Forgetting your work-life balance

You know that old cliche about a couple trying in vain to have their first baby? How as soon as they stop getting stressed about it, the pregnancy happens? It is a bit like that with career progression.

You become anxious, work all hours to impress, give up on your social life and you still miss out on promotion. So you work even more hours, withdraw even more into your shell of anxiety, and ... Well, you see where that’s going.

You end up being seen as over-serious, borderline obsessive, distracted and not particularly good company, none of which is really going to do much for your promotion prospects - or your health, for that matter, which in some respects is the same thing.

What is the right thing to do?

Make space for friends and colleagues. Put in enough time and energy to ensure that your job is pleasant and manageable. Smile a lot, accept invitations, mix, build a network. And you will get that baby.