Paula Eder, The Time Finder Expert: Recent Episodes
Paula Eder, Ph.D.
The research on multitasking has shown that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Many people assume that doing two or three things at once is bound to be more productive than doing just one thing. But in reality, there aren’t very many tasks that lend themselves to multitasking. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and assert that multitasking may be one of the biggest time wasters going.
It’s a commonly held myth that multitasking offers a reliable way for you to find more time. Intuitively, it sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
I mean, if you can do two or three tasks in the time allotted for one, aren’t you being more efficient and effective?
In my experience, the fastest and surest way to untangle tangles is by working with your feelings. Indeed, your feelings offer the most direct path to the heart of most matters.
One core take-away from the last podcasts encapsulated in these two sentences:
“It’s always in your conscious choices that your power lies. Your ability to choose allows you to re-shape old habits as your circumstances change.”
Your choices are what moves you from where you are to where you want to be. Whether we’re talking about big goals and projects, or everyday activities, your choices are what keep you going.
Our last podcast offered an exercise to help you let go of your time clutter. That prompted an interesting question from a reader who is facing a common challenge about letting go. Listen to this, to learn more about her predicament and a way forward.
Non-judgmental observation always provides solid ground for moving ahead.
So today we’re going to build on that solid foundation and take action, with an exercise to help you let go. Whether you’re talking about your ‘stuff’ or about your time, letting go of the old is a necessary precursor to letting in the new.
Today’s article kicks off an e-zine series where I’ll be digging into a subject that’s near and dear to my heart. It’s the impact of feelings on Heart-Based Time and Energy Management™. I’ll be sharing ideas about emotional decluttering.
I’ve been a long-time believer in the benefits of multitasking. But after reading your recent e-zines I’ve been observing myself more closely. At this point I’m questioning whether it’s ever a good idea to multitask. What do you think?
Clutter is a common problem in our world today. Whether it’s ‘stuff’ or information overload or having too many things on your to-do list, clutter is everywhere and it’s overwhelming.
Making promises and keeping them is largely a matter of setting boundaries. You need to have the time and space to follow-through on your commitments. And that’s exactly what you create when you set a boundary.
It can be hard to know when it’s important to stay steady and when to be flexible, especially when life feels unpredictable.
In these times of turmoil, uncertain at best, it's important for us to be ready to move quickly, but not carelessly.
Self-care is key in times of turmoil. And at the core of self-care is the ability to make meaningful promises to yourself and follow through on them. So today, let’s look at one promise you can make and keep.
Uncertain times are challenging on so many levels.Depending on the nature and depth of the uncertainty around you, you may feel unfocused or disoriented or even threatened.
I had an excellent question from a reader, prompted by last month's exercise about setting boundaries. Her challenge is how to manage self-care in the midst of the busy holiday season's celebrations and expectations.
The subject of boundaries and boundary-setting is one that's near and dear to my heart. When it comes to developing self-reference, confidence, and finding time for what matters most, this is a most important skill to have in your time toolbox. So here's an exercise to help with that...
Everyone needs boundaries to survive. I mean that on a very concrete level. Think about how you would fare without your skin, or without the ribs that protect your heart and lungs? And what about the walls and roof of your house?
Your time choices and the rituals you create are the foundation for your stability and success, no matter what your goals may be. So today I share tips for taking care of yourself as the days, weeks and months ahead unfold.
We recently received a question from a subscriber in Atlanta. Prompted by our series about learning to manage your basket of time, her challenge struck a chord for me. I hope it will for you, too.
The choices you make about your time shape your direction and help define the quality of your moments. And, in the final analysis, whether you use time well or use it unwisely, it always gets used up. So I’ve created an exercise to help you make conscious choices about what you put into your basket of time.
Living in time as fully as you possibly can, no matter what your age, is something we all can do. It’s all about the choices you make – the small ones, perhaps even more than the large ones.
Here's a de-cluttering conundrum that one of our e-zine subscribers recently wrote us about. The solution may be helpful for you, too!
Do you sometimes feel like your life is riddled with competing priorities, impossible to-do lists, feelings that intrude and keep you up at night, and distracting information overload?
You'll find practical help here!
I worked with the exercise you shared in your last e-zine but found that, no matter what I tried, I was not able to step beyond my feelings of overwhelm. Help! Can you give me some more detail about where I can go with this?
