Your and Your Partner's Careers

Contextual Resource: Your and Your Partner's Careers

Contextual Resource: Your Career and Your Partner’s Career

People who work usually spend a good portion of their days devoted to their jobs. Stresses related
to work or family life often spill over into the other area. Both of these areas of life require a great
deal of time, energy, and effort to keep them running smoothly. Therefore, even though careers and
relationships are usually thought of as being separate part of life, it is important to consider their
connections when you seek to build relationship resources. Work to establish a satisfying balance
between your relationship and your careers that allows you to promote positive development in both
areas.

Strategies for increasing your and your partner’s career resources

1. Check with the Human Resources personnel in your and your partner’s workplaces to ensure that
you are both taking full advantage of the benefits that are available to you that could provide support
to your relationship and family.

2. Develop a strategy or ritual that helps you to leave work-related stressors at work. For example,
some people find it helpful to listen to soothing music on their commute home so that they are
relaxed and refreshed by the time they arrive home at the end of a long day at work.

3. Discuss with your partner both of your short and long-term career goals. Include a conversation
about how you can manage any challenges that could arise in your relationship as you pursue these
career goals.

4. Talk with others who work in your field to learn about how they balance the needs of their families
and relationships with the unique demands of your particular career or profession.

5. Speak with a career counselor in your area for additional guidance about career opportunities in
your field and strategies for balancing work and family life. You may be able to locate one through a
local college or university (or your alma mater) or by searching one of the databases included in the
Finding a Counselor section of the Relationship Resource Network.