Supporting relationships across Wales: Relate Cymru launches new all-Wales telephone number and extra sessions to accommodate our busy lifestyles
This week sees the launch of Relate Cymru’s new telephone number and additional counselling appointments for people in Wales.
The new 0300 003 2340 telephone number comes as the charity also makes more counselling appointments available on Saturdays and weekday evenings in order to fit in with people’s busy lives.
Chief Executive Gwilym Roberts explained, “We have listened to client feedback that people are finding it difficult to manage their work-life balance, often feeling torn between the pressures of work and personal life. Relate Cymru is delighted to be able to offer support across the country through our new phone line, which will make our support more accessible. We are also providing more weekend and evening appointments as part of our full range of services, which also includes telephone counselling and online livechat. Our priority is to reach people how, when and where they need us.”
Relate Cymru is the largest provider of relationship counselling in Wales and also offers sex therapy, family mediation, child contact services and support for families experiencing domestic violence. The charity provides information and support for individuals, couples, families and young people at all stages of relationships.
Relationship Counsellor Gwen Ellis added: “It can often feel as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week. And while we rush around trying to fit more and more activities into less and less time, it is often our relationships that suffer.”
Gwen’s tips for how to re-align your work-life balance:
Speak up
If you’re feeling stressed at work, talk to your manager about your workload. Sometimes it can help to review priorities together to help you schedule your work. Employers need to be aware of where pressures lie in order to address them.
Look after yourself
Take proper breaks when you’re at work, regularly skipping lunch or not drinking enough water during the day will only make you feel worse. Exercise helps to reduce stress levels so join a gym or go for a long walk after work. Taking time out to have a long bath or watch a film can also help you relax and disconnect from work pressures.
Switch off
Try to set a deadline each day to switch off your work phone and stop checking emails. When you’re on holidays try to avoid taking work calls or picking up emails and spend time relaxing with your friends and family.
Get help
If you’re going through a particularly demanding time in your life, get as much help as you can. Ask a friend to help with errands or ask a sibling or grandparent to babysit. You’d do the same for them if the situation was reversed.
Schedule quality time together
Lots of people feel it’s far too formal to schedule time together as a couple or as a family. But sometimes setting aside regular time to see each other is the only way to make it happen. Agree a regular day when you can spend quality time with your partner, family or friends.
Consider your priorities
If you’ve tried everything above and you still don’t feel you have enough time as a couple, then you may have to have a long hard look at your priorities. Are there activities in your life that you should seriously consider dropping, at least for the time being? Sacrificing something you enjoy doing is always difficult – but are you willing to risk your relationship instead?
How we can help
If you’re finding it hard to manage your work/life balance and you’re worried it’s damaging your relationships, there are various ways Relate Cymru can help. Contact us on 0300 003 2340 or visit www.relatecymru.org.uk to find out more information about our services and how a Relate Cymru counsellor could help.
