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Mayo Clinic Tips on Maintaining Balance
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=E76D4912-66D9-40A0-950F4DD018E94838
also posted on Effortlessly Perfect

Finding the best balance

It isn't easy to juggle the demands of career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge. Here are some options to help you find the balance that's best for you and your unique situation.

• Keep a log. Track everything you do for one week. Include work-related and non-work-related activities. After you see your patterns, decide where to make adjustments. Cut or delegate activities you don't enjoy, you don't have time for or you do only out of guilt. If you don't have the authority to make these decisions, talk to your supervisor.
• Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all up for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times from your home are good places to begin. A weekly family calendar of important dates will help you avoid deadline panic. Find out if your employer offers a course in time management. If possible, sign up for it.
• Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed won't alter the course of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
• Communicate clearly. Eliminate time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
• Nurture yourself. You can't have a job, family and friends without nurturing yourself. So try to set aside some time each day for an activity you enjoy, such as reading, working out or listening to music. Decompress after a hectic workday by taking a walk, going to the gym to work out or taking a bath or shower. You and your family can decompress by spending the first 15 minutes at home at the end of the workday eating a healthy snack you've prepared beforehand.
• Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your friends, partner or family, such as making dinner together, playing a game or going for a walk. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you.
• Protect your day off. Try to schedule some of your routine chores on workdays so that your days off are more relaxing.
• Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.
• Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk to during times of stress or hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your pastor, rabbi, priest or other religious leader can provide.
• Seek professional help. Everyone needs help from time to time. If your life feels too chaotic to manage and you're spinning your wheels worrying about it, talk with a professional such as your doctor, a psychologist or a counselor recommended by your employee assistance program (EAP).