Let us face it. There are way too many things for us to accomplish. As a teenager, there is schoolwork to handle, housework to be done and some of us have to even perform chores while others need to work to get their pocket money. With so much to do, sometimes we feel helpless and become paralysed, rooted to the ground, unsure of what exactly to do and this becomes not knowing where to start.

Yes, we sometimes feel so overwhelmed that we do not know where to start. Do I start with the Algebra assignment? Or the history paper that is due next week? What about this Friday’s geography test? How about the households chores I promised mum? The list goes on. This is one of the reasons why teenagers tend to procrastinate.

Too little time

With so much work, there is just too little time. If we spend eight hours a day on sleep and eight hours in school, that will leave us with eight hours to complete the rest of the task we have. And it certainly does not help when we procrastinate and delay finishing our work. According to the Parkinson’s Law, work will expand to fill the time available for us to complete it. So if we have a task that is due by tomorrow, chances are that we will probably get it done by tomorrow. However, if the same task is given a much later deadline, we will probably finish the assignment at a much later time. When we are given to much time to carry out a task, sometimes procrastination sets in and we simply delay the process of completing the task. What happens when several tasks have the same deadlines? For that, I think we might encounter a bit of a trouble especially when we need to rush through all the task to meet the same deadline. By procrastinating, we are wasting time and this eventually becomes a vicious cycle. No wonder some people say they do not have time!

Overcoming obstacles

By the size of the task, we need to come up with a plan to overcome these obstacles. One effective method is to break up the huge task into smaller and more manageable ones. People have come up with various names for it, from the “Slice and Dice” method to the “Salami” method to the “Sashami” method. Basically, they all mean the same thing which is to tackle the task “one piece at a time”. Make sure that each task is so small and simple that it does not require too much time and effort. When a specific task is completed, strike it off the list and go on to the next one. Maintain the momentum and very soon you will complete the entire task!

When asked, many people I know complain about the weekend going by so fast, being so busy with extracurricular or social activities, being exhausted from chores and responsibilities that are often relegated from earlier in the week (or the month) and how they wish that the weekend was 3 days instead of 2.

In fact, most people I know (me included at times) start the work week wishing it was Friday at 5:00 p.m. and even holiday weekends, go by so fast that we go back to work wondering where the time went. The truth is that many of us don’t allow our bodies and minds to take a break. We run from place to place, until exhaustion; we overbook and over commit our time leaving very little to nourish ourselves often times ignoring that we have some pain or that mentally, we are running on ‘empty.’

Although one of the most basic functions or expectations from our body, we do not treat ourselves well. I recommend clients that once a week they deliberately set time aside for recharging their batteries. Three basic concepts:

Reenergize. What can you do this weekend that will reenergize you and give you fuel to keep going? for some, might be just to cuddle up and sleep in a little; others would find connection with nature.

Renew. Think of ways you can use to renew your spirit. Listen to your favorite inspirational music, read a motivational book, or practice meditation, yoga, etc.

Recharge. Establish routines that will give your body, mind and soul enough time to replenish. Think back to your favorite past time or start a hobby. Whatever you do, find ways to regain balance. When you are in balance, you can take on challenges much easier.

One very good idea is just to sign off. By that I mean to take a extended break; some people may refer to as sabbatical; hiatus; or just simply going on a retreat. The goal is to remove yourself from distractions and allow yourself to refocus and center back on what really matters. Many people believe that when they take these periods of time away from all, they recapture control of their thoughts and reach levels of clarity that otherwise, they wouldn’t. I would suggest that depending on what’s going on in your life, you start taking retreats at least once a year; those that are under great levels of stress may benefit from more frequent periods of solitude, yet the key aspect is to recognize that our bodies and minds can benefit from taking time out.

By the way, going on a retreat doesn’t necessarily means spending a lot of money. Surely, that would be nice but the primary idea is to eliminate/considerably reduce the number of distractions and sources of stress. For instance, a friend of mine takes one day every month to regroup. She does not answer the phone, check her email or even opens the mail. She takes the kids to school, goes back home and focuses on taking time to herself…taking a bath, catching up on a book, writing in her journal and when budget allows, going for a massage/manicure. Ultimately, she finds herself better able to go back to work the next morning feeling rejuvenated and full of optimism for what’s to come. She tells me that it works like a charm!

At the end of the day, we all know what is best of us and is up to us to take ownership and responsibility for yourselves. I propose that we don’t wait until something happens, or until we explode (or like a colleague of mine would say ‘self-combust’) after ignoring signs that our body needed a break. Friend, I encourage you to give yourself the gift of time to recover from the everyday stress by renewing, recharging and reenergizing. You will be more effective at work and those around you will appreciate it. And if you are stuck and are having difficulties finding the balance between home and work; if life is being thrown in a blender constantly working with a Life Coach may be of benefit to you. Call me today to schedule a complimentary session and get back on your game.

? 2010 Maria Martinez

#1 Sleep In
That means skip the alarm clock and get up whenever it feels right to you. For some this will be 8am for others it might be noon. There is no magical time except the time that best suits you. The beauty is you aren’t being jarred awake by an obnoxious buzzer or heavy metal. And it might even give you and your spouse or significant other a bit of time for romance.

#2 Indulge in a Technology Free Day
Yes, that means staying offline entirely and when you can stand it, turning off your cell phone. Not long ago when we all had rotary dial phones and couldn’t take it with us wherever we went, we actually missed a call or three and called back when we wanted to or chose to. Try reclaiming your life from the ring, clang and chime of the electronic world, you’ll be surprised at how relaxing it can be.

#3 Read a Book (not a Kindle, remember you are Technology Free)
There is something rewarding about holding an actual book in your hands, turning the pages and reading words printed on a page instead of glowing on a screen. Make it a book for fun, not work. Maybe your taste runs to a light comedy, a mystery thriller, or a scifi adventure, you can choose one that is a tried and true favorite or hot off the bestseller list.

#4 Go to a Movie (no watching at home, that’s Technology)
It’s old fashioned and will cost you a few bucks, but there is nothing better than seeing a movie on the truly big screen, the smell of popcorn, surrounded by friendly strangers also there to be entertained, engaged, and distracted. Embrace the distraction, stock up on snacks and that ridiculously huge soda at the concession stand and relax and enjoy.

#5 Watch the Sunset
It doesn’t matter what the weather is or where you live, sooner or later the sun is going to go down (okay I suppose if it’s Alaska depending on the time of year, but let’s not get technical here!) Watch it. Just sit quietly outside or inside and watch the color of the sky change, watch dusk descend, and feel the shift in your own energy. You may come to life if you’re a night owl, or you may feel like slowing down if you are an early bird. This is just a chance to enjoy Mother Nature in any season and to become more aware of time and how very precious it really is.

That’s it, just five uncomplicated, unplugged ways to enjoy a Saturday or any day you decide to call a Saturday! And remember, I look genuinely forward to learning of your favorite ways to relax and unwind.

However for a few people these days this sort of lifestyle simply isn’t good enough. It would appear that people are starting to get frustrated with the lack of free time they experience. People are fighting back against boring jobs that pay the bills but little else.

The fact is that everyone has some control over our lives and once you start to wake up to the areas you will ever have that you are not happy with you realize just how far off course you have become. All those plans you had when you were younger seem to have got ignored and instead you’re living a boring and unfulfilling life.

If this is the way you feel then this is the time to wake up and start making changes to your life. This is actually the time to stop accepting life the way it is and to start putting in some effort to create a life that you’ll love.

A good plan is to take some time to yourself where you won’t be interrupted and just consider all the elements in your life that you desire to improve. Hopefully you will have many parts of your life that you love but equally there will tend to be some changes you need to make.

The first step of being aware of any problems in your life is essential because it is only when you take this distance view and can see the problems that you’ll be able to then try to solve them.

There are lots of things you may like to consider such as your job. Do you enjoy your work? Does it pay you enough? Does it let you have enough time with your family? Is there a different job that you would rather be doing?

Another important consideration is your health. Are you healthy and in good shape or would you like to lose some weight or get fitter? Do you exercise as often as you desire?

Don’t forget about your life outside of work too such as your friends and hobbies. Do you lead a rewarding and enjoyable life outside of work or is most of your time taken up sitting in front of the TV or cleaning the house?

Once you have considered every element in your life you are in a position to put a plan into place which will let you highlight those areas that you are not happy with and start to find solutions for them.

Golden Rules is here to show you how, to be followed, to be used. Whatever your dreams are or what challenge you face using these rules will help you achieve true happiness.

The 5 best rules for finding happiness.

Golden Rule # 1, Know what you want.

The thinking behind this is that in order to find happiness you first have to know what you like. Remember, the road to happiness is not the same for everyone.

Golden Rule # 2, Smile.

This may sound silly but you tend to receive what to project. Don’t forget that when you smile you are more likely to be greeted with a positive response, which in return will make you happier..

Golden Rule # 3, Avoid toxic people.

This is very important because if you surround yourself with negative people most of the time it is hard to stay happy.

Golden Rule # 4, Get organized.

One can find various ways of doing this, including having a system for doing you chores. Clutter tend to frustrate people. Organize your clutter. It will make your life easier.

Golden Rule # 5, Stay positive.

It can be hard feeling good and happy when things gets tough but try to keep a positive mindset. You will want to work at this often. It is of little help to always look at the negative in your challenges. Try to always stay positive by looking at the upsides to your daily struggles.

Believe in these rules to the road to happiness. These are tried and tested and found to be true. Follow them and your ultimate success will be more likely and also the results a lot more satisfying.

