Quick Tip – Make the Time

Work will always be there – Issue #47

I’m as guilty of being a workaholic as anyone else. I spent decades making work my top priority to the detriment of my relationships with friends and family.

However, your job will always be there. Family will not. Friends will not. This moment in time will not.

There will always be other companies and other jobs. I’m not telling you to neglect your career, obviously. Do great work. Focus on being successful in your career. But, don’t let work consume you and eat into your personal time.

Of course, there will be times that you need to work late or even work over the weekend. It happens. However, you shouldn’t let that become such a habit that you are working late every evening and dedicating all of your weekends to your job.

The price is too high, both to your own wellbeing and the health of your relationships.

When you neglect relationships, you can’t expect to pick right up where you left off last time. In some cases, there is no “picking up.” You lost that moment in time and can never get it back (e.g., missing your child’s 10th birthday).

Professionally, you also can’t expect to dive in and start asking people for favors when you haven’t seen them in months or years. Yet, that’s how many people treat their network of friends and past colleagues.

“Hey buddy, long time no see! I was wondering if you could do me a favor?“

Not good. Who doesn’t hate being treated like that?

Make the time to reconnect. Spend time with the people who matter the most to you. Take the time to catch up with friends and colleagues.

It’s good for you, them, and your relationships.

Also, it is excellent for your long-term career. You burn out when you are heads-down for too long and never take personal time. You miss opportunities that only arise when your network is active.

There have been so many times that unique opportunities for my career growth were made possible because I made the time for coffee, lunch, or dinner with an old friend or colleague.

It’s a side effect of doing what you should be doing anyway. As human beings, we need healthy relationships to maintain our mental and emotional health.

It’s a smart investment for all of us!