With school starting back, households everywhere are yet again becoming hectic in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. There’s the hustle and bustle of getting everyone ready and out the door in the mornings and then coming home to homework and the preparation to do it all again the very next day. Your day may seem filled with school and work, but don’t forget to throw a little family in there as well. There is really no special formula to achieving BALANCE and getting everything done in a day and as you will find, your family’s routine may be quite different from your neighbors. The key to obtaining a perfect balance to YOUR life is finding solutions to your daily challenges and balancing the responsibilities amongst family roles. Here are some tips to help you obtain that balance in your life...

1. Build an awesome support system.

It’s OK to ask for help and be helped. You have to remember you are only human and cannot do it all. Include your children, parents, friends, etc. Most likely they are more than willing to help you out if they knew you had the need. If you want to visit Mom in the nursing home. Do it. Have your sister, husband, friend pick up the kids from school. If you know Mom has had a hard time lately, call your sister or aunt or uncle. Tell them mom needs a visit or a trip out for dinner. Don’t assume people know your needs. Build your support system and use it!

2. Let go of the guilt.

Guilt can take ahold of you and slowly drag you down. It can wipe away your energy. If you mess up, get back on course and do better the next day. Don’t let the strife of a bad day or bad decision change you. It’s ok you promised Dad you’d let the grandkids come visit him, but forgot they have baseball practice. Do better the next day. Make good on your promises and let go of the guilt.

3. Stop trying to be the perfectionist.

We want to think we are. We want to think we can do it all.Know your limits. Set your own standards and be realistic about your goals.

4. Get organized.

Plan your day. Set priorities. Create structure. Build lists. Check those lists off!

5. Share your schedule with others.

Talk about your daily plans with friends and family. They may have similar daily struggles that can effectively be combined and work decreased. Carpooling is always a great option. Become friends with other family members of residents at the nursing home. Take turns dropping by to say hello or bringing in a special gift.

6. Create time for yourself.

To be good to others, sometimes you must first be good to yourself. Find ways to relax, relieve tension, and find happiness.

7. Be flexible.

There will always be times when you don’t get in everything you had planned for the day. Learn to be flexible. Circumstances in life are constantly changing. Be ready to pick up new responsibilities throughout the day and reprioritize as the day goes on. Never get too comfortable.

8. Remember why you’re doing it.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when looking at a long list of daily tasks, but keeping the reasons for doing them in the forefront of your mind will give the tasks so much more meaning. Your picking your kids up from school and learning about all their little minds absorbed for the day. Stopping in to the nursing home to visit Dad, you get to spend quality time with him and reminisce on the funny stories of the past and learn about the new events and activities coming up.

9. Celebrate successes.

Cross those tasks off your list and keep your eye on the prize. Whether it’s small or large obstacles, commemorate your achievements with friends and family. So you’ve passed that college course you’ve been studying for night after night. Let the family take you out to dinner! It’s necessary to celebrate successes to keep motivation for the next goal.

10. Enjoy life!

We have this one life to live. Be happy. Live happy. Spread happiness.