In the quest for professional success, it’s easy to overlook the personal costs of ambitious careers.
To highlight this important – yet often neglected – topic, we’ve compiled some thoughts on The Personal Cost of Your Career, a four-part article series which aims to shed light on the sacrifices career-driven individuals often make in their lives. Whether in the context of health, social life, family commitments or even financial wellbeing, it is crucial to address the issue and put measures in place, so that professionals can begin to prioritise areas that deserve just as much attention as their careers.
With this in mind, we’re here to offer insights and practical advice to help successful individuals create a work-life balance that is built to last. Let’s dive into part three of four: relationships & personal life.
The Personal Cost Of Your Career – Part 3 – Relationships & Personal Life
For professionals in high-pressure workplaces, career success is often a key objective. While striving for excellence in this area is commendable, it can also unfortunately come at a price: the loss or disintegration of personal connections.
This is no surprise, considering the sacrifices often involved with career progression. Employees with eyes firmly focused on a promotion or sought-after role are prepared to put in long hours, leaving little time to cultivate and protect meaningful relationships. Add to this demanding schedule and constant connectivity, and you have a perfect storm.
Less work, more play: The statistics
A 2022 research study assessing the effects of reduced work time with no reduction in pay yielded interesting results in the context of a professional’s personal life.
The report revealed that following a six-month trial period working a four-day week, employees cited a significant decline in family conflict, stress, burnout and fatigue. Commenting on the experiment, one respondent said: “It’s given me more time to spend with my family members, and I think that the even greater benefit has been that it frees up my mental space for when I’m interacting with them. The mental load of work doesn’t spill into your personal life.”
Results garnered from our What Matters Most survey echoed this sentiment.
Participating candidates cited a work-life balance as increasingly critical to their overall happiness, listing flexibility and the ability to disconnect after work hours as top priorities.
Conversely, if this balance is thrown off-kilter, it can lead to feelings of isolation and resentment, both for the professional and their loved ones.
Nurturing personal relationships through a successful work-life balance
While the four-day week study highlighted the positives of taking a more balanced approach towards the work-life combination, the reality is that the vast majority of professionals are expected to complete a 40-hour work week. This is particularly true for those climbing the corporate ladder, who will likely exceed this total by the end of the week.
To avoid the relationship burnout that can often go hand in hand with such an intense work schedule, it’s crucial to implement several key strategies:
1. Transform your time management
Delegating sufficient time to your relationships can only be achieved through careful time management. This involves planning your working day so that you have specific tasks to complete at certain times. Utilising technological time-management tools that are designed to manage workloads efficiently can help you stay on track and prioritise essential items.
2. Prioritise quality time
To prioritise quality time with loved ones, it is vital to take a “no excuses” approach. This means setting aside non-negotiable time in the working week for family and friends, helping you to stay connected and take a breather from the pressures of a high-intensity career.
3. Seek employer support
Earlier in this article series, we discussed the importance of candidates engaging in open conversations with employers about boundaries in the interest of promoting positive mental wellbeing at work. This level of transparency and support should also translate to discussions surrounding family-friendly policies in the workplace, whether that involves flexible schedules or parental leave.
Parting thoughts
Every professional must have an outlet that helps them to relax, recharge and focus on the most important things in life. No matter how career-driven an individual may be, a lack of close contact with family and friends will inevitably begin to impact their workplace performance.
While employees can take matters into their own hands by implementing strategies aimed at prioritising personal relationships, it is equally essential for employers to play their part in supporting this vital work-life balance.
Read part 4 of our The Personal Cost Of Your Career series here to continue the conversation on balancing ambition with well-being.
