In some cases, career advice can actually apply to more than your job. When viewed through the right lens, it can actually be great guidance for life in general, allowing you to derive more value from the information.

Whether you are looking to improve your professional or personal life, here is some advice that can apply in either case.

When it comes to your personal and professional relationships, clear communication really is the key. Miscommunications can lead to serious hardships, so strive to avoid being vague or ambiguous when you speak with anyone in your life. Similarly, don’t withhold critical details if you have the ability to share them.

By communicating with confidence and being direct and open during discussions, you can make sure you are well understood. Then, just make sure to give everyone else involved in the conversation your full attention when they speak, and you can improve nearly any relationship, both inside and out of the office.

At some point, life will throw you a curveball; it’s just the way it is. No matter how far ahead you plan or how organized you are, you are going to have to wing it occasionally.

However, when this occurs, don’t get down on yourself. No one is prepared for every possibility all of the time. Being ready for everything just isn’t realistic, so don’t hold yourself to that standard.

Ultimately, life is unpredictable by nature, and you won’t always know what you’re doing. And that’s okay. Give yourself a break and do the best you can.

While being open to feedback is a must if you want to improve professionally or personally, you aren’t required to implement every piece of advice you get. Each person you encounter is going to have a different perspective, and there’s a reasonable chance they don’t understand the full picture.

All you actually need to do is consider what they have to say. If their advice doesn’t align with your goals, preferences or reality, you can set it aside if that feels like the best call for you.

Sometimes, the idea of something is more attractive than the reality. Once you give the activity a whirl, it becomes clear it doesn’t align with your interests. And, when that happens, it’s OK to let it go.

There is nothing wrong with changing course on occasion. If you tried something and you don’t love it, feel free to leave it behind. Similarly, if you used to enjoy something but you don’t anymore, setting it aside might be a smart move.

Ultimately, we only have so much time in work and life, so making sure you can pursue the stuff you enjoy and limit things you don’t is just smart. If you’d like to learn more about advice that can apply to both your personal and professional life, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our recruiters today and see how our career management expertise can benefit you, or browse our newest job openings on your own time.