Work Life Balance: The Importance of Friends
Kristin Southwick
There is a Swedish proverb that says
“Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.”
The relevance of realtionships and friendships in our daily lives is the final topic in my series on “Work Life Balance: The Juggling Act“.
by Kristin Southwick
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Oftentimes women become so busy and distracted by life’s demands that they do not allocate enough time to cultivate and nourish non-familial relationships. However, I encourage you to think about how important friendships are in keeping a balanced life.
Create a Balanced Life by Making
Time for Friends
I believe that human beings are always searching for meaningful relationships because that search fills a basic and vital survival need in all of us. We all want to find people who understand us, support us, love us, and who we feel emotionally connected to. When we don’t allow ourselves the time to spend with people who meet these needs, we are inviting loneliness and isolation. A feeling of disconnection starts to infiltrate our very being.
I encourage you to think about the people you enjoy spending time with. These are the people who add laughter and comfort to your life. They help you refuel when your emotional “tank” is deleted.
Plan Time with Your Friends
Now think of ways that you can see your friend more. Instead of a gathering with just family members invited, include a few close friends into your immediate circle. Make them a part of your intimate group of special relationships. You may want to invite them to run errands with you or join you at your child’s sporting game.
Sometimes just a simple and spontaneous way to spend time together will provide you with the means to reconnect with that one person with whom you can completely be yourself.
These relationships can provide fresh perspectives on things occurring in your life and they can offer you a needed release when you are feeling overwhelmed.
But, more importantly, they can bring laughter and a sense of well being into your busy schedule, which can open up endless possibilities on how you envision yourself and what you can accomplish as you move forward. I guarantee the time spent with the people you love will leave you feeling refreshed and grounded.
When there are so many demands that life throws at you, remember to take time to unwind with the relationships that matter most in your life.
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Category: Live Your Best Life
About the Author (Author Profile)
Kristin Southwick is a SF Marriage and Family Therapist. She is licensed with the CA Board of Behavioral Science and received her Master’s from John F. Kennedy University. She has a private practice in San Francisco and Burlingame.
Kristin believes therapy is a meaningful experience that offers a supportive and confidential space to explore aspects of one’s life and relationships. She provides brief and long term counseling services to children, adolescent, adults, couples, and families. For more information regarding Kristin’s practice, please visit her website, KristinSouthwick.com.
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Lovely Kristin…and sometimes new or unexpected people enter our lives who seem to “get us” in a way others we have known a long time perhaps do not…Thanks for the article!