Work-Life Balance

We tend to try to be a superwoman because that’s what we have been told that’s what successful women do.  So we go about trying to balance every aspect of our lives. 

Then we are told we need to make ourselves a priority.  We are old to put our relationship first.  Our family should be the most important thing in our lives, too.  But if you are working, you know that your boss expects work to come first.  Okay, now I see where the superwoman thing came in. 

You do know that you get to choose your priority and that not everything can be a priority at one time,  right? 

We are also told by society that if we choose our career above our family and relationships, we are being selfish.  However, there are times in your life that you should definitely make your career a priority. 

How do you make your career a priority while balancing your marriage/relationship?  The answer here is the secret to a successful relationship.  I will tell you this secret now.  Are you ready?  You communicate with your partner.  Yep, that’s what I meant.  Make sure that you have a talk with them about what’s going on in your career, what you need to do to make that happen, and what you’re going to need to sacrifice to make sure these changes happen.  Keep them updated and communicate weekly.  (Download my marriage meeting planner at https://michellemical.com/marriage if you need help keeping your partner up to date.)

When should you make your career as a priority?

1.       Are you just starting out in your career?  Did you start a new business? 

If you are new to this career field or if you are starting you own business, you need to understand that you will probably need to work some long hours for a while.  You will need to prove that you are good at what you do.  It takes time for people to trust you.  You may have to attend some networking events or travel for your career.  The paperwork, technology, and any education that you need to help you in your career all take time.  This is to be expected.

2.      Is your career in trouble or your company downsizing?

Companies that are struggling sometimes need to have more attention just to keep afloat.  If this is the case, making your career a priority is a must.  Even if the company itself is closing and you have been downsized, finding a new job needs to be your new focus. 

3.      Is your life going great right now?  Are you extremely happy?

If your relationship is going great and you are really happy, you will be giving off high energy vibes.Your high energy will increase the levels of dopamine (the hormone that makes you happy) in your body. This is a great time to focus on your career.Your relationship is already going great, your life is great, so if you tune into your career right now, you will transfer those happy vibes intoyour work.People will see you as focused and as a positive person.It makes you look professional and sends the message out to the world that this person just may know what they’re doing.