I got a big reminder over the last couple of weeks about what happens when you let your good habits slip - and how easy it is to fall into the trap of being overwhelmed.

This week when I am getting back into the habit of having the dishes cleaned up before I go to bed, eating healthy, and actually getting to bed at a reasonable hour, I am seeing again what a difference it makes in my productivity.

We all get in those periods in our life when we feel like we're accomplishing a lot more by letting other things slide - when actually the opposite is true.

When you let the housework slide, the work you have to put into getting things back in order is horrendous.

Though you think you're saving time by grabbing some fast-food, you're really not saving much time and you're cutting your energy reserves down when you need them the most.

When you push yourself to work that last couple of hours, even though you could pass out any minute - you're working much slower and making more mistakes. If you go to bed and get the rest you need, the work would get done much faster.

Funny how these things work, isn't it?

So as tempted as I've been to let my business slide for a couple of days, I won't. I don't want to get in that habit. I don't have to put in 8 - 10 - 12 hours everyday, but there are things that need to be done everyday.

It reminds me of a picture that Zig Ziglar talked about on one of his old tapes. It was about using a water pump when you're camping. You can pump and pump and pump and not see much in the way of results. If you stop, the water drops back down to where it was when you started and you have to start all over again. If you had just continued a few pumps longer, you would have had your water.

I was reading an installment in another self improvement course this week where the author talked about belief. You know, one of those believe and it will come true sort of things. Belief is important when you're trying to reach your goals, but it's really hard to believe when your habits are out of whack.

Does that make sense to you?

A Better Life? It?s All About The Choices You Make

You can choose to eat right or choose to be overweight.
You can choose to take care of your home or let it go.
You can choose to exercise or watch TV.
You can choose to do something or nothing.

Get in good habits. Then you'll feel good about yourself and what you can accomplish.