Finding time and staying on track when you need to should not be so hard, right? When you have something that you need to finish, or someplace that you need to get to, my guess is that you are alert to the really big distractions that can trip you up.
But maybe it's the small time wasters that are more likely to throw you off and pull you away from your planned course. These are the ones that you hardly notice, until you are late for an appointment or have missed a planned deadline.
Here are some common, “small” time wasters that may sound familiar to you:
1. You fear that you are coming down with a cold, so you plan to get to bed early and give yourself a good night’s sleep. You turn on the TV to check the weather, and notice that there is an exciting basketball game coming down to the wire. You decide to check it out ‘briefly’ to see what happens, and the next thing you know it's the end of double overtime and you are in bed much later than you had planned.
2. You are planning to get outside for a brisk walk before work but check your home e-mail before heading out the door. You get caught up in reading and responding, run out of time, and forego your exercise.
3. You are on your way to an important meeting in an unfamiliar area. You pull into a restaurant to grab a quick cup of coffee, call a friend while waiting, get into a conversation about a recent family event and, lo and behold, you are late for your meeting.
So, What Do These 3 Vignettes Have In Common?
1. Your focus shifted and then you added a new activity into your schedule.
2. You most likely thought you were being flexible - going with the flow.
3. The consequence of your choice may have left you feeling victimized.
4. In each case, you undermined your trust that you will follow through on your plans.
This brings up a really important key distinction that I want to emphasize! Being flexible and "going with the flow" are NOT the same!
In the examples above, being flexible would have meant making a conscious choice to either stay on course or to change it. You would have acknowledged that there was a commitment that was being altered. When you do that, you are recognizing and mindfully navigating the choices that your day presents. What actually happened didn’t involve a conscious choice, and so really falls more properly under the heading of self-sabotage. This is a very empowering distinction to make for yourself!
5 Tips for Taming These Time Wasters
1. Make yourself a detailed and effective To-Do List. This is the course you have committed to for the day, so keep it accessible for handy reference. If you find yourself feeling tempted to change your plans, pause and ask yourself, "What goal am I putting at risk if I do this?"
2. Carefully weigh the consequences of changing your prior plans before coming to a decision. These might include missed deadlines, impact on others, and impact on your own feelings of self-trust. How will you feel afterward, if you make this change?
3. Make a list of your own, especially tempting time wasters. Also, notice and list the feelings that precede an impulsive choice that wastes your time. Are you feeling tired, anxious, bored, or angry? Can you come up with a way to resolve whatever you are feeling without overturning your plans?
4. Give yourself the gift of scheduling a specific time every day for spontaneous pleasure. When that time arrives, do whatever strikes your fancy. You’ll find that the more consistently you give yourself this special time, the easier it will be to let go of temptation at other times.
5. If you genuinely value flexibility, think about circumstances when you’ll want to be able to 'bend your schedule' – maybe things like helping a friend in need or spending extra time with your child. Build in buffer time to accommodate these situations in your day.
The next time a small temptation crosses your path, consider your options as you notice it. Create some space for yourself by taking a deep breath. Affirm what you value and have planned. Then make a conscious decision. The choice is always yours... and each time you make it proactively and consciously (rather than sliding into it), you are finding time!
So start putting yourself in charge today, as you keep your eyes on the prize, and tame the choices that disrupt your focus and steal your time.
And to move toward your Heart-Based Time Success, sign up for our free gift, the Finding Time Success Kit which includes "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" Using a workbook format, this powerful and practical time template will help you move beyond overwhelm, disappointment, and frustration and discover that 24 hours really are enough!
Offered by Paula Eder, Ph.D. The Time Finder Expert.
Paula Eder, PhD is an internationally-known coach and published author who specializes in mentoring heart-based entrepreneurs and small business owners, from the inside out, to align their core values and energy with their time choices and behaviors so that they make more money, create more freedom, and find more time.
You can learn more about Paula’s unique, Heart-Based Time Management System™ and begin your transformational journey by signing up for her Finding Time Success Kit. Discover how you can find time for what matters most.
Paula Eder, PhD is an internationally-known coach and published author who specializes in mentoring heart-based entrepreneurs and small business owners, from the inside out, to align their core values and energy with their time choices and behaviors so that they make more money, create more freedom, and find more time.
You can learn more about Paula’s unique, Heart-Based Time Management System™ and begin your transformational journey by signing up for her Finding Time Success Kit. Discover how you can find time for what matters most.