2020 saw more relationship breakups than the previous three years, according to findings from Dating.com. While many people have faced difficult challenges within relationships, and even broken up because of them, finding yourself in such a predicament and trying to work things out can often interfere with your professional life. From establishing boundaries to staying focused and working it out in an efficient yet meaningful way, here’s how you can successfully navigate a challenging time in your relationship without it getting in the way of your work.
Establishing clear boundaries
One of the best ways to keep your personal life from interfering with your professional life is by establishing clear boundaries between the two. For example, making it a point to never overshare your personal relationship woes with your colleagues can not only reduce office gossip, but can prevent your personal and professional lives from blurring together in a negative way. It’s also necessary to establish boundaries with your partner — for instance, letting them know when you’re available vs. unavailable at work can keep distracting phone calls and texts to a minimum, which will let you focus much more easily. In order to achieve this, keeping a regular schedule and sharing it with your partner is a great way to do this in a structured way, and will help to hold yourself accountable in maintaining the boundaries you create.
Staying focused
Having relationship issues on your mind will almost certainly interfere with your work, making it difficult to concentrate and focus while at the office. In addition to minimizing distractions and setting boundaries, setting clear goals for the day or creating a to-do list of tasks you need to accomplish before clocking out is a great way to combat this, and can be done via setting a SMART goal. With SMART standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely, the formula will aid greatly in breaking down more complex projects into manageable tasks that are easier to focus on. Having such goals in mind can also motivate you, since checking off tasks gives you a visual representation of what you’ve achieved each day, in addition to a sense of accomplishment.
Working it out
If you’re experiencing relationship issues, it’s important to handle them accordingly, otherwise they’re sure to continue to affect your professional life. While the simplest way to do this is to talk things out with your partner at home and develop an open line of communication within the relationship, there are other solutions to consider as well. Depending on the issue, reconciling with a caring gesture such as a meaningful gift can help you sort things out and move forward with your relationship. For example, an “I’m sorry” gift like a stainless steel engraved wallet insert is a great way to show that you care, and will give your partner a mini love note that they can carry with them everywhere they go. However, for more serious issues, setting up a couples counseling session is a great consideration for working things out in a controlled environment over a longer period of time, instead of over the phone while you’re trying to focus on work.
Going through a rough patch from time to time is an inevitable part of any relationship, but it doesn’t have to get in the way of your professional life. By staying focused, establishing boundaries, and working things out, you can successfully navigate the situation in an effective way.
