For most of us, work has been the focus of our adult life. It may have paid the bills, but as James Fitzgerald reports in our main feature article, Nearest and dearest, it is our relationships that are more likely to have added to our overall well-being and happiness.

Maintaining the elusive 'work-life balance'
According to a study carried out by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago1, there has been a dramatic drop in people's experience of having 'close confidants' - people they can turn to for help, advice or those with whom they can discuss matters that are important to them.

The study revealed that people have nearly 30% fewer friends or family who they feel they can turn to than 25 years ago and less face to face contact with neighbours, clubs and organisations outside the home.

Researchers surmise that the internet and longer working hours are keeping people from interacting more widely with their community.

So what can we do to ensure we are giving our relationships the time they deserve and prevent work from taking over?

All work and no play?
Figures from the Work Foundation in 2003 found that nearly three quarters of full-time workers want to spend more time with their families, and a third of workers report feeling so tired when they get home that they fall asleep during the evening.

Surveys conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development show that one in five people take work home almost every day. A third of partners of people who work more than 48 hours a week feel this has a negative effect on their personal relationship.

There's no doubt that work can invade our relationships, and this in turn can affect our work. Achieving a work-life balance results in reduced absenteeism, low levels of staff turnover and a more productive, committed workforce. In fact, the DTI found that 94% of employers agreed that people work best when they can achieve a work-life balance.

Different strokes
For some, though, the workplace is where life happens. A study in 2005 by Cynthia Estlund, a law professor, found that the workplace is a 'hotbed of human relationships - of friendships, conflicts, feuds, alliances, partnerships, co-existence and co-operation'. It's no wonder that relationships at work can be as satisfying as those outside.

Of course, not everyone is a social butterfly. Social interaction can be tiring, and perhaps you're looking forward to a time when you can step off the social treadmill and spend some time on your own!

No matter what your preference, the relationships that we do have need to be nurtured. Wherever we find them - at home, at work or even online - it's clear from the research that connections with the people around us are crucial to our well-being.

Have you got a story to tell? Or any comments or questions about this article? If so, contact us today!

1 www.norc.org

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