How you experience your time is affected both by your feelings and by your circumstances. While you may not be able to change or directly impact your circumstances, you are always making choices about your feelings. So, in today’s exercise, I am going to walk you through a brief scenario and then offer some questions to help you recognize your feelings and then affirm your power to make conscious choices about them.
When you’re overwhelmed, it’s hard to let go and stop working to overcome it, even for a second. But the reality is that as your efforts become more and more frenetic, you’re behaving like someone who’s drowning.
Time is an enigma. It is concrete. It is measurable. It is finite. We have the same 24-hours each and every day. And yet how those hours feel to us is powerfully subjective – so much so that their duration seems to vary.
In this podcast I’m enlarging our exploration of rituals with an exercise to help you shape a ritual for yourself — one that’s grounding and sustaining, no matter what.
Rhythm and repetition keep us going – and they can be comforting in their predictability. Rhythm and repetition also offer a platform for developing uniquely personal ways of interacting with time.
In the last Finding Tine E-zine podcast I walked you through an exercise for creating your own template. Did you try it out? Well, one listener did, and she ran into an interesting challenge from an unexpected source.
I recently heard a story that shines light on the cost of perfectionism in a new way, so I decided to extend our series on perfectionism with an additional podcast today.
Fear very often lies at the heart of Perfectionism, and more often than not, our knee jerk reaction to fear is to try to move away from it. But that impulse is precisely the opposite of what’s needed.
Seasonal chores have a rhythm to them. Rituals of work and productivity, they mark transitions and deepen your experience of time with each passing year. These chores also offer excellent opportunities for using time-saving templates. And today I’m sharing an exercise to get you started on creating your own!
As you’ll see in today’s podcast, when you make the choice to meet your perfectionism head on the results are surprising and powerful.
In this season of new beginnings, I’m excited to start an exploration of this insidious poison called perfectionism. I know it’s always been my nemesis, and it keeps so many people from realizing their potential.
One thing that's a universal, when it comes to transitions, is that they are often quite disorienting. And there are aspects of transitions that are predictable. So the more you hone in on the foreseeable and manage that, the more in charge and empowered you'll feel!
When you're facing a challenge like clutter, how do you get yourself going? And once you're going, how do you maintain your focus and momentum? And what if it's not your mess to begin with?
Does your clutter feel like an invasive weed that appears and proliferates overnight, taking over your office or living space? We might like to think that we are victims here, but the truth is that we always have a hand in the clutter that accumulates in our lives. And that's actually the good news!
Clutter, is a big and firmly entrenched challenge for many of us. And I don't just mean clutter in your living or working spaces. Your time and energy and emotions can also become cluttered. And no matter what the venue, clutter makes your life a lot harder than it needs to be.
Childhood lessons about time can turn into time myths that we carry into adulthood. If you don't explore those beliefs, you find yourself thwarting your own efforts and not understanding why. You do the same things over and over, working against yourself and not knowing how to stop!
In last month's Finding Time E-zine we started to explore the baggage that we all carry -- messages and myths about time that we learned when we were younger. But things you learned and believed 10, 15, 30 or more years ago won't necessarily serve you well today. So what I'd like to do is give you a tool that you can use over and over to shine a light on some of your own, personal time myths.
Your history, your family values, and the behaviors you observed as a child all contribute to the ideas and feelings that you bring to your time today.
I am not afraid of big projects at all, but where I get stuck is in knowing when I am finished. Sometimes I miss a deadline, not because I haven’t done my work, but because I am still editing and polishing it. I want to do the best job I can – so how do I know when I'm done?
Once you start moving toward your goals, how do you maintain your momentum?
The key – and what I'd like to explore in the exercise that follows – is to give yourself what you need. And you can do that by creating your own, personal Empowered Compassion™ Toolbox.
Whatever your age, and whatever tasks you have on your to-do list, do you sometimes find it difficult to stay energized and on track? What do you do when you feel stuck and discouraged? What helps YOU get moving again? Listen for some ideas from The Time Finder ...
I like my job well enough. It's comfortable and I'm good at it, but it's no longer very challenging. I worry that I'm stagnating. Meanwhile, my dream is to start a Doggie Day-Care Center with a good friend. Can you give me some help with navigating this decision?
In today's world, there's often a great deal of pressure to act quickly – and sometimes that's wise and important. Other times you're better served if you step back and slow down. But how do you determine which course is more helpful in any given situation?