So now what? As I’ve shared with you previously, an organizer’s mantra after a portion of a project is completed is “relax, reward, repeat.” When we have finally “repeated” enough times, the job is done and the time has come for the last hurrah. What’s your hot button? How do you want to celebrate your success? I was fortunate enough to have a luncheon planned ages ago with friends from high school that I could attend guilt-free, chatting and reminiscing as long as our schedules allowed. The weather totally cooperated and we were able to dine al fresco in the lovely yard of our hostess. What a reward that was!

The very next day, a new project arrived…in the form of boxes and boxes of paper to be organized via my sister and her youngest daughter. “A busman’s holiday,” you say? Why not?! Another beautiful day, so we set up shop on the deck, spreading everything out on tables and lounge chairs. Boxes were readied for shredding, recycling and garbage…systems of who was doing what were set up so we had no duplication of chores…a rare day of no breeze allowed us to sort everything and actually have items stay where we put them. My niece set to work building the filing system, labels and making the new “home” for all the papers that would be kept. My sister and I went through each document, some almost ten years old, continually asking the question, “How did this happen?” (We all know the answer to that!)

Several meals later and being forced inside due to mosquitoes, we reached a point we could call “Done!” Now it was time for our “just rewards,” but it was 10 PM and they still had over an hour to drive home. But you know what? Just knowing that the boxes that had arrived were now only full of shredding and recycling and all the important papers had a compact “resting place” WAS the reward! We all felt so accomplished, even though mentally and physically drained, that the euphoria of success was all the pat-on-the-back we needed! A project casually discussed over years and years had finally been tackled and was finally done! What a high! Our style of working may have been a bit unorthodox, but that’s also what made it so fun. Keep the craziness of possibility in mind for your next project and remember that the reward doesn’t have to be tangible at all!

1. Set a daily goal, make a priority and do it. This is the start to living and organized life and creating the clutter free, can do energy. Start small and get in the habit of doing it.

2. Make beds in the morning. A neatly made bed can be a signal of calm in chaos, looks better and feels better. It is much easier to declutter and organize a room when there is one clutter free, organized element in it.

3. Make a conscious effort to put away every day and in that moment be grateful for what you have. Just taking a few moments to put away a few things can start momentum to let go of what you no longer need and start to organize your clutter.

4. Let go of one item you no longer need or want a day. However small this seems it does mean in one year you will have let go of 365 items effortlessly. If you feel energized and inspired by this, start to fill a garbage bag every weekend and get rid of the things you no longer need or love.

5. Start to plan one meal a week, and when this is easy plan two and then three and grocery shop from this. At the same time do that little bit extra at the end the day, so you start the morning with a clean kitchen and don’t have any of yesterdays chores to do.

6. Make meal time special. Use nice dishes, put on music, add candles and flowers and make it a time to communicate and connect with those you love.

7. Start a pick up routine that involves the whole family and do it every day. A pick up routine with the whole family can clear clutter quickly.

8. Take a shopping sabbatical and use this time to declutter and get organized. Stay out of the stores and start to look at what you have. Set limits, keep with gratitude, let go, give to charity.

9. Take care of your clothes. This may mean putting away laundry or hanging up clothing in rooms daily, giving what you no longer wear to charity and organizing your closet so like is with like.

10. Do what you love for at least fifteen minutes a day and let everything else follow. This may mean a short walk and fresh air, reading something inspirational, working on a craft project you love or writing in a journal. Make this a daily priority so you can feel good and be positive as you organize your home and start clutter free living.

Critical Suggestions:

    * Distribute large chunk of projects into scaled-down and far more manageable size as well allot proper time to attain every process.

    * It really is a normal phenomenon to extend beyond the time restrict that may be allotted for just about every task. Hence, a person with the significant procrastination tips is to pre-determine the time restrict. For example, an individual can routine to file papers for 30 minutes.

    * Initiate each week in creating a planning session, bifurcating the weekly too as every day plan. Note all of the vital appointments and deadlines which are approaching. Set reminders a evening before the deadline date. Make use of highlighter pens to mark essentially the most outstanding process for the calendar.

    * Routine essentially the most crucial pursuits as per the optimum productive time zone of the particular evening. It really is regarded as being 1 from the very best procrastination tips, someone very active in day needs to plan the greater part of routines close to morning hours time, considering that this is the time when someone has much less likelihood of procrastinating.

    * It can be suggested to complete at least one undesired job through the breakfast several hours. This may effect someone having a sensation of accomplishing a minimum of some thing through the remaining part of the day.

    * Preclude the most probably disturbances, prior to their occurrences. It implies switching off the cell phone, hiring a babysitter to take care in the child and so forth. This really is also a person of the most valuable procrastination tips which will enable an individual in attaining far more in less amount of time, devoid of any distractions.

Overview:

Innumerable minute adjustments can bring a sea alter within the frame of mind of the procrastinator. It really is crucial to implement some amount of discipline, in order to get over the procrastination habit. It really is good for almost any individual to push just a little for attaining paramount task, but it can be also important to stay gentle nevertheless firm.