How many times do you hear yourself say 'I need a vacation!'? Your life is busy with routines - work, school, laundry, bringing the kids to all of their activities, so it's no wonder that you feel hassled, stressed or on a running wheel that you can't seem to get off of. Maybe your job seems boring, or your daily schedule seems endlessly tiring. You tell yourself you need a vacation, or convince yourself that you just need to get away from it all. But guess what? It's all there when you come back, and all of that blissful feeling of well being ends in the first meeting at work, or even in the first hectic morning back in the routine.

I remember the first time I heard 'A change is as good as a rest.' They weren't wise words from my parents, or part of an expensive motivational seminarI heard it on a cartoon that my children were watching. It has stayed with me ever since, and I have put it to work in my life when I have felt tired, stressed or just plain bored.

For some people, just the word 'change' can be stressful. They associate it with major events, like having to get a new job, a household move or an event that requires a major effort on their part. But there are many changes that we can make that can refresh us on a daily basis, some serious and others fun. Many of the options for change are not things that we even normally consider a 'change,' but they are things we can do to refresh our daily lives and maintain the balance we need.

We all need to find the basic qualities that make our lives fulfilling and meaningful. These become the elements of our lives - the fundamental components that make us whole. Recognizing these elements is not enough - the key is to find the balance of elements that reflects the importance and priorities of our lives.