A typical workday is exhausting enough and with technology taking over the scene, it is hard to actually get out of the office space for even a moment. Even after completing the stipulated hours at office, once you get home your phone rings or you get an unexpected email which you cannot ignore. Even when after trying hard to stay disconnected, a huge percentage of people end up checking their work emails after office hours and if your company happens to be an MNC then you can be called in for a Skype meeting even at night. While you think these actions show your dedication, they take a bigger toll on you. So, here are a few success tips to tell you that there are certain things that you should never ever sacrifice for your work and on your move to achieve success.
Establishing boundaries between your professional life and personal life is a must if you want to lead a healthy life. When this balance is shattered, it can affect your health, your work, and your relationships. It is not just the emails or calls after work hours on which you need to set boundaries, there are certain things that you should not compromise on, come what may.
1. Health
Health is wealth. However, in the fight to get ahead in their careers, people often forget this important aspect of their being. They allow stress to take over most part of their existence, loose sleep, sit in one position all day and forget to exercise. With back aching and dark circles occupying most part of your face and a belly too big to handle, you realize that health issues have sneaked up on you and now you have to work doubly hard (if you manage to get the time) to get back on the right track.
Your health is all important, especially if you want to go ahead and go far in life. So, make a routine, stick to it. Go out during the weekends, sweat it out everyday, eat healthy and take walks during the breaks. Don’t let your work pin you down.
2. Your Family
It’s easy to let your family suffer for your work. Many of us do this because we see our jobs as a means of maintaining our families. We have thoughts such as “I need to make more money so that my kids can go to college debt-free.” Though these thoughts are well-intentioned, they can burden your family with the biggest debt of all—a lack of quality time with you. When you’re on your deathbed, you won’t remember how much money you made for your spouse and kids. You’ll remember the memories you created with them.
3. Your Sanity
While we all have our own levels of this to begin with, you don’t owe a shred of it to your employer. A job that takes even a small portion of your sanity is taking more than it’s entitled to. Your sanity is something that’s difficult for your boss to keep track of. You have to monitor it on your own and set good limits to keep yourself healthy. Often, it’s your life outside of work that keeps you sane. When you’ve already put in a good day’s (or week’s) worth of work and your boss wants more, the most productive thing you can do is say no, and then go and enjoy your friends and hobbies. This way, you return to work refreshed and de-stressed. You certainly can work extra hours if you want to, but it’s important to be able to say no to your boss when you need time away from work.
4. Your Identity
While your work is an important part of your identity, it’s dangerous to allow your work to become your whole identity. You know you’ve allowed this to go too far when you reflect on what’s important to you and work is all that (or most of what) comes to mind. Having an identity outside of work is about more than just having fun. It also helps you relieve stress, grow as a person, and avoid burnout.
5. Your Contacts
While you do owe your employer your best effort, you certainly don’t owe him or her the contacts you’ve developed over the course of your career. Your contacts are a product of your hard work and effort, and while you might share them with your company, they belong to you.
6. Your Integrity
Sacrificing your integrity causes you to experience massive amounts of stress. Once you realize that your actions and beliefs are no longer in alignment, it’s time to make it clear to your employer that you’re not willing to do things his or her way. If that’s a problem for your boss, it might be time to part ways.
Bringing it All Together
Success and fulfillment often depend upon your ability to set good boundaries. Once you can do this, everything else just falls into place.
