The Secret to Health, Success and Happiness

Supposing I told you there was a simple change you could make to your lifestyle that would virtually guarantee improved health, better relationships, less stress, more freedom, more career and financial success- you would be interested right? One simple but surprisingly difficult change that will improve every element of your life? Not only that, but it doesn't require any physical effort, any planning, any expertise or any financial commitment. And once you get into the habit it becomes incredibly easy to maintain. So what is it you may ask?

Simple. Just turn off your TV and turn off your computer.

Yet most people will struggle to do this one tiny thing that could vastly enhance their lives in almost every way. So why is it so beneficial and why do people find it so hard?

When you watch TV, your body is put into a stress state and your mind into a trance. The content of the things we watch is often depressing and violent and usually completely uninformative and uninspiring. The negative effect that TV has on children is so vast and profound that it would take another article just to address it. Excessive TV watching can cause poor posture, faulty breathing, diminished eyesight, aggressive tendencies and many more. The sports commentator turned religious zealot David Icke has some very controversial views to say the least but one thing he said is absolutely spot on, that the greatest hypnotist on Earth is sitting in the corner of everybody's front room.

And computers don't fare much better. Hours spent floating around websites that will not enhance your life are hours you will never get back. The internet can be used to increase the quality of your life in many ways but how many people actually use it to their advantage and how many are completely used by it? Your mobile phone and Crackberry™ are not much better either. Just put it down and forget about it- if you are over the age of 25 then I'm sure you used to manage fine without it.

So why do people find it so hard to do? Well that depends on the individual but it is often to do with distraction and convenience. It is easier to lose yourself in a haze of Wife Swap and X-Factor than play with your kids or go and see a friend. It is easier to watch fictional Soap characters face their problems than get off the sofa and face your own. And checking your emails five times every hour or gives people that tiny bit of excitement that could be achieved by actually getting out the house and doing something. The feeling of significance that comes with a text message or a list of missed calls could be matched by the feeling of significance that would come with being labelled "such a bloody good parent" because you spend so much time with your kids. It is about time people started treating TV for what it is- an addiction that, like drug addictions and alcoholism, damages health, destroys relationships and fries the brain.

However, unlike these addictions, TV is actually quite easy to quit. Just stand up walk over to it and turn it off. And leave it off. As soon as you get into the habit of talking to your family, spending time with friends, going out and doing things and even spending time just relaxing, trust me- you will not go back. Your energy will soar, your mind will regain its sharpness and your social life will improve. And most importantly, you will be given the gift of time- an all too precious commodity in this fast-paced world. And the beauty is that you don't need to stop watching TV- just make a distinction between what will enhance your life and what will diminish it. And be honest- is that episode of Friends you have seen 6 times before really going to enhance you?

So try this experiment. Get a TV guide at the beginning of the week and circle the programs that are genuinely educational, inspirational or entertaining- things that will improve your quality of life. Programs like Horizon, Panorama and Dispatches can be very educational, particularly if they relate to your line of work. Good films, documentaries, comedies and dramas can be genuinely entertaining and inspiring. But just make sure you don't watch anything else- if you are being honest with yourself then you will probably have circled less than ten programs in any given week. Stick to it. And before you go online, quickly jot down what you need to do and stick to that as well- don't start surfing.

The philosopher Thomas Hobbes once said that "When you watch TV, life is nasty, brutish and short". Well, he didn't say exactly that but if he was around in this century I'm sure he would have done. Fortunately, life can very easily be exciting, loving and long- just politely tell that little hypnotist in the corner of your front room that you appreciate his company but, for now, you have better things to do.