it’s important to ask yourself about the State of the Union periodically – I mean YOUR union.

This means setting aside some time to check in with yourself periodically. For some this might be a daily, weekly, or monthly ritual. The more time you spend doing this (and the more often you do it) the better – but it’s important to find what works for you and to build a pattern that you can trust.

You might ask yourself something as simple as, “How are you doing today?” Answer honestly, and strive to open up to an internal dialogue. Let a back-and-forth evolve. This won’t happen all at once, but as you speak and listen to yourself, you may be surprised at what you discover.

It may feel like you are getting to know a new friend. How wonderful!

As you learn more about the State of Your Union, you will be able to adjust the ways that you work and use your time, to better fit with your true values and needs. Keep the dialogue going as you tweak things.

You can’t predict, at the outset, where this path may lead. But here’s one thing I can absolutely guarantee:

When your goals are in sync with your values, your head and your heart work in tandem, freeing up energy and creativity that you may not have ever known that you had!

Why, it would be like the Legislative and Executive Branches of the Government working together. Just imagine what could be accomplished …

So, I encourage you to check in with yourself frequently about the State of Your Union. Listen to what your head and heart have to say to each other … and watch the possibilities blossom!

And as you bring your head and heart into sync, 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 Give Yourself Exactly What You Need Every Single Day! (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Nourish Your Courage with Love: Today’s Timely Tip (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Celebrate Clarity and Realism this Holiday Season (thetimefinder.com)
Find Time to Respect Yourself-When No Means Yes to You! (thetimefinder.com)

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Find Time to Nourish Your Courage with Love: Today’s Timely Tip

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Paula, under Time and Energy, Time Choices.

Finding time to explore in new directions is a ‘stretch’ that will both challenge and nourish you. It requires your flexibility and courage and in return offers you great rewards.

One of the biggest ways that your courageous explorations will nourish you is that, with each step, you find that you actually have more of yourself to enjoy your time with! Even better, this expanding self is your energetic and proactive self – the one that buoys your confidence and sparks your interest in new things.

But you and I both know that some days that expansive courage flows freely through your veins. Other days, perhaps you feel in need of a transfusion. What can you do on the “droop days”?

If you tend to scold yourself, prod yourself to buck up, or give up on yourself in exasperation, try something new. I suggest that you try something simple and profound … and brave … like love.

Self-acceptance or self-love is the fuel that, like oxygen in the blood, will keep you going AND nourish you at the same time. This acceptance can be very simple and very compassionate. Comfort with who you are this very moment provides an unshakable foundation for taking fresh new steps. Furthermore, your self-love helps you pace yourself realistically, so you can stay grounded, and learn as you go.

I like to think of my existence as a progression of loving life lessons. Life provides the lessons; I provide the love. This compassionate embrace of each experience further fuels my courage and opens me to whatever is around the corner or beyond the next ridge!

So, next time you feel a strong desire to make a change, ask yourself if you’re motivated by self-loyalty or self-criticism.

If you sense any judgment or impatience, slow down! Start by replacing harsh messages with self-affirming ones. Then you know that you are acting in your own best interests, not reacting to real or imagined criticism from others.

Begin any journey appreciating who you are. You might give yourself an affirmation like, “I’m exactly where I need to be.” And know, right down to your toes, that you are!

Everything in your life has led you to this point. So warmly validate any and all steps that you have taken so far. The time you take to create a compassionate base for your courage will reward you every day of your life. This is such a powerful and sustaining practice … I highly recommend it!

As you courageously transform 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