In the mad rush to climb the career ladder, have you forgotten, or worse, lost hold of the little things in your life? Evidently not, as the majority of the people we've talked to tell us. Even so, there will always be some regrets.

By FELICIA WONG

Endless emails, deadlines, meetings in the office all day, and now with handphones and Blackberrys, work seems to be trailing you 24/7.

Sound familiar?

In an increasingly fast-paced world filled, many working professionals find themselves grappling to juggle the demands of work and whatever’s left of their personal lives.

So, what is it that Singaporeans hold onto amidst the hustle and bustle of life?

“Very often, we only cherish things when we lose them or are at risk of losing them”, says Jeremy Peh, 27. The cadet pilot was given a wake-up call when a young colleague was diagnosed with leukemia. “Now, I really make it a point to play soccer each week, to keep fit, and stay in touch with my kakis”, he says. “Life is unpredictable.”

Indeed, most people agree that it’s important to live for the moment. Jace Ang, 28, who recently completed a six-year bond with the military, takes time to pursue his passion for theatre and drama. He has performed in both English and Mandarin productions, and participates in productions staged by his church and other non-profit organisations.

“It’s important that we do not give up things we are passionate about. Jobs get mundane after a while. It is the things we truly enjoy that will sustain us.”

SUCCESS IS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY

Evidently, Singaporeans are not as materialistic as some people believe. Most people interviewed cited their loved ones as the most important things to hold onto.

Chock Fang, 32, counts time with her husband, family and friends as the most significant things worth holding onto. The jet-setting manager in the events industry acknowledges that she may have neglected her friends and family at some point in her career, but she’s trying to make up for it now.

“Depending on your definition of success, I do think that it is possible to have a fulfilling and successful career, while holding onto the things that matter to you. Personally, I don’t equate success with being at the top, nor a million-dollar paycheck.”

Nowadays, the devout Christian serves in church alongside her husband, and also makes effort to meet up with her family and friends, despite a busy schedule with constant traveling.

Having decided she had enough of the hectic advertising industry, Emilyn Lee, 30, took time off after returning from an overseas posting last year.

“Making money and enjoying your career would be a great bonus if they come hand in hand. But reality often shows otherwise,” she says. The avid knitter started conducting knitting lessons from home last year and enjoys her new laid-back lifestyle.

She considers handicrafts an important part of her life because these completed projects make personalised gifts for her loved ones which money cannot buy.

“In this world we are living in, there’s too much automation and technology. At least my crafting is something I can call my own”.

FAMILY REMAINS IMPORTANT

Clearly, family and friends remain an important part of everyone’s lives. But staying in touch can be a challenge.

Audrey Tan, 28, notes that it is “so easy to stay overtime to meet deadlines, but so difficult to even spend half a day bringing the family to the zoo!”

The marketing executive is also currently pursuing a part-time degree. The thrice weekly evening classes leave her with even less time for herself.

Nonetheless, Audrey has this to say, “It’s really quite a stretch, but at the end of the day, your career isn’t everything. It’s family and friends who will see you through.”

For Michelle however, a manager in the media industry, a punishing schedule means sacrificing time with her boisterous eight month-old baby, even though she would dearly prefer to spend more time with him. “I only get to spend an hour and a half with him every night, if I’m lucky”, she sighs. “That’s life, what to do?”

WE CAN’T ALWAYS HOLD ON

Indeed, despite our best efforts, there will always be things we have to let go off. The reality of the working world has hit recent graduate Alan Seow particularly hard. His demanding job as a financial analyst has made 15-hour work days a norm, leaving him with 71“hardly any time except to grab dinner at 11pm and go to sleep”.

The former part-time fitness trainer has had to forego his frequent gym sessions. He now only manages to hit the gym on Sundays, a far cry from his previous schedule of four times a week. “Getting fat, losing strength and muscle mass already,” he laments.

Finally, there are people who take a realist approach, and put their sacrifices into perspective.

“At this stage in my life (where career is a top priority), I think that sacrifices are essential. You can’t have your cake and eat it”, Lorraine Tan, 27, states matter-of-factly.

Auditor Alyssa Tan, 24, agrees that now is the time for her to concentrate on her career, even though she is quick to add that, “When I’m older, my family will be my main focus”

A simple checklist
It’s clear that life as a young professional in today’s fast-paced and demanding society is no bed of roses. Here are some suggestions to maintain some balance in your life.

 Prioritise: Think through what really matters to you. Would a fat pay check sufficiently compensate for lost relationships or missing your kids’ childhood?

 Better time management: Are you spending more time in the office than is necessary? Cut down on idle chats and take fewer trips to the pantry. Constantly monitoring soccer scores, share prices or even checking your bids on Yahoo auctions may add up to a couple of hours that could have been used to complete your work instead!

 Take work home: With remote access, thumb drives and email, you no longer need to be physically in the office to be efficient. You could enjoy dinner with your family or friends, and then spend a couple of hours after that to complete your work. That beats trudging home at 9pm and having instant noodles alone. But be careful not to let work take over all your time at home either.

 Be realistic: Productivity and efficiency dips when you are pushed beyond your limits. If you are constantly struggling to complete your tasks, it may be time to evaluate your workload and/or working style. Speak to your superiors to find a better solution.

 Multi-task: Instead of sitting idle while commuting, try to get work done on your laptop, or jot down ideas which you can quickly pick up on later. Try to utilise these windows of time which may help shave off the extra hours you potentially have to put in.