| Time management tips can help you manage | | | | carefully contemplating the next mechanical |
| change. In fact, they can help you initiate the | | | | problem he encountered. |
| most important changes in how you use your | | | | All deeply rooted time problems require this |
| time. | | | | contemplation period. |
| In 1997, James Prochaska pioneered a fresh | | | | Contemplation: |
| approach to assist others in creating powerful, | | | | |
| lasting changes for the better. Initially, he | | | | 1. Broadens understanding |
| developed this 6-stage model of change to help | | | | 2. Presents new perspectives and |
| clients overcome powerful addictions. However, | | | | 3. Helps you identify the best possible approach. |
| it's equally effective in any area where you feel | | | | That is the heart of the quandary. You need to |
| "stuck" and trapped by time constraints. By | | | | take time to save time. Impatience only pulls the |
| dividing this transformation into 6 distinct stages, | | | | tangles in life into tighter knots. So acceptance of |
| you can understand and embrace your biggest | | | | the contemplation stage is all-important. |
| challenges, using more effective time choices. | | | | You may wish to ask yourself a series of |
| As mentioned in earlier articles of mine, the 6 | | | | questions to make sure you are making the best |
| Stages of Change are: | | | | use of your contemplation time. |
| 1. Precontemplation | | | | 5 Contemplative Questions: |
| 2. Contemplation | | | | |
| 3. Preparation | | | | 1. What are my highest priorities? |
| 4. Action | | | | 2. Since my "basket of time" can only hold so |
| 5. Maintenance and | | | | many commitments, what am I willing to remove |
| 6. Termination. | | | | from my basket to find time for my new |
| Emerging through Precontemplation: | | | | activity? |
| Has something been bubbling up? Perhaps you've | | | | 3. What expectations of mine are realistic, and |
| already moved from vague dissatisfaction with | | | | what expectations need to be whittled down? |
| yourself, with others and even with life in general | | | | 4. How much time does each slated activity really |
| to deciding there must be something you can do | | | | require? |
| to find more time! You've come back to yourself | | | | 5. How can I break big changes into small action |
| over and over, rather than try to deny or escape | | | | steps, each of which can be completed in a single |
| this challenge that may be hard to describe at | | | | sitting? |
| first. | | | | I've written about the grit that is required to stay |
| Your Next Big Step: Contemplating Creative | | | | with discomfort long enough to grasp the heart of |
| Change | | | | a problem. All the strength and patience you |
| Your transition from precontemplation to | | | | develop can now be applied to successful |
| contemplation is a very powerful move! | | | | contemplation and creative problem solving. |
| Contemplation sets the stage for you to take | | | | Loyalty to feel your way through |
| effective action. Here, you zero in on how to | | | | pre-contemplation and think your way into |
| fine-tune your time choices to make your life | | | | contemplation is really deep loyalty to yourself. |
| work better. | | | | You build patience, stamina and trust in yourself |
| Another change expert, author and psychiatrist | | | | by dedicating time to making strong time choices. |
| Scott Peck, described his "enlightenment" when a | | | | The more you use your time to explore time, the |
| neighbor bluntly rejected his excuse that he | | | | better friend you will be to yourself, and the |
| "somehow" was unable to make simple repairs. | | | | more pleasure you can take in finding time for |
| "That's because you don't take the time!" Taking | | | | what matters the most to you. |
| this "guru-like simplicity" to heart, the doctor | | | | Now, what can you do today to create |
| dramatically increased his effectiveness by | | | | life-altering changes for finding time? |