6 Rules to Live By For a Healthy Career

First job – yay! We’re not going to lie: It’s going to be a bumpy ride in the beginning but that’s OK because your first job is essentially a learning curve with mistakes made and lessons learned. Plus, it will also be your first ticket into the realities of the working world, which sometimes can be a harsh and challenging one!

Not to worry; like everyone else, you’ll get through this challenging period. To help you navigate it, here are some rules on how to survive your working life en route a healthy career.

#1 Respect everyone
Treat everyone with respect regardless of position and status because you’ll never know when you’ll be on the short end of the stick. But it doesn’t mean you let people step all over you. Know when enough is enough and when to stand up for yourself (after all, you gotta watch out for number one – you!).

#2 Avoid office romance
The idea of being in a relationship with a colleague might seem cute at first but in the long run, it might not do good for your career. Where do you draw the line between work and personal life, especially if you and your beau are working on the same project? Plus other colleagues might start sticking their noses into your business, and not to mention the endless problems that’ll arise if a break-up is to happen!

#3 Speak up at the right time
To show that you’re part of the team, you should share your ideas and opinion. But it is equally important to know when to voice it out. Speaking out at the wrong time could jeopardise your career and also work relationships with your colleagues. So do this: Before speaking up, think of whether whatever you’re about to say will cause a conflict of interest or will hurt anyone’s feelings. If you’re going to disagree, be prepared to back it up with facts.

#4 You’re on your own
Team work and all, yes. But ultimately, it’s up to you to make or break your career. So don’t assume that people will help you; you’ve got to figure it all out on your own and come up with your own ideas and solutions. But if someone does go all out to give you a helping hand, be grateful.

#5 Be ready for criticism
Like it or not, you will be criticised and judged for the work you do… or don’t. It’s not a nice feeling, especially when you’ve put in so much work. What really matters is how you handle it. Take all forms of criticism with an open mind. Don’t take it personally (it’s just work!). Plus, criticism equals to feedback, and most of the time, feedback will help you be better at your job.

#6 Focus on yourself!
At the end of the day, you are your priority. So if you want to succeed in your career and have a healthy and happy working life, put your growth, wellbeing, happiness and family first. Don’t let your job and the people you work with make you feel guilty for choosing what matters most to you.

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