When you make a decision you set your course. Depending on the size of it, you may just be plotting your path for the next moment, or you may be determining your direction for many weeks and months to come. So how do YOU decide?
Navigating transitions is difficult, and there is no magic formula or one-size-fits-all answer. It's a skill that you develop over time with mindful attention, patience, and practice.
Your schedule is so powerful, when you let it be personal! It's where you bring your time and your energy together. Think of it as the container you create to hold your days and nurture what you value.
There's no doubt that schedules are very helpful if they are rooted in your core values and your actual situation, but how do you do that?
How do you manage others' outworn expectations of you and stay true to your own goals, dreams and vision of success?
When you know how you view success you are in sync with yourself and your values. Your time is spent on what matters most to you!
Success is a concept that we all probably think we understand … right up until we sit down and attempt to define it for ourselves. Then success becomes a more complicated idea.
Some assume that fundamental differences must weaken relationships, but I think that's a fallacy. Couples can and do thrive when they approach these challenges creatively.
We each have within us unique and dynamic energies that too often go unnoticed and untapped. Today's exercise is all about letting your own personal dance of shifting energies revitalize your life!
Your personal time rhythms are potent. When you tap them it's like plugging into a power source.
No matter who it is that you are dealing with, assertive priorities are essential for healthy relationships.
As you grow older, how do you balance it all, as sometimes disconcerting changes introduce new demands and possibilities?
This is the perfect time to assertively prioritize. To get yourself started, use the following 3 Tips to support, deepen, and expand your ongoing evolution.
You possess all the necessary capacity to plan skillfully and make successful choices with your time. All it takes is learning how – and it's never too late for that!
It's tempting to think of transitions in terms of external situations that keep shifting. But everything is always in a state of change! So it's equally important to stay in tune with your own constant and profound evolution!
Transitions are life's dance with time. As a coach and mentor, I embrace personal growth as a path to time transformation. So I invite you to learn about 3 transition styles based on 3 situations you routinely engage in ...
Allowing yourself to revise your resolutions as needed lets you make real-life adjustments while remaining loyal to your primary objectives.
How much energy do you think you can liberate by resolving old grievances for yourself? The answer may be a lot more clear, accessible, and straightforward than you think.
All too often, unprocessed anger is a sinkhole for energy and time. Even chronic irritations are mud slicks just waiting to be slipped on. But you can relate to daily setbacks without losing your footing. In fact, I invite you to convert that sludge to vibrant, positive energy!
If the bold new plans you hatch this month end in disappointment some weeks or months down the road, I invite you to consider a 3-step, fresh approach.
Here are some ways to proactively celebrate your evolution. It starts and ends with heart-based assertiveness.
Holidays offer a very special window on time. Festive smells and sights re-kindle childhood associations. Yet get-togethers illuminate how swiftly seasons fly past, too. Years become decades. Faces of loved ones arrive, age and disappear. How does the passage of years affect your sense of time now?
In our last podcast, I encouraged you to become your own Time Expert, positioning yourself to make effective and integrated time choices that align with your core values.
Now I want to expand on that with 5 Timely Tips to help you grow into your power while savoring today.
When you catch your distortions and tap into your heart's wisdom, your killer time lies lose their ability to undermine you and sap your potential. So step into your own proactive power today!
How can the energizing world of opening possibilities and the world of time scarcity and frustration coexist? The answer lives inside you.
In this podcast, I identify 3 Stages of Time Wisdom. Each stage carries vital lessons that lead you forward. Join me in exploring these Stages, so that you can identify where you are and how you can best continue on your path.
This podcast offers you 3 special tips to help you proclaim "Yes!" to the projects you value. Here's to creating with enthusiasm and concluding with success.
In our last issue, we discussed how Time Energy™ serves as your secret weapon against overwhelm. But that's just the beginning… this inner powerhouse coordinates all your strengths so you can stretch in new directions!
Imagine turning any "off" day into "on" day - moving in harmony with time and releasing overwhelm! You know deep in your heart that there must be something you can do - but what?
Well, I have developed an approach that I'd like to share with you. The good news is, you already have a secret weapon against overwhelm, and all you have to do is tap into it! It’s like an electrical current, and I call it Time Energy™.
Our lives ask us to rise to the challenge of change on a daily basis. But step back and think about it for a second. Do you really feel prepared for each transition that comes around the bend?
In our last issue, we explored ways that you can create pathways to power by welcoming change. Today I’d like to share 3 Timely Tips that can help you successfully navigate the twists and turns of your journey.
Ready to adopt a revolutionary mindset to bring new strength to daily decision-making? Listen as I share 3 powerful time tips to keep in mind ...
Prioritizing is a Heart-Based Time Management™ Tool. It is a lifelong linking of your heart, your mind, and your responsiveness to ongoing change. Listen as I share some benefits you enjoy when you prioritize ...
I love pairing words together in stimulating new ways, and have found that "Empowered Compassion™" really sparks my interest! Here's why ...
Saying 'Yes!' to standing in your power is an affirmation and celebration of life. Today we'll explore how to use 'Yes' in ways that ground you and expand your potential.
Crises erupt and disrupt. And when they do, what do you do? How can you come through for your loved ones and for yourself?
3 of my favorite tips for growing beyond ingrained stress patterns. Incorporating them into your time toolbox, you can save yourself time and enjoy your moments more fully!
Stress. It's insidious and debilitating … eating at your peace of mind, robbing you of sleep, adding pounds and wrinkles, and poisoning your moments. But there's another way to live, and your potential to grow more openhearted and at ease shines inside of you right now.
In this podcast, you will find three tips to create a ritual to rouse hibernating vitality! These Timely Tips build on our previous podcast. Enjoy the energy you awaken in this season of change!
In this podcast, I suggest a special way you can flow in harmony with what this season brings you. Why not create rituals customized to your needs? A well-crafted ritual weaves your days into integrated, productive experiences - ones that enrich you as the year unfolds.
Replace unproductive time habits with new systems and clear the path for an effective and enterprising New Year!
When you draw deeply from the past's lessons to enrich your current and future potentials, you build on the strongest of foundations. And that's something I especially like to reflect on as a New Year begins.
In our last podcast, we explored perfectionism's roots in early childhood. Now, I invite you to build on that and begin to reduce your perfectionism using these 5 friendly tips.
Sometimes it's subtle - sometimes it's glaring. But on any and every level, perfectionism exerts a paralyzing influence.
Does perfectionism poison you?
Listen and learn how your accountability buddy can help you be more productive. 5 focused tips to help this partnership grow strong roots and produce an abundant harvest!
Genuine self-empowerment requires both realism and compassion. Only then can you develop the resilience to flex without giving yourself away. And as compassion becomes a way of life, you thrive by relating as a human, not a superhuman.
Are you ready to transcend your time legacy? Here are 3 timely tips to help you build on your insights and rewrite your family scripts so you can live a more rewarding life!
Do you ever wonder about the time choices you inherited from your family? Would you like to welcome new possibilities? Looking at your time legacy frees you to do just that!
Here are 5 tips to further explore how you can expand your potential by cultivating your courage in daily ways.
If I could offer you one gift for these times, it would be stability and self-reference amidst the swirl of joys, celebrations, demands and temptations that the holiday season brings. It is really a form of courage!
Paula Eder reads an article in which she shares tips for starting your day in a heart-based way!
Imagine waking up joyful, excited about the day ahead.
Suddenly – ouch!
You experience a stab of regret.
Oops – here they come! Transitions. Conflicts. People problems. Emergency calls from home. You grit your teeth as you constantly shift your focus back and forth, for a minute, or a month. You manage it – usually - but it takes quite a toll.
Time Gremlins will keep popping up, just when you thought you'd banished them! Fortunately, you can learn priceless lessons from them, even as you're lessening their impact and building productivity.
I'm extending the discussion about Time Gremlins, because it's such a delicious feeling to break free of them!
Time Gremlins are real. Think of them as voices of your time issues. You feel their presence when their messages tangle your plans, sabotage your priorities and bring you down. They’re invisible, because they are really voices inside you that run riot – that is, until you intercept them.
In our last podcast, we shared 3 all-important questions that can help you learn from fears that now hold you hostage. As you free yourself from those fears, you'll find that saying "No" becomes easier and easier.
Sometimes, saying no is the easiest thing in the world. You speak honestly and communicate clearly. As a result, you exercise a lot of positive control over how you spend your day.
But other times, the word gets caught in your throat. Breathing gets hard. You're just scared to death to say no.
Don't let fear, that insatiable time goblin, chew up another day, another week, or another month of your valuable time. Your fear lies entirely within your control, if you approach it the right way.
Guilt is such a "squirmy" feeling! Its discomfort provides great incentive to break free from old patterns, and move ahead with freed-up time and energy.