You know the awful feeling of being out of balance. You're working 12 hours a day, you have no time for a social life, you're feeling exhausted, your priorities are pushed to the side, and it seems there is no end in sight. Somehow, you just don't feel right and you are ready for a change. Creating balance in your life can actually improve productivity, lower stress levels, and make life enjoyable again. So how do you begin to restore balance when you feel so out of control?

1) What Does Balance Look Like to You?

See your balanced life! Stop and think about what a balanced life would look like and feel like for you. Begin by getting comfortable, sitting down, and closing your eyes. Then, see yourself on a perfectly balanced day. What are you doing? What are you not doing? What does this feel like? Starting to visualize what you want is a key step to restoring balance in your life.

2) What Do You Value?

Now that you've imagined what balance would look and feel like, take a few minutes to think about and write down 3-5 areas of your life that are important. You might have family, work, health, fun, and home. Now, on a scale of 1 to 10 write down how satisfied you are with each of these areas, with 10 being highly satisfied. For instance, let's say that working out is something you enjoy doing, but lately you haven't been doing it because of other demands in your life. Maybe the health category only receives a score of a 1 or 2. On the other hand, socially you're very happy and that category is about an 8.

3) Pick One

Now that you know which areas seem to be the most out of balance, pick one place to start. It might be tempting to try and restore balance to all of the problematic areas, but it's important to just pick one area to improve. You want to experience some success and you don't want to make a goal unobtainable. Next, think about what would it take to make your 1 a 2? Would it be working out one day a week instead of no days a week? Next, look at your calendar, where could you add one work out in? You may have to be willing to put other priorities aside or be flexible. This can be hard to let go of other things, but it maybe helpful to look at what is getting in the way of your workout and ask yourself if it is also on your list of values.

4) Don't Be Afraid to Ask For Help

Even with the best intentions, it can be very difficult to restore balance without getting a little help. Life can be very demanding and often times we can feel like we need to do it all. But, if you want a balanced life, this simple idea of getting help can make a big difference. For instance, one way that many clients have found a way to add time to their lives for more meaningful activities is by adding help in the form of babysitting or a cleaning or yard service.

5) Express Your Commitment to Change

Once you've decided what you're going to do, write down your plan or tell a friend about it. You may want to use a journal to write in or check in with your friend weekly. Verbalizing or expressing your goals can help you stay accountable to what you intend to do and keep you on track towards your goals.

6) Celebrate Success

This simple idea is just as important as the previous steps. Whether you verbally acknowledge yourself or give yourself a reward, it's important to recognize and congratulate yourself on progress. Don't forget to share your accomplishments with your friend!

Remember your vision from step number one? Your life will begin to mirror your goals as you follow these six guidelines one step at a time. Restoring balance to your life doesn't need to be overwhelming. By taking small steps, you can quickly begin to lessen stress, add enjoyment, and feel more satisfied as you bring balance back to your life.