It’s my job as a Houston relationship counselor to think about marriages and how to help couples fully appreciate one another. But what happens when your job doesn’t require you to think about relationships—and maybe is so consuming that you often ignore your significant other? In today’s work-oriented culture, many people are working significantly more than a 40 hour work week, and long hours at the office can often lead to stress and marriage problems. So what can you do if work is taking a toll on your love life?
Tips for Finding a Balance from the Houston Relationship Counselor
Leave work at work. As much as possible, have a designated area for work and a designated area for your personal life. If you do find yourself needing to take work home from the office, set up a den or home office as a specific space to do that work. Try to avoid being on your phone or laptop before going to bed—not only can the practice of working in your bedroom cause sleeping issues, it can lead to marriage problems as your partner might resent you bringing your work life into a shared personal area.
Set aside time specifically for your partner. Your work week may be hectic, but nobody can work 24 hours a day. Find a time when you’re not at work and spend that time with your partner, doing something that you both enjoy and that you find relaxing. Make sure that you use this time to really talk to one another and make sure that you know what’s going on in each other’s lives. Don’t let yourself get too caught up talking or thinking about work, though.
When possible, take a break! You’re less productive when you’re stressed out and overwhelmed by work, and most businesses know that. If work has gotten too stressful and it’s possible for you to take a day off, do so. Take a long weekend with your significant other; do something outside like going for a hike, or have a relaxing staycation at home. Don’t make any plans that the two of you have to stick to and enjoy not having anywhere to be for a few days. After a long weekend, you’ll likely feel recharged and more capable of dedicating time to both work and your relationship.
Talk to a Houston relationship counselor. Sometimes if you’re in the midst of marriage problems and you’re swamped with work, it can be difficult to figure out what to do. You may want to repair your relationship, but you don’t know how to do that when you’ve got work stress on your plate as well. When that happens, consider talking to a Houston relationship counselor who can help you and your partner come up with ways to focus on your marriage.
