Any recipe to add balance in your life includes asking for help

I love making chicken salad, and I have about 27 different ways I do it. Some with pecans and some with almonds, some with green onions and some with red.

But regardless of which combination I choose, there are a few staple ingredients that I add to every batch. After all, if you don’t have chicken, nuts, sauce, fruit and onion, it’s not going to be chicken salad!

Life balance works the same way. As a business coach, speaker and author, I’ve been studying and writing about life balance for over a decade. And I’ve found that these five things are nonnegotiable if you want to feel balanced.

1. Rest

Feeling balanced starts with getting enough sleep. The average American gets far less than the necessary seven to nine hours every night, and the consequences of “being tired all the time” are devastating to our mental and physical health.

Being rested, on the other hand, allows you to be present, energetic and alert. You’ll be able to get more done, have space for relationships, and enjoy your life. Do whatever it takes to make sleep a priority, starting tonight.

2. Relationships

We were created to be in deep, life-giving relationships. Social connections improve the quality of your life, and they also have a direct correlation with reduced health issues, less depression and a longer life-span.

But you don’t need research to tell you something you already know: People matter! If you want to have balance, you have to be intentional about connecting with others.

Whether it’s family helping with childcare or team members helping with work projects, we all need help if we want to feel balanced. No one can do it all on their own.

If you don’t have family nearby or room in the budget for childcare, there are still creative ways to get help. For example, two of my friends swap babysitting nights so the other couple can have a date night. Look to your community for resources, and don’t be too proud to ask for help.

4. Work you enjoy

According to a poll done by Gallup, 85% of employees worldwide aren’t engaged in their jobs. That’s crazy! If you dread your job, I want you to hear me: You will never feel balanced if you’re spending your one life doing something you hate.

What is one step you can take today to get closer to doing work you love? Take it today. If you’re wondering where to start, I recommend listening to The Ken Coleman Show on podcast or YouTube. It’s hosted by my good friend and career coach Ken Coleman.

5. Time alone

Alone time is critical to our overall health and well-being. If you’re around people all day every day, whether at work or home or both, you need to create time to be alone.

Maybe that means waking up before everyone in the house to have 15 minutes to yourself. Maybe it means going for a short walk by yourself each day. If you want to maintain your balance—and your sanity—you’ve got to have some time alone.

Friend, you don’t have to feel busy and burned out all the time.

When you’re intentional about creating life balance, you’ll start to enjoy your life. I hope you take the time to try this recipe for balance this week. You’re worth it!