Balancing life’s priorities, responsibilities and relationships is not easy. How we achieve a sense of balance in the midst of all the chaos is the million dollar question!

For many people, the work-family conflict remains the biggest juggling act of all. In today’s society, maintaining a healthy home life is as important as having a successful career. A report from the American Business Collaborative found that employees, who placed a similar priority on family life and work, actually advanced more in their careers than those who were “work-centric” or “family-centric.” Another national survey of physicians discovered that control over work schedule was the strongest predictor of work-life balance, suggesting that if we can become more in control of our projects and priorities, then we can achieve a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Experts agree there are clear signs that suggest our lives may be unbalanced. Some of these include a lack of sleep, taking on too many responsibilities without enough help from others, constant worrying, feeling guilty for not staying busy, or feeling as if nothing ever gets done. The stress that we experience when life becomes unbalanced can affect us both mentally and physically. According to the American Psychological Association, 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Serious stress-induced health problems include depression, diabetes and even heart disease.

While there are many things that we can do to achieve a more balanced life, it is important to set realistic expectations and to accept that perfection is not the ultimate goal. Organization is definitely a cornerstone of creating a sense of balance. If you are in a frenzied and scattered state of mind all day long, you are not going to report feeling balanced, but experts agree that the choices we make are also influenced by our values.

Identifying our own values is an important step in achieving the balance we desire. Hiring a personal life coach can help you achieve a greater sense of balance in significantly less time than it would take if you were to go it alone. You don’t have to be a celebrity to hire a life coach, ordinary every day people are experiencing the benefits a life coach has to offer. Unlike a therapist, a life coach assists healthy people tweak the few areas of their life that might not be up to scratch.

Did you Know?

Currently the only survey of its kind, The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index™ measures the factors believed to have the greatest impact on our well-being, such as emotional and physical health, healthy behaviors and work environment. Find out how your city, state and congressional district’s Well-Being Index ranks http://www.well-beingindex.com/stateCongresDistrictRank.asp