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The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World

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*****
Is it possible to create time abundance? To cultivate an attitude of experiencing time as slow, time as a friend...as there being more than enough time to accomplish everything that the day should hold? I think that it is possible, and this is what I'm doing, thanks to this wonderful book that takes a fresh and practical look at befriending time and slowing down your life.

Unlike many of the books I've read on this subject, this book goes beyond the philosophy of time abundance and the whole Slow Movement and into practical and concrete ways of implementing mindfulness and the philosophy of slow with a special emphasis on different ways of dealing with technology and information overload. The book covers useful, modern issues such as cell phone multi-tasking, creative ways of handling call-waiting, dealing with time suckers and addictive behaviors, delegating, managing expectations, and so much more. This book is not so much about time management as it is about life management so that each of us can best use the limited and uncertain amount of time that we each have. Since I have viewed time as something to race against, and have felt like time's victim, this appealed enormously to me.

I began to read The Power of Slow with my journal next to me, keeping a list of everything that struck me that I'd want to do differently or think about differently. I came up with a time abundance plan that I've been implementing and tweaking, one that is truly changing my life. If you have been looking for a practical tool that addresses your real-life concerns, look no further. You'll get far more than just a list of 101 things, however. The author shares important ideas about how to think about time differently, perhaps the most important part of the book; without thinking about time in a new way--as a friend--the changes you make won't have the impact they could.

To give you some examples of my personal time makeover: I now limit the number of television shows I keep up with. I have a list of programs I'm willing to give up my time for, and that's it. I hold myself to it. And although I work at home, I have a defined schedule, so that when people ask me for a time commitment, I check my schedule and can say, "I can't do that, I'm working, but I'll be available after 4 p.m." For the last few weeks I've been saying, "No" constantly (but kindly). I keep only ONE browser window open when I'm focusing on something intently. I've delegated work to people who work for me and stopped micro-managing thanks to the idea that if I delegate, the work will never be done the way I would do it, but that's okay, considering what I've exchanged it for--the opportunity for me to complete other work myself that is far more important to me. I've found that, as the author says, small changes can open up enormous energy.

I am learning to view time as my friend and as an opportunity. It is not an overstatement to say that this has changed my life and will continue to change my life. The author writes that our relationship with time determines all other relationships in our life. I now agree with this, and encourage you to find out why this is so by starting your own adventure into "The Power of Slow".

Highly recommended.
*****

I admit it, I'm a multi-tasker. And although I can get a lot done, it does stress me out. Christine Louise Hohlbaum has a new book out that has me reevaluating my habits. It's called "The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in our 24/7 World." Christine claims that everyone has their own personal bank account of time. While we cannot control time itself, we can manage our activities within the time we do have. Regarding multi-tasking, she says that we cannot do two comparably difficult things at once, and yet we still try. That must be where my stress comes in! Christine says: "Technological gadgetry has alleviated and introduced a lot of challenges in our lives. We can now find someone in a crowd with a quick text message, but we also interrupt conversations with real-life people to answer our mobile phones. We need a new standard of etiquette to teach our kids how to behave. Simply because you can doesn't mean you should." Putting the power of slow into action actually makes us more productive! It frees us up from purposeless things and allows us time to pursue what we truly love. We can be wired, but we can choose to unplug for awhile, too. Slowing down helps us to consider the impact we have on ourselves and our surroundings. This is a more mindful way of living, and it makes sense!

This is the book that the world has been waiting for! Christine Hohlbaum teaches us how to bring it down a notch in our insanely fast paced lives. She explains what time really means to us in ten chapters and then breaks it down into 101 principals. I suggest reading one principal daily in the morning and then consciously work on that principal for the day. By the time you finish this book, you will be living a happier life on your own time.

The pace of modern life is fast. We want fast transportation, fast communication, fast computers, fast photos, fast music, fast foods, and so on.

But does fast always mean the best? Does it mean that we can achieve our goals? Does it ensure that we have a happy, healthy, and satisfied life? Does it ensure that we get enough time to spend with our family or indulge in our favorite hobbies? If you want to find out the answers to the above questions then you should read the book The Power of Slow.

Are you running the mad race to survive and thrive? Is your time controlled by others? Are you always chasing deadlines and milestones? Do you ever get time to spend time on activities that you want to do? Do you get time to do nothing or do a bit of self reflection? Do you have time for your family and friends? Are you always busy, work all the time, go to bed late only to get up early and work even more? Do you always feel frustrated, depressed, or dejected? If the answer to most of the above questions is `Yes,' then you should read the book The Power of Slow.

If you want to stay on top of your life, if you want to take control of your time rather than being controlled, if you want to manage and balance your work and personal lives, if you want to set your goals and achieve them comfortably, if you want to manage your expectations about yourself and others and also handle other people's expectations about you, if you want to create time by delegation, if you want to say `No' to thing you don't want to do, and if you want a calm, peaceful, happy yet successful life, then also you should read the book The Power of Slow.

The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World is a book that will revolutionize, reorganize and change your life. In this small, concise, and extremely readable book, Christine Louise Hohlbaum tells us how to manage our life using the power of slow. She explains the various problems that pull us down, obstacles that hinder our progress, and habits that hamper our productivity. She gives 101 powerful and efficient strategies to increase the quality of life and productivity where we have time for doing all the activities we want while achieving our goals and fulfilling our dreams.

This 250-page book contains a foreword, an introduction, prologue, 11 chapters, epilogue, notes, helpful websites, and a bibliography. In the 11 chapters the author deals with a wide range to topics from time management, multitasking, habits, saying `No,' to focus, expectations management, and delegation. The first 10 chapters contain 10 ways each to deal with the problems discussed in them. The final chapter sums up all the tips and put them in perspective--how each problem affects our lives and those around us.

The author has an engaging writing style and uses real-life examples, interesting anecdotes, graphs, cartoons, etc. to make the reading interesting and enjoyable. The tips are simple, practical, effective and most importantly can be implemented immediately.

One aspect that makes this book unique is that it contains the wisdom and knowledge that you will otherwise get only by reading more than a dozen books on productivity improvement, time management, and self-help. It is a MUST READ for all those who want to bring sanity and happiness into their lives without compromising on their dreams and aspirations.

Even though the title suggests it might be a "quick fix" guide, The Power of Slow actually contains a wealth of wisdom. Unlike other books regarding the topic of time, this one doesn't scold you for trying to do too much -- the power of slow let's you keep your life. Whether or not you are ambitious, overworked, or even bored, I highly recommend it.

The Power of Slow gave me practical ideas for looking at how I'm spending my time. I could relate to the many examples and stories used for demonstrating these concepts. The epilogue is titled "'Busy' is a Four-Letter Word" - it sums up the book very well! Hohlbaum writes "Busyness is indeed a state of mind that leaves no room for mindfulness. It is not an act, but a mind-set. So is the power of slow." I'm actively working on changing my mind-set with the help of this book!

I just finished "The Power of Slow" and loved it! It emphasizes so many necessary concepts, habits and practices for being happy while being productive (but not in a crazy, fast-paced way of course!) Christine, your message encourages the good relationship with time we should all strive to achieve. Here's to learning how to savor every moment of life... s-l-o-w-l-y.

With tongue-in-cheek, I'll submit that one of the challenges to readers of self-help books, is the authors themselves.

What I am getting at is, not every reader is going to have the same focus and passion for personal or life change as the author they are reading. A book might represent a quantum leap, when what the reader could really use is smaller, more doable steps. Too often I've seen it where a reader feels brimming with possibility and potential while s/he is reading a book, but sure enough, once s/he completes it, the book goes on the shelf with the other self-help books of similar type and format... and the feelin's gone...

If this seems like an all-too-familiar pattern to you, well, read on. I am betting that your experience with "The Power of Slow" will go differently.

Reading "The Power of Slow," you get the feeling that you and author Christine Hohlbaum are a pair of friends who are out for a walk together. You are casually discussing lots of small, doable things that you can do each day to take your life back. All these "small, doable things" add up. A lot of small, doable things is exactly how you gave your life away in the first place.

What am I talking about?

I am of the school of thought that *we* are accountable for our choices, and many of our choices (and some of the most important) have to do with how we choose to manage and spend our time. Many of us wake up one day (and then probably every day after that) and ask, "Where did all the time go?" Just replace "time" with "life" and you have my point. That's how it feels when you're always racing the clock: "Where did all the *life* go?" We gave it away--choice by choice.

"Walking" with Ms Hohlbaum through "The Power of Slow," you are gently directed to look here... and here... and there... and you begin to see where all the time and life went. Along the way she asks you questions and gives you feedback. She offers suggestions neatly organized under "principles" like "The Rule of Full" and one of my personal favs, "Toss out the Blame Game."

If you are tilting your head at the last sentence, by the time you read this one you might be guessing this isn't just another time-management book - and you'd be right. Ms. Hohlbaum looks at ways to invest time to get a big time return (pun intended); she suggests ways to change your very relationship with time through mindful living; she takes away excuses - ones that we are grateful to give up for something else returned... more time... more life.

If you are among those of us who have a particular challenge to our relationship with time, then chances are, you'll find help with yours in "The Power of Slow". My personal challenge is focus, and in the "Focus Factor" chapter, I found tools and techniques that I've already put into practice to my great advantage.

"Focus Factor: 'Principle #8 Honor Setup Time.'" I am not going to give away any secrets here (sorry), but I will say that putting this principle into practice - especially when it means preparing *emotionally* for artistic expression like my writing or songwriting - has made a huge difference in both my focus and the quality of my output.

I'll wrap this up by bragging that I had the pleasure of meeting Christine Hohlbaum via Video Skype when she interviewed me for her blog. She laughs easily, thinks creatively, and comes across sincere. She is passionate about her topic, and she makes room - and time - for dialog. One could do worse than choosing to spend time with Ms. Hohlbaum. "Take a walk" with her in "The Power of Slow," and get some life back.

M Petruzzi
[...]

I love this book! Christine captures the essence of why we have so much and enjoy it so little. With the POWER OF SLOW, she has us savor the moments we want to remember because she has shown us how to create the time for them.
It's a great way to start the day and keep ourselves sustainable. Bravo, Christine!

Willow Drinkwater, [...]

Today's speed-addicted world needs The Power of Slow more than ever! With great humor and poignancy, Christine Hohlbaum reminds us that there's no point in doing all the things we do if we're too tired or too busy to enjoy any of them! Take some time for yourself and read this book! Read it slowly, read it with a cup of coffee by the fireplace, and love every second of it! Doing so will change your life for the better!What Would You Do If You Ran the World?: Everyday Ideas from Women Who Want to Make the World a Better Place