Between housework, errands, family obligations, and professional duties, maintaining a healthy balance between work and home life is nothing short of a juggling act. If you feel as though you're being pulled in a thousand directions, read these tips to help refocus your priorities and help shed some stress.

1) Ask for help.
As they say, "It takes a village." Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors for help on days that you're stretched especially thin. For instance, you might trade off carpooling or babysitting duties with a neighbor, or assign chores and errands to family members.

2) Just say no.
Establish clear boundaries. Train yourself to ignore unimportant work emails when you're off the clock. Similarly, do your best not to bring personal issues into the workplace. If you're overloaded with work, tactfully relay the fact to your employer, and ask for more time if handed additional assignments.

3) Make yourself a priority.
When you're responsible for the welfare of others, it's easy to put your own needs and ambitions on the back burner. However, you'll likely find that a little "me time" will go a long way in helping you deal with everyday obligations. Be sure to schedule time for your own hobbies and interests every week.

The Top 10 Tips for Balancing Work and Family Life [Mom MD]
14 Steps to Achieving Work-Life Balance [Salary.com]
6 Strategies for Work-Life Balance [Oprah]
Get a good balance between work and life [Action for Happiness]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/John Ward