How to Balance Work and Romance

Sometimes you’re slammed with work, and the last thing you want to worry about is your romantic relationship. However, the stress of a busy work schedule can hurt your partnership. Even if you can’t spend as much time with your love as you’d like, you can still make them feel needed.

Here’s how…

• Make every moment count

If you’re spending most of your time at work, you’ve got to make the rest of your time work for you and your partner. Instead of reading the newspaper in the morning, use those extra minutes as “together time.” Lay in bed and cuddle with your partner or sit at the table and have breakfast and conversation. Since date nights are probably few and far between, it’s important to devote every moment to your beloved when you have a special night together. Turn off your cell phone, turn off your “work” brain, and turn your attention to the one you love.

If you find that you don’t have enough time or energy for sex, make room for it on your calendar. While scheduling intimacy might not sound very sexy, your partner would probably agree that scheduled sex is better than no sex at all!

• Be more loving
  

When you can’t spend much time together, be careful not to waste your limited time bickering over little things. Be considerate of how your busy work schedule might be affecting your partner. If they resent your job, remember it’s only because they miss being with you. If arguments arise, try to give your partner the benefit of the doubt. If they’re testy or short with you, be more forgiving. Remember, your work schedule adds stress to both of your lives – so for the sake of the relationship, go easy on each other.

• Stay in touch

Being overwhelmed with work is bad enough, but crunch time often means losing touch with the rest of your life. You can stay connected with your partner by trying to “talk” daily, even if you can’t actually have a conversation. Give yourselves a deadline. For instance, “We will touch base daily by 6:30 pm.” Trust us, it works. Take advantage of technology and use spare moments to let your partner know you’re thinking of them. Although it may seem impersonal, voicemail, email, and text messages can be a great way to show you care when time is short. Especially if the message is flirty or seductive, tell them what you’d like to do later when you’re alone.

You can also use the time on a bus or airplane to write a letter to your partner. Nothing melts a heart like an old-fashioned, handwritten love letter declaring your affections. Or make the letter like a journal entry of all the things you’re thinking about but haven’t had the time to talk to them about. Either way, your partner will know that you still want to share your life even though you’re busy.

You probably aren’t even thinking about your relationship if you’re under the gun at work. But often, that’s the problem. Romance is a living thing, and it requires nourishment to stay alive. Even if you can’t give your partner as much time as you’d like, make an effort every day to show you still care.