***Finding Time to Breathe: Slow Down to Reclaim Your Time, Energy, and Efficiency!

Finding time to breathe and relax may feel like the ultimate luxury, but it is entirely practical … much more practical than pushing yourself to exhaustion. And the really good news is that it’s also entirely within your control. Slowing down may seem counter-intuitive when you are stressed. But believe me: When you develop these 3 skills, you can put yourself back on track … and bring positive energy and focus to whatever you need to do in your life. 1. Focus: This is the base for what follows. It’s essential. So start right now. You only need 5-minutes … but this is so delicious you may find yourself wanting to expand this time! Take a seat in a quiet place, tune out any distractions, and tune into your breath. Slowly feel your breath relax and expand. This priceless skill is instantly available and free. To make full use of it requires your determination and ongoing practice. The rewards are incalculable. You cannot claim your time until your claim your power to be in the moment and to direct your thoughts. 2. Assert: Let yourself know, very clearly, that you can say no. Start with low-priority demands. Maybe you can ask others to prioritize their requests to fit into the reasonable time frame you allocate for them. This is a skill that takes practice. Be patient with yourself. Assertiveness needn’t be harsh; but it is direct. Ultimately, the more self-referenced you are willing to be, the more power you will exercise over your time. This is not at the cost of relationships; in fact, taking the time to negotiate boundaries with sensitivity and presence of mind can invite everyone involved to develop new strengths and trust. 3. Respond: Responsibility comes from the ability to respond. Every time you change your time choices, you are responding to your own values and priorities … and you are changing your life! Think about it: When you create open space in your life you are actively valuing and protecting it. You are buying this time by trading in other activities. It’s a give-and-take, both with the people in your life who are affected … AND within yourself! The more time you take to breathe, focus and take responsibility for your life, the more self-referenced you will become. Taking time for yourself helps you build an unshakeable base of self-worth. Working from that base, making decisions that work for you becomes easier and easier. Positive builds on positive. The more you practice these skills, the more rewarding they become. New doors will open, and you can use your new strengths to explore the very best ways to use your time. Now, ask yourself: How can you start restructuring your time choices today to reach new levels of effectiveness? To increase your energy and responsiveness, sign up for our free gift, "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" at http://optimize.thetimefinder.com/templatesg/ This time template will help you move beyond overwhelm. Using a workbook format, with room to record your answers, you will discover that 24 hours really are enough! Offered by Paula Eder, PhD, The Time Finder Expert.