Avoiding a Divorce - Getting the Work/Life Balance Right


by Chris Norton - Date: 2007-04-13 - Word Count: 593 Share This!

If you think a poor Work/Life balance may be causing your relationship to fail, take a look at these points and see if there is something you can do to improve the situation. Consider Your Priorities - While doing well at work can be hugely rewarding, you have to ask yourself how important that success to you is. Jobs don't last forever but marriages are supposed to. If you feel you aren't being appropriately rewarded for both your time and effort in your job, it might be worth considering looking elsewhere. Many forward-thinking companies are beginning to realise that they can be much effective companies with well motivated happy staff as opposed to stressed employees. At the end of the day it's a simple question which is more important to you, your job or your marriage?

Not the quantity of time, it's the quality - Too often people think if they spend more of their time at home their relationship will instantly improve. While time certainly is important in the equation it doesn't solve the problem in isolation. A few hours of quality time where you both have fun and enjoy yourself is worth much more than all the time in the world if you are stressed and thinking of other things. Try to do things with your free time, even if it's just sitting in front of the telly watching a film you saw when you first got together. Give it your full attention, it will be really worthwhile.

Don't be a perfectionist - You might have taken time off work to plan that perfect meal for your anniversary but you mucked the starter up. Don't let it spoil the occasion. The less free time you have the more likely you are to want that time to be perfect. If you put too much pressure on yourself it is inevitable something will go wrong. Don't be a perfectionist, enjoy the moment and time you spend together.

Get Help - for many couples the idea of approaching someone for professional relationship help is hugely daunting. It shouldn't be. Just about every couple experiences difficulties in their relationship at one point or other. It's normally those who don't get an outside opinion that end up splitting up. Approaching a therapist is one of the most positive things you can do to try and avoid a divorce.

Plan Ahead - If you find you are increasingly busy, it's important to plan ahead. This goes for work as well as your personal life. Think about when you are going to be busy at work and plan your diary accordingly. You are never going to be able to predict all your work commitments in advance but some forward planning can certainly help cut down on late nights at the office. It's worth taking the same attitude with your personal life. While spontaneity is romantic that doesn't mean a meal or date planned in advance can't be. Knowing you are going to be spending some quality time together soon can make the difficult periods that little bit easier.

Understand Your Life Period - It's inevitable certain times of your life are going to be busier than others. If you've just had kids of course you are going to have less time. Similarly if you have set up your own company you might be more stressed. Accepting this means you understand that while you may be busy that doesn't mean your relationship should suffer.

Nobody wants their marriage to end in divorce; taking some positive relationship action can be the difference between a happy and contented couple and two unhappy divorcees.


Related Tags: divorce, family law, divorce solicitors, relationship breakdown, armchair advice

Chris Norton writes for Armchair Advice. Armchair Advice is a UK website providing specialist job loss and relationship advice. Whether you require emotional support, financial advice, employment law or divorce solicitors, you can find them all at Armchair Advice.

For more information please visit Armchair Advice.

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