My home page for the internet is Louise Hay’s Affirmation page, so each time that I go online I have a great affirmation there waiting for me. Today [it|the affirmation[/spin] was “I balance my life between work, rest and play. They all get equal time.” Hmm. How true is this statement in your life? Do you balance work rest and play? I realised (somewhat to my horror!) that in my case .

In fact, playtime really comes in only if I’ve ‘booked’ time to play – like my day at the beach last week, or Hamlet in Stratford tonight – or if I have time ’left’ to play after I’ve worked and rested! The end result is that playtime is getting about 20% of my time at most. RUBBISH!

Enough already! It’s time to bump playtime up the priority list! I admin I have gotten into bad habits lately. I’ve been busy and working a lot…and because I am good at self care, resting a lot too…but at the expense of playtime! Shocking.

And even worse, I know that I am better at achieving this balance than most people . Many are very unbalanced (in terms of “work, rest and play” that is - not mentally unbalanced!), and the big missing ingredient is playtime. It’s heart-breaking to see, because playtime makes you come alive, playtime is fun, playtime is vital to you having a happy life – let’s face it, how much better do you feel when you’ve been on holiday? And why?
Because you’ve had uninterrupted playtime! Holidays are all about recharging your batteries and devoting yourself to having some fun…and then we come home and forget to play for another 11 months and 2 weeks. It’s foolish to neglect your fun muscles – if they get flabby you’ll get miserable. I’m sure I don’t really need to extol the virtues of play – you know yourself that when you take part in activities that you enjoy, you feel better.
So when was the last time you deliberately took part in an activity you enjoy and made a conscious choice to savour that playtime? Why not start tonight? Instead of sitting numbly in front of the idiot box, make an effort to do something playful and fun (if that’s tv for you, ok…but as long as you’re actively enjoying it, not just wobbed out in front of it!). You see people, it’s time to take playtime seriously!
Something to play with
Part 1: What is the balance of work, rest and play in your life? 60/30/10? 40/40/20? Have a guess at the proportions – your best guess will be quite accurate! What can you do TODAY to start restoring the balance (especially the playtime bit!)?
Part 2: What do you do to play? Aim to get a list of 100 things (it might take time, but you can do it!). Part 3: Do something off that list DAILY.

You and no one else are often responsible for most of your procrastination problems which you are facing today. As much as it hurts, still, it is important for you to realize that, if you want to be in a good position in stopping procrastination dead in its track.

To know but not to do is not to know.

Quite contrary to popular beliefs, everyone is a procrastinator in nature. Even very successful people are facing the same procrastination problems which you and I are facing right now. However, what makes them different is that they have learned to value long term successes over short term comfort.

In addition, they know in their heart and mind the things the truly value. Like us, successful people are also in the constant war against procrastination.

As we all know, the simple act of delaying a task unnecessary results in the procrastination problems which we are facing right now.

“Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases, and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.” Wayne Dyer

Therefore, working on the root of your procrastination problems is one sure way to take back control of your life and improve your self esteem and self confidence at the same time.

In fact, there are countless number of books and online references out there where valuable information lies dormant, await for your discovery.

To help get you started in overcoming your procrastination problems, here are some simple tips which you can use in your daily life:

Pen down all your life-time goals on paper. A list of such should be kept handy for your reference as it can provide you with the necessary motivation and focus, especially at times when you are down and dejected. Personally, I have used this list to a great extent and I cannot recommend it enough.

Learn to establish the CORRECT priorities. When everything becomes important, nothing is important. Focus more on issues that are important, not those which are urgent. In life, there are just too many such unimportant fires which demand our attention. Thus, recognizing them is a skill you will need to cultivate and practice.

“Just Do It!” There is something called sufficient planning while there is no such thing as a perfect plan. Stop waiting for all the circumstances, people and/or time to be right before you jump in to do what is needed.

Let the past pass. Winners win because they learn from the past and live in the present. Don’t blame the path, change the path. Don’t blame the situation, change the situation.

Do what you can, offer you very best and let go. Move on with confidence to the next tasks on hand. Admit that no matter how well you do; there will be always the existence of some minor flaws. You are not perfect, no one can be. You just have to accept it.

You certainly cannot eliminate all your procrastination problems overnight, but you can always change your direction. So, are you prepared to change your direction yet?

Read about how to cure procrastination and positive thinking attitude, and also try out the emotional freedom technique training - it has helped many people to get their power.

People who have been tremendously successful in life have often attributed their great successes to their ability to find and work out ways on how to break habits and acquire new and more empowering ones.

That certainly makes me wonder if there are really any secrets on how they develop positive habits to aid them in attaining all their desires in life.

After much intensive research, I have come to realize that there are actually no mysteries to breaking bad habits and keeping them out of your life.

And this article is written exactly for that purpose:

To dismiss your need to find new ways on how to break habits

Furnish you with concrete yet easy methods on developing positive habits in preparations for your future successes to come.

A habit is a recurring, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is learned through frequent repetitions.

Since it is us who acquire the learned, unconscious habits, it is also up to us to unlearn them. If the plan sounds feasible to you, then without further ado, let us go directly to the T.W.A.I.N steps, the 5 easy step by step formula on how to break habits.

1. Take Responsibility for All Your Habits

If you cannot control it, you cannot manage it. Any habits, good or bad are acquired by you, consciously or unconsciously. Thus, if you ever seek to stop bad habits, you must take ownership of them. Until you start recognizing that fact, you cannot go any further than where you are now.

2. Write Down All the Bad Habits You Want To Break Free Of

Next, look into all areas of your life and pick out all the bad habits which are hindering you in life. What are your addiction habits? Write them down on a piece of paper. Do not proceed any further if you have not done that!

3. Acknowledge the Benefits Those Bad Habits Bring For You

As bad as those habits may seem, they actually bring you some benefits or gratifications. If not, you will not even acquire them in the first place. Thus, acknowledge them, write those rewards down beside them.

4. Identify Your Plan of Attack

Next comes the time to decide on what new and more empowering habits you want to acquire in replace of the bad habits. You can try incorporating those benefits you find in Step 3 into your new habits. Just words of caution, not all “benefits” you elicit from Step 3 can be kept as they may be conflicting with the new ones.

5. Nag on One, Ignore the Rest

More often than not, you may attempt to change too many habits at one time. You will know better that replacing a habit take perspiration, persistence and patience. Scientists say that it takes 30 days for one to gain a new habit, however in my opinion, just take as long as you deem suitable. Just make it a point to constantly work on a particular new habit for at least 30 days before making a switch. Also, remember to work on it every day, consistently, persistently and patiently.

That is it! Who says the T.W.A.I.N methods on how to break habits is complicated.

However, as simple as they may look, they are not easy. Though they require some hard work, they are still very much achievable, if you have the desire.

Read about stop bad habits and develop positive habits.

Also try emotional freedom technique EFT - it has helped many people to find their way to success and freedom.