What do you do if your career is taking over your personal life?

Balance is the most important part of anyone having a private practice. What I have done over many years, is to be available Tuesday through Saturday, 11-6 p.m. with special appointments after 6 if needed. Then I take two days off every week. If I have a light week, I make exceptions for those days, but not usually. It gives me rest, and motivation to help people again. I also know that if I rest enough, I have the energy to help others. If not, then I need to focus on my own reality and needs. So this is what I do to help my practice continue over the last 25 years!

If your career is taking over your personal life, it's crucial to reassess your priorities and set boundaries to maintain balance. Allocate dedicated time for personal activities, hobbies, and relationships to nurture your well-being. Communicate openly with supervisors or colleagues about workload concerns and explore options for delegation or flexible scheduling. Prioritize self-care practices such as mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation techniques to manage stress effectively. Consider seeking support from mentors, coaches, or counseling services to help navigate career and personal challenges.

Setting boundaries is very significant. If you are not objective, realizing that what you dealing with is someone else's karma, then you are taking on too much. When you set boundaries, that gives those who you care for in a private practice support and objectivity, which helps them take responsibility. Also boundaries make a person with issues to see the steps they need to take on their own. This helps them grow into the new reality. Hopefully this helps those beginning a private practice. Even if you work for an agency or hospital, it also helps to be more objective and at the same time empathic. Empathy helps workers send love and care to those who need it without attachment. Attachment sucks you into their issues.

This is a vital concern for all of us. Establishing a work-life balance begins with creating a clear and actionable plan. I advise my clients to start by identifying their non-negotiables: what you need from your personal life that you are not willing to compromise for work. Then, strategically communicate this plan to your employer and colleagues. Being assertive about your needs doesn't mean being aggressive. It is about setting clear boundaries and expectations.

Personal in my opinion is not possible to exclude from professional. Your life is as a whole. It does not care how we label different parts of it. I would ask what exactly is giving the trouble? Is it time or energy? Family wants your time and you want to work? Whose needs are not met? Taka a couching session with about work and life relationship in your current situation and you should be able to find many answers. Best of luck! Don't divide, unite!