Although balance can be defined a little differently by each of us, we generally tend to agree about how we feel when home and work are balanced.

Women who say that they've achieved balance generally say they feel:

• Empowered
• In control
• Energetic
• Happy
• Productive

If you feel like this, congratulations, you're ahead of most of the rest of us. If you don't feel like this, you can join the ranks of about two thirds of the population. A lot of us are feeling like life is out of balance and as if change is much needed.

How do you know if your life is less than perfectly balanced? Most people who say they are feeling like they need to find balance say they feel:

• Constantly worn down and tired
• As if they have few or no choices
• Like life is out of control
• That it is difficult to manage their time
• As though everything is pulling at them
• Like they react rather than respond during stressful moments
• Or that they spend all their time doing things for others?

If you can connect with these feelings, you're not alone.

When people begin to view life from this place, finding a balance between work and home becomes very difficult. Being at a point of imbalance makes it difficult to change because we begin to feel as though we have no control, and when we feel disempowered, it's just plain tough to make change.

That's why so many of us stay in a place of challenge... because when we're worn down, tired, feeling as though we have no good choices, we begin reacting poorly to that which is around us. That's when we create a downward spiral that feeds itself until, finally, when it gets really bad, we hear ourselves say "No more!" or we find ourselves sick or completely worn down to the point that our bodies force us to rest. This point of exhaustion is a signal that we need to heed. Rest is critical, not only to our health, but to implementing effective change.

So if you can do nothing else right now but argue that you can't afford to rest, I'm telling you straightaway, nothing will change until you begin to give yourself the rest you are lacking. No matter how much that little voice in your head tells you that you can't afford to do it, argue back and get some sleep. That's the first step.

You may feel guilty or worried at first, but rest will give you the strength to begin to implement change that will positively impact the rest of your life. Time is precious my friend. Get some rest. We'll talk more in the morning.

And when you're feeling rested, you can begin here: The Key to Achieving a Balanced Life.

by Julie Renee Fisher, Complete Well-being Coach and Owner of Sol Journe, LLC, as well as President of Advertising by Design, Inc. provides coaching and mentoring for professional women all over the world. Register for her free e-course and e-coaching at http://balanceworkandhome.soljoune.com.

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