Contributed by: kellyseal on Monday, April 09 2012 @ 09:11 am
Last modified on
All of us get busy with work from time to time. We stay late to finish up a project or prepare for an important presentation. But what happens when you find yourself cancelling dates or letting go of your online dating subscriptions over and over again, because your work always takes priority?
Before you cancel yet another date in favor of catching up on emails or getting a head start on a new project, take a step back from your desk. Imagine if you want your life to be exactly the same ten years from now. If you don't, then it's time to make changes. It's time to start prioritizing not only your to-do list, but what you want in your personal life.
It can be a difficult transition, especially if you've spent a lot of time and effort to reach a point of success in your career. You want to hold on to it, understandably. But there is a balance that should exist if you aren't happy with your love life and you want to meet someone. You can't just expect things to change until you start making changes yourself. Following are some ways to help you get started:
Recognize that your dates have work, too. You're not the only one looking to be successful or putting in a long day. Your dates are likely hard at work, too. While it's easy to reschedule a hundred times, it's better if you set a date and stick to it. If others are putting work on the backburner to date you, then it benefits you to return the courtesy.
Figure out what you truly want. If you don't make time to date, then you won't have time for a relationship. If you're only looking for someone to spend time with occasionally, then let them know up front that you're unavailable for a relationship. And if you're looking for something serious, then be serious about your search. Invest time in online dating, or if you're really pressed, hire a matchmaker to do the heavy lifting for you. Most importantly, be honest about what you really want so you can make the effort to get there.
Establish your limits. You may be working hard to get promoted, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your personal life in the process. Just because you're single doesn't mean you're required to put in longer hours or more travel time than your married counterparts. Know your limits and what flexibility you have at work, and communicate with your boss when you need more time for yourself. If you can't get away from the office to date, then you may want to think about looking for another job that allows you to live the life you want.
Are you using work as an excuse? If you find yourself cancelling dates with the convenient excuse of "I'm really busy at work," then you might be sabotaging your love life without realizing it. Instead of hiding from a less-than-great personal life by throwing yourself into work, try putting yourself out there more. Accept more dates, and get more involved with meeting new people. Join an online dating site with a friend so you can keep each ohter updated on your progress. Work isn't your whole life, so don't make it your only priority.