How to maintain a social life when you have career ambitions

We talk a lot about work-life balance here at PA Life, but sometimes you do have to make sacrifices if you’re career-driven. That doesn’t mean your social butterfly side wait for you to have free time. Rachel Hosie from The Telegraph has put together some great tips for those who want to maintain a social life but still achieve their career goals.

1 Make friends at work
If you’re the type who loves going to the pub for a drink and a natter after work, who better to join you than your colleagues? You do have to be careful to treat your work mates with caution. Don’t drunkenly complain about your boss – in fact try to keep office chat to a minimum to avoid putting your foot in your mouth.

2 Find a social job
Research shows people who thrive on their social life should seek a job that allows them to work with people to avoid burnout. Find opportunities to do group projects or go with your boss to client meetings.

3 Pick a good location
If you’re looking for a new job that fits your social life, try to find a company with offices near the places you usually meet your friends. That’ll save you time and energy travelling to that location.

4 Get to work early
If you choose to show your dedication by putting in extra hours at work, try getting to the office early rather than staying late. You still get the benefit of quiet time to get things done, but you don’t have to worry about missing out on social activities after work.

5 Put the mobile away
This is almost always on work-life balance tip lists; the same applies if you want to have even a small social life. Don’t check your emails when you’re out with friends. If there’s a real work emergency, somebody will call you.

6 Work out on lunch
Utilise the lunch break you’re entitled to by hitting the gym, going for a walk, or simply running life admin errands. It’ll give you even more time to hang out in the evenings.

7 Plan ahead
If you know you’re meeting your friends at 7pm, plan your day to ensure you can leave the office on time. There’s nothing worse than finally getting something in the diary with your mates and missing out on valuable catch-up time because you get caught up with work.

8 Set boundaries
Even if you’re willing to go the extra mile to achieve your goals, you have to learn to say no when work starts interfering with your social life.

Read the original article at bit.ly/2b3CsGa