Last updated : Thursday, June 11, 2009

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Juggling Love and Career

Is being in a relationship good or bad for your career? Could your love life be to blame for your slacking off at work? Only you know what's really affecting your work performance. But people who have a balanced life - which can include being in a healthy relationship - are more productive and happier at work. Companies that have implemented work-life balance programs into their workplace show that productivity increases as a result of their programs. Bottom line: healthy, balanced employees are more effective!

Because we are integrated beings; everything in your life affects everything else. If you're unhappy at work, it bleeds into other areas of your life. On the flip side, your relationships with other people can and will affect your career in some way. Therefore, if you're happier in one area (like a relationship), that will flow into other areas like your career. If being in a committed relationship is important to you and makes you happy, then you'll be happy be more productive in your job. The key is to keep it all in balance. Don't allow your love life to overtake or interfere with your work responsibilities.

Find out what balance means to you. Because life balance looks different to everyone, deciding what pieces you want as part of your life is a personal choice. Some people are happy with being single and having many friends and close family. Others decide they want a serious relationship. The choice is personal and based on what will make you fulfilled. How can you most effectively balance your work and personal relationship time so one doesn't intrude upon the other?

No matter what you want your life to look like now, it is important that your love life doesn't become your only life; or that your time with friends doesn't become all that is important. You need to focus equally on all the pieces and strike the right balance for you. Your career needs to be part of this life balance. And most importantly you need to be happy and satisfied in these areas.

Manage your time effectively so you're balancing everything in a way that works for you. At work, concentrate on quality over quantity. Don't let yourself become a slave to your to-do list. Focus on performing your tasks well, not just checking them off the list. For your work and personal time, plan ahead and prioritize your time. Plan your work and your schedule for the day, the week and the month.

Remember, when your life is in balance, you will feel a greater sense of fulfillment. And having healthy relationships is part of that equation. Just don't let your love life take over! Keep it all in balance.

Blast off in your search for your ideal career! Hallie Crawford is a certified career coach who can help you find your direction and identify your ideal career path. To learn more about Hallie and her products and services, visit her Web site.

 

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