Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

Confessions of workaholics who chose work over relationships

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Oct 15, 2023, 01:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/5

Confessions of workaholics

Workaholics who prioritize their careers over relationships often find themselves facing personal and emotional consequences. These confessions reveal the sacrifices, regrets, and insights from individuals who have chosen the demanding path of work at the expense of their personal lives and connections with loved ones.

2/5

“I felt devoid of meaningful connections”

For years, I was a proud workaholic. My career was everything to me, and it consumed my life. I had a high-paying job in a demanding field, and I believed that the more I worked, the more successful I would become. As a result, my relationships suffered. I missed countless family gatherings, neglected my friendships, and even chose work over romantic partners.

One day, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was sitting alone in my empty apartment, surrounded by my achievements but devoid of meaningful connections. The sacrifices I had made for my career left me feeling isolated and unfulfilled. It took a wake-up call like this to make me realize that I had chosen work over relationships, and I needed to change.

3/5

“It hit me when I saw the disappointment in my daughter’s eyes”

I was the classic workaholic. My friends used to joke that my office was my real home. I was addicted to my job, and it cost me dearly. My family had begged me to spend more time with them, but I always had an excuse related to work. I missed my kids' school events, anniversaries, and even my own parents' milestone celebrations.

Then came a moment that shook me to my core. My daughter had her first dance recital, and I was miles away in a meeting. She danced beautifully, but I wasn't there to see it. The disappointment in her eyes when I finally arrived was heartbreaking. That was the day I realized I had let work overshadow my family, and I regretted every missed moment.

4/5

“My partner told me they couldn't continue like this”

I was a workaholic, proud of my career achievements but oblivious to the damage I was doing to my personal life. I constantly put work first, leaving my partner feeling neglected and unimportant. I didn't realize how strained our relationship had become until they sat me down for a serious conversation.

My partner told me they couldn't continue like this, feeling like they were competing with my job for my attention. It was a wake-up call that brought me to my senses. I had to make a choice – my relationship or my career. I chose to prioritize my partner, and it was the best decision I ever made. My work may have taken a hit, but my relationship flourished.

5/5

“My friends stopped inviting me out”

I was a workaholic by choice, or so I thought. My job was demanding, and I poured myself into it, often working late into the night and on weekends. My friends stopped inviting me out, and eventually, they stopped calling altogether. I rationalized that it was just the cost of success.

Years passed, and I found myself alone on my birthday, realizing I hadn't celebrated with friends or family for years. The isolation was crippling. I had chosen work over relationships, and the price was a life devoid of companionship. It was a harsh lesson, and I've been working to rebuild those connections ever since.


Read also: What is UNLUCKY for each zodiac sign


Read also: Why do some people fall in love multiple times?

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Are you shutting down your child’s curiosity? 4 ways parents unknowingly do so and better ways to respond
  • Ordering at a restaurant, helping with directions, and more: 7 simple ways to build a child’s confidence
  • A plant that calls for defense when it's being eaten? Study finds common bean plant secretly calls wasps to kill caterpillars on it
  • A retired soldier finds a 1,700-year-old Roman treasure while on a weekend walk and it's unlike anything ever discovered before
  • Which country has the most time zones and what it means for travellers
  • From Athirappilly to Palaruvi; 8 spectacular waterfalls to visit in Kerala this summer
  • How to have a successful marriage using Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a joyful life
  • Rice water for hair growth: The Korean beauty hack everyone talks about, but what does science actually say?
  • Inside real-estate tycoon Satish Sanpal’s ₹100-crore Burj Khalifa home: The billionaire who gifted his Baby a pink Rolls-Royce and own 40 kg of gold
Photostories
  • How often should you really wash your hair this summer?
  • Most people ignore Fatty Liver until it's too late: Liver transplant surgeon explains why weight loss could change everything
  • Are you shutting down your child’s curiosity? 4 ways parents unknowingly do so and better ways to respond
  • Ordering at a restaurant, helping with directions, and more: 7 simple ways to build a child’s confidence
  • 5 beautiful flowering creepers that double up as living curtains
  • Cancer before 50? Why doctors are concerned about the rise in early-onset cases
  • 10 must- try local dishes in Udaipur
  • From Athirappilly to Palaruvi; 8 spectacular waterfalls to visit in Kerala this summer
  • Rice water for hair growth: The Korean beauty hack everyone talks about, but what does science actually say?
Explore more Stories
  • 5
    How often should you really wash your hair this summer?
  • 5
    Are you shutting down your child’s curiosity? 4 ways parents unknowingly do so and better ways to respond
  • 8
    Ordering at a restaurant, helping with directions, and more: 7 simple ways to build a child’s confidence
  • 11
    10 must- try local dishes in Udaipur
  • 6
    5 beautiful flowering creepers that double up as living curtains
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Relationships
  • /
  • Love & Sex
  • /
  • Confessions of workaholics who chose work over relationships
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © Jun 8, 2026, 06.41AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service