How You Can Thrive in Your Career Without Sacrificing Your Personal Life

Some people believe you must choose between a successful career and a healthy personal life. That's nonsense. The fear of giving up your personal life is a self-imposed limitation when, in fact, you can thrive in your career without sacrificing your personal life. 

SET REALISTIC GOALS.

Don't expect to get promoted and earn a raise every year or two. Instead, set short-term goals that are attainable and build on each other over time. If you want to be promoted from junior designer to senior designer within two years, set smaller goals like learning about design software and improving communication with clients. Once you accomplish these smaller goals, you'll be ready for bigger ones, like taking responsibility at work or moving up within the company hierarchy.

Instead of setting a goal like "I will travel more often with my family," which is very subjective and open-ended, try setting a concrete goal like "I will take one weekend off per month with my family where I won't be working at all during those days." This gives you something specific to work toward achieving every month until it becomes second nature for you as an employee and as a parent.

Just remember, don't let guilt or fear get in the way of setting goals or pursuing them.

Prioritize what's most important.

It's easy to get caught up in life's busyness and forget what matters most. But to achieve success at work and not feel like you’re losing out on other aspects of your life, it's crucial to prioritize what matters most. Take some time to reflect on why you are working so hard in your career and ask yourself if it's worth it. If the answer is no, then it's time to reevaluate your priorities or take a break from work so that you can spend more time on things that matter most to you.

Take care of yourself.

Take care of yourself mentally and physically. Exercise at least three times per week and eat healthy foods that fuel your body instead of filling it up with empty calories that make you feel sluggish when they wear off. Your body needs rest to function correctly, so ensure you get enough sleep each night (at least seven hours).

Set time aside for yourself each day. It's important to spend time alone or with others doing something that makes you feel good about yourself. Go out with friends and family; watch a movie or read a book; go for a run or walk; meditate; listen to music; do whatever brings you joy.

Make time for your friends and family.

If you want to enjoy life, make sure you spend time with people who are important to you. This is one of the hardest parts of work-life harmony for people who love their jobs. It can be challenging if you work long hours or travel frequently. But some strategies can help make this easier:

• Schedule time off around important events (holidays, birthdays). When those dates roll around, don't let them slide unnoticed — pick up the phone or send a card. 

• And if they live far away? Make plans to visit them! One day off isn't enough; plan at least three days so they know they matter to you.

• Take advantage of technology like Skype or FaceTime. If they can't see you in person, at least they can still see your face. 

Take vacation time (or at least a break.)

It's easy to get caught up in work and forget that taking time off is good for you on so many levels. Time off will help you refresh, recharge and reflect on your career goals. You don't need a week-long vacation. Even just a few days from work can make a huge difference in how you approach your work when you return.

Take time away from work to pursue your passions. Set aside one day per week when you go home early or take an extra long lunch break to have time to pursue something important to you. If you love art, music, or cooking, take classes at night so that they become a welcome part of your routine.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

When we were young, we made mistakes because we didn't know any better. We learn from our mistakes, but when we get older—especially in a leadership position—we tend to avoid making them at all costs because we don't want anyone else to know about them or see us as an amateur. This is where people start missing out on opportunities. They’re too scared to take risks or try new things because they might fail or look bad in front of their peers or superiors.

Recognize that you will make mistakes along the way, but if you don't try anything new, you won't learn anything new. So, take risks, fail—and move forward stronger than before.

If you're looking to improve your career while not missing out on the important things in life, there are many things you can do to help achieve this. Fortunately, you can quickly adapt many lifestyle and productivity techniques to your specific goals. If you focus on improving yourself personally and professionally, you'll find that work-life harmony isn't just a fantasy anymore.

Listen to my podcast episode B3 Breaks (B3 = Business, Balance & Bliss): Work Hard: Nothing Is Unachievable With Sona Akmakjian about working hard and achieving dreams. Sona discusses how she set boundaries around her career and overcame the guilt of leaving her children so she could excel professionally. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss!