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Most of us are taught that if we want anything in life, we have to work hard for it.  Therefore, most of us are accustomed to working extremely hard.  If we have families, we want to make sure that we can provide the necessities that the family need.  If we struggled financially in our younger years, we tend to not want to ever struggle again as we get older; so, we work harder in an effort to avoid struggling financially.  We can get so focused on working hard, that we neglect other family and personal obligations.  We overwhelm ourselves with work, so much that we do not have the time or energy that is required in a relationship.  

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We might think that working hard and providing for the family is the best thing for the relationship.  However, if you ask your mate, would they rather have your TIME or your money, most will say, they'd rather have your TIME.  This is why it is important to have a work-life balance.  When you do not have a work-life balance, many relationships suffer as a result.  You may think that you are doing a good thing by being a provider, and you are, however, if you are only a provider, you are lacking in so many other areas that are required for a relationship to work.  Time is definitely one of those areas.  If your mate complains about how much time you are not spending with him/her because you are always working, it is time to figure out how to have a work-life balance.  If you truly love your mate and want your relationship to work, You have to prioritize your mates needs, just like you prioritize work.  

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Having a work-life balance is not only about your mate, it is about You as well.  You need time for you.  You need time to mentally decompress, you need time to relax, and you need time to take care of your needs.  When you don't have a work-life balance, you will eventually burnout and suffer from exhaustion because of the demands of the job as well as the needs of the relationship. 

 

It is important that employers know how important it is for employees to have a work-life balance.  Employees are more productive and make fewer mistakes, when they are not overwhelmed.  You have vacation and personal days for a reason.  Don't feel guilty about taking them when you need to.  There is nothing wrong with hard work, but there is something wrong with overworking yourself.  Even God took a break. To stay healthy and to keep your relationship healthy, you need to have a work-life balance.

 

By Lynnette Clement