The Balance Between Career and Relationship

In today’s world everyone’s career is their number one priority whether it is a government job, a small business or a remote one.

Everyone is trying to get one step ahead of everyone else because obviously the competition is killing-and everyone wants to succeed.

But career has an end or a career might have setbacks. You can be President of the United States, like Obama, who had two presidencies but ultimately it had to end. There is a stopping point in the success of a career. There is a peak after which it goes downhill.

But where do we go from there?

We need family and relationships just like we need a career.

Similarly, businesses might face setbacks like how the pandemic has caused so many businesses to shut off, workers getting laid off and companies going into loss, but relationships are something which might stay with you when you have nothing. Be it a close family relationship or the relationship with friends, no doubt relationships start and end all the time too and the people close to us also have their lives, careers and many other things to worry about, but a person who is always drowning himself or herself in work, cutting off social interactions and most importantly avoiding the role of being a good mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, daughter, son niece or even a friend might miss on a lot of valuable and important moments and memories which might be dreadful for him/her later.

Relationships give us a different sense of fulfillment and they provide support to us when need it.

Relationships matter to us when we are achieving something big or when we are losing a lot, they matter to us when we are winning and celebrating and when we are sad and falling.

When a career start, it might face setbacks, it might fail but ultimately it ends, no matter how amazing or prestigious it is. Relationships are equally important, so it is really important in today’s world to have a balance between a career and relationships. The pandemic has made it possible because many people are now spending more time in home than outside.

It’s important to prioritize both of these two very important things-career and relationships to make sure neither one is getting neglected. Even the most successful people have regrets that they were not able to be a good father or a good mother because they were drowning themselves with work.

At the end of after a long tiring day of work, a big business deal or a big project everyone wants to spend time with his or her loved ones and want a break from work and no doubt bad relationships and issues can affect our performance in our careers as well.

So how can work-family balance can be achieved?

1) By being less ambitious

Being ambitious is good but it should have a limit, if ambitious means you are losing yourself, choosing the wrong path to achieve your goals illegally or losing yourself to fulfill your endless ambitions than maybe you should limit your ambitions.

2) Don’t miss out important events

Whether it’s someone’s birthday or whether there is someone close to you in the hospital, make sure you show up to make them feel important, because if you will be there for them, they will be there for you.

3) Accepting Your Potential

Everyone is not born to be another Einstein. Some are great painters, some are amazing at sports, the thing is everyone has their potential it’s not important for a great mathematician to be a great debater too, it’s really important to know your potential and your caliber. Are you an overachiever? or have you been mediocre?

knowing where your potential is saves you from failure, a lot of stress and gives you more time which you can spend on yourself and your relationships.

4) Being Somewhat Patient

Everyone is human. No one is perfect. Accepting the flaws and setbacks of others help us be more patient, because obviously we would want those around us to accept us with our flaws as well, no that doesn’t mean tolerating bad behavior or worse abuse but being accepting and patient means not being angry when plans are cancelled at the last minute or not arguing when someone thinks differently than you.

5) Setting deadlines

Some work can be delayed, and some cannot be, it’s really important to set deadlines to make sure you don’t fall behind. Set small clear everyday goals is more effective than making big targets which are unachievable. Deadlines are often important, sometimes work demands time and energy so it’s better to lay off other activities if you feel that you are constantly missing out on your work.

6) Being Kind to others and yourself

juggling work and life is difficult and it’s really important to give yourself credit and time. Be good to others but be good to yourself too, be kind to others but be kind to yourself too because in the end you are your biggest cheerleader.