Whether you are planning on taking an apprenticeship, going to university, or getting a job, you may also be considering the impact it will have on your relationship with a boy or girlfriend. Being in love is a great feeling but it can lead you to make some poor choices for your own future. Maybe your partner doesn’t like the idea of you going to a particular college that is away from them, or are worried that you will have less time to spend with them. Others may even get jealous as they see your progression and try to sabotage you. Of course, in a case like this it would be best to ditch your boy or girlfriend as they clearly don’t have your best interests at heart. However, in less extreme cases you may feel a pull between your career and your relationship – so what do you do?
People often talk of a work-life balance, and this means making sure that you have time to spend with loved ones while still focusing on your future. Indeed, with research showing that most people will have a surprisingly large number of careers during their working lives (let alone jobs), you may feel that you should put your relationship first. After all, it’s just a job, right?
Wrong.
The thing is that you can control your career, but a relationship is much more difficult to maintain. While you can plan and work on your career, your relationship is dependent on the whim and will of another person. The time you invest in your career, your education, or training will directly improve your chances of success, while the same cannot always be said of a relationship.
Again, this is not to say that you should always put your career first – that would lead to a rather poor relationship – but you need to make sure to put your future as a priority in your life. Putting your life on hold or not taking an opportunity because of someone else will only lead to resentment – especially if things don’t work out in your relationship.
Whether you choose to do a job that you love or one that pays you well, putting in the right effort will offer direct rewards – maybe it is a pay-rise, promotion, or chance to move on to greater things elsewhere. You can take you r experience and qualifications with you and, without trying to sound too negative, you only need to look at divorce rates to see how tricky it can be to maintain a relationship these days!
Life is all about juggling your priorities – and that means working out a balance between your career and your relationship. Ultimately you need to go with what you want to do. Look for that apprenticeship, or apply for the college course if you really want it.
Don’t let you relationship hold you back with where you want to go and what you want to do. While a relationship is a wonderful thing, the effort you put in to your career or education will pay you back for years to come. Don’t miss your chance to please someone else.
