As if we don’t already have enough pressures in our lives these days, we also have to deal with the pressure to get on some kind of career path. Some people know what path they want to take pretty early on in life, but for many of us it can take years to figure it out. Sometimes things ‘work out for the best’ and you find yourself in a position you want to be in. Sometimes you don’t find that perfect fit – which can lead to further stress.

Work to live, live to work?

Even if you’ve found a job that you like and you’re going along enjoying things, there will probably be times when you struggle with your work-life balance. Although this can occur at any moment, it’s often when you have big deadlines, when you’re moving on to new projects, or when your personal life is busy with other things like commitments with family or friends.

Work and life will push you to the limit sometimes, that’s a certainty.

The key is making sure you don’t push yourself to the limit when you don’t have to. Finding the right balance will almost certainly make your job more enjoyable and productive. More importantly it will make your life more enjoyable.

Have a chat

Whether you don’t know what you want to do next, or whether you’re just having problems keeping up with what you’re doing now, take the time to sit down and work out what you want to be doing and how you want to get there. If these questions are too big and too much to confront at once, find a mate, family member or colleague you can chat with and discuss your career values and wishes with them, or ask someone in a job you’d love (e.g. a friend of a friend or your boss’ boss’ boss!) to sit, have a coffee and talk about career paths.

Here are a couple of useful links if you’re struggling with stress or your work-life balance:

Workplace stress

Surviving stress at work

And if you are having a hard time planning your next steps in work, check these resources out. Also have a look at these tips and tools.