Feeling out of whack? Straighten up your life by checking out these careers that make balancing work and personal life a cinch!

By Chris Kyle

Feeling unbalanced? Like you have no time for yourself or your family? It could be your job that's plaguing you...

Jeff Davidson, author of Breathing Space: Living and Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society, believes that modern-day society has turned many of us into human whirlwinds who need to slow down - before we crash.

"We need to control the workday and not let the workday control us," Davidson says. "Fewer and fewer people today are in control."

Want to take control of your professional - and personal - life? Check out these careers that can help you have it all - great work, great pay, and enough time for yourself, your friends, and your family!

Career #1 – Nursing

Many registered nurses (RNs) enjoy flexible work schedules, which make it easier to put family first. Child care and educational benefits are two additional perks of the profession, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Required Education: Earn a nursing degree or diploma, then get certified in your state.

Average Salary: $62,450 in May 2008, with the highest 10 percent of RNs earning more than $92,240.

Search for Nursing schools near you now.

Career #2 – Teaching

Teaching is another great career for those striving for work-life balance. Shorter workdays and summers off can mean more time for your favorite activities like gardening, playing sports, doing community service, vacationing, or just lounging on the couch.

Required Education: Earning a bachelor's degree is the first step. A teaching certificate will help you become qualified, and a master's degree can often bump up your pay.

Average Salary: The median salary for teachers of kindergarten-through- secondary school ranged from $47,100 to $51,180 in May 2008.

Search for Education and Teaching schools now!

Career #3 – Medical Assistant

Medical assistants work a pretty normal 9-to-5 schedule, which means that you can fit in recreational activities without the fear of work getting in the way. Other perks: medical assistant training programs are short and job prospects are excellent through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Required Education: You'll need to complete a one or two-year medical assisting training program.

Average Salary: In May 2008, a typical salary was $28,300, with the top 10 percent of medical assistants earning nearly $40,000.

Search for Medical Assistant training programs now.

Career #4 – Paralegal

Unlike lawyers, many paralegals are able to leave their work "at work" by turning off their cell phones and computers when they head home. Paralegals also enjoy quick training programs and growing employment opportunities, according to the Department of Labor.

Required Education: An associate's degree in paralegal studies can get your career launched in just two years, and online programs are available. A bachelor's degree will put you in an even stronger position. For those who already have a degree, a paralegal certificate can be earned in mere months.

Average Salary: Paralegals who work for the feds earn an average salary of $58,540, with the top 10 percent of all paralegals earning $73,450.

Find Paralegal career training programs in your area or online.

Career #5 – Sales Professional

Think the sales world is too fast-paced and demanding for you? Flex hours and telecommuting are actually a lot more common in sales than most professions, which can come in handy when it's time for a parent-teacher conference or a little league game.

Required Education: A bachelor's degree in an area like business administration, marketing, or public relations can help you build a solid foundation. An MBA can help you move into management.

Average Salary: The average sales rep makes $48,000, according to SimplyHired.com, with sales reps in Chicago and New York City making $53,000 and $60,000 respectively.

Find Business and Marketing schools now!

*Unless otherwise noted, all salary information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor.