Balancing Love And Career: How To Keep A Healthy Work-Life

The term “work-life balance” is often used in conversations about self-care and improving quality of life. However, some people may not know what it means or how to achieve it. Regarding romantic relationships and love, it can feel impossible to put the same passion into love as you do your career. Setting boundaries regarding your schedule, ensuring quality time with loved ones, practicing time management skills, and using your PTO can help you maintain a healthier balance between your relationships and your job. For more personalized insight and guidance, it may be helpful to work with a licensed therapist in person or online.

What does it mean to have a healthy work-life balance? 

According to Forbes experts, work-life balance can have a few meanings. It may mean being able to attend to your personal life while still getting work duties done or putting an equal amount of time and priority into personal and professional activities. Because this term can be vague, it may lead to confusion regarding how to implement changes in one’s life or career that contribute to this balance. 

Part of being able to show up to work and your personal life authentically may be mental and physical health. Putting too much time and energy into either work or relationships can lead to mental burnout, which may reduce mental wellness and physical health. A work-life balance can mean making time in your world to partake in activities and relationships that bring you joy while remaining professional and valuing your position. 

The benefits of having a healthy personal life and a successful career

People may value one area of life more than others, whether intentionally or not. A new relationship or crush can lead to intense infatuation, excitement, and dopamine, which might temporarily take one’s focus away from work. Some people may also be more focused on relationships and personal matters, seeing work as a chore or something they must do to make ends meet.  

Other people may be more career-oriented, seeing work as the most essential area of life and missing out on chances for connection. In both cases, people may lose out on opportunities that come their way. The benefit of balancing love and career, whether you’re in a loving relationship or single, may be that you can get to a point where you can put equal or fair energy into each area of your life and reduce the chance of burnout, obsession, or losing a relationship or job due to a lack of focus. 

An obsessive focus on love can lead to attachment issues, anxiety, avoidance, fear, and unhealthy relationship patterns. Contrarily, an obsessive focus on success at work can lead to mental burnout, a lack of social connection, and a sense of boredom. When relationships and work are balanced, you can reap the joy that often come from relationships or connections while still receiving recognition for your hard work at your job. 

How to navigate your job and love life

Below are a few tips for balancing love and your career healthily. 

Set boundaries with partners regarding your schedule

If you’re in a relationship or dating, navigating your work schedule and your partner’s or finding time to spend together may be difficult. You may also want to have alone time to unwind after a workday. Since work schedules aren’t always flexible, putting quality time into your close relationships can be challenging. 

It may be helpful to set boundaries with your partner regarding your work schedule. You can work together to come up with times when you’re both available to spend quality time together. If you work opposing schedules, consider how you might be able to make compromises at work, such as changing your schedule for one day of the week to align with theirs. If changes aren’t possible, you may want to find ways to fit in more quality time when you are together. 

Ensure quality time together

Run errands together

Errands may not be a fun part of life, but they tend to be unavoidable. You might be able to make your errands more enjoyable and spend more time with someone by running errands together. 

For example, while at the grocery store, you can converse as you walk through the aisles. While completing household chores, you might listen to music and sing together. In some cases, just being in the proximity of someone else can be a fun way to connect. The right partner may be someone who can help you forget about the stress of your career and make the small moments matter in the balancing act of life. 

Plan time off together

Planning a vacation or your days off with someone can be a fun way to look forward to your relaxation time with them and take a deep breath on difficult days. Consider planning the activities you want to do, the places you want to eat, and how you want to spend the time together. Hope can be a powerful motivator at work, reminding you of the special moments you’re saving up to have with your partner. 

Use your PTO 

A break from work can be as precious as your time at work. Harvard Business Review reports that taking your PTO can improve your mental health and reduce stress. 

With 46% of Americans not taking PTO, most people in the US may not be appreciating the value of vacation. You don’t have to create extravagant plans for your time off, but spending time with the people you love can be associated with enhanced well-being, and it can ensure you put the same energy into your relationships and your work.

Don’t sacrifice your career path for someone you love if it’s not what you want

If a partner or romantic interest pressures you to put less effort or time into a dream or asks you to leave your job entirely, it may not be a healthy dynamic. If you enjoy your work and want to grow in your career, be honest about this desire and let your partner know what you’re looking for in a relationship. 

Try not to sacrifice your dreams to be with someone, as your goals for the future can be as important as your connection with a person. In some cases, work-life balance can mean knowing when a relationship doesn’t fit with your career plans. If you feel challenged in unhealthy ways by your partner or love interest, setting boundaries or choosing whether to leave the relationship may be vital. 

Practice time management skills

Time management skills may be helpful if you’re looking for ways to be more present in each moment of your relationships and balance work with love. One technique for managing your time more efficiently may be time blocking, which generally involves blocking time in your schedule for each activity in a day. When you’re time blocking, try to set aside time for leisure, time to connect with your romantic partner, and time to complete your tasks. You might notice that you have more time to spend with the people you love when you follow a stricter schedule and reduce distractions throughout the day. 

Outline your values

Finally, it may be helpful to outline your values and goals before entering a relationship. Understanding what you want or expect in a relationship and whether your current career allows you to achieve it. If not, ask yourself if there are any sacrifices you could make at work to make room for a more authentic connection with someone in your life. Some people may find that their job or relationship doesn’t align with their values, which can affect balance in their daily lives. This exercise could also help you decide to leave a job or relationship that no longer serves you. 

Consider therapy for a healthier work-life balance

If your work and love life are colliding and you’re not sure how to untangle them, it might be beneficial to talk to a therapist. Therapy can be helpful for any life challenge, and you don’t have to have a mental health disorder to speak with a therapist. If your work and love life balance is affecting your marriage, you may want to consider seeing a family therapist for additional support for the long haul. A professional counselor can guide you through time management, boundary-setting, and outlining your values and help you communicate effectively with your partner and at the office. In addition, they can be a source of emotional support as you navigate challenging situations. 

Benefits of online therapy

If you face barriers to in-person therapy due to a busy work schedule, a lack of time, or financial challenges, you can also speak to a counselor online through a platform like BetterHelp. With online therapy, you can begin working with a therapist from home or anywhere with an internet connection via phone, video, or live chat sessions. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Studies show that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy, if not more so. In one study, online therapy was found to be more effective than face-to-face options in treating mental burnout, which can be common in people who work long hours or struggle with their work-life balance.