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Odd Hours

At odds with your partner over the hours you work? Here's how to overcome the grind for a little more personal time

By Karen Sherman, Ph.D. Updated: May 22, 2009
Hitchedmag.com
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Question: My irregular work hours are really starting to tick off my partner. I can't quit, so what can I do?
 
Answer: Back in the ol' days, the woman stayed home while the man worked 9 to 5. Now, those days are now just a memory. Today's reality is more than likely that both partners are working and that the hours are far from the traditional 9 to 5. It's also not unusual that one partner -- and it could easily be either the man or woman -- may be working unusual hours. Unfortunately, what has also changed about our society is that you don't have the choices you had in years past -- you have a job and you keep it for the sake of finances.
One of the key points I always make to my couples is the importance of making your relationship a priority. After all, if you keep putting other things first, eventually just like a plant that hasn't been attended to with proper water and sunlight, there's no relationship to come back to. Certainly a couple who has these unusual work hours is going to be challenged to make sure their relationship takes precedence.
Recognizing There Is An Issue
Before any problem can be dealt with from a practical point of view, the emotionality of the issue must be addressed because when people are upset emotionally, they aren't able to think clearly. So, it's important the person who has the unusual hours validate the unhappiness of their partner.
“Validation doesn't mean you have to agree”
Validation doesn't mean you have to agree, but it does mean that you have to let your partner know you understand his/her point of view. To be concrete, you might want to say something like this, "I really understand that my working these kinds of hours takes away from our time together and puts a lot of pressure on our relationship."
Even with strange schedules, there are still many things that can be done to make your relationship a priority and let your partner know they matter to you. Here are some tips I offer couples to get you started:
  • Find 15-20 minutes each week that you share in common and make that time solely for the two of you to have as down time. No business is to be discussed at this time. Use it to do things like give each other foot massages, dance together, look at old pictures and reminisce.
  • Send each other e-mails or leave voicemails to let your partner know you're thinking about them.
  • Leave a surprise note or card -- unexpected items have great value.
  • Remember to notice your partner and compliment him or her.
  • When your partner has done something, even a mundane task, make sure to be appreciative.
  • When you come home, make sure to look for your partner and spend a few minutes together before looking through the mail or listening to messages.
  • When you have a meal together, turn off the TV and don't answer the phone.
Yes, it's hard when your time together is strained. But making the most out of your time will help you beat the odds. After all, quality does beat quantity!
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Leave a comment COMMENTS6 COMMENTS
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what if you do all the little things and make time and your girl still push you away but find time to talk on the phone with her friends
A Yahoo! Contributor
wish i read this 2 years ago when my relationship with my Ex could have been saved. We both had conflicting schedules and never made the time for each other to make it work.
A Yahoo! Contributor
My way or the highway. If your job is on the line, your &quot;significant other&quot; should be cognizant of that and make things EASIER on you, not harder. One should question their motives and their need to have you more available and at their convenience. If they&#39;ve got tons of money and looks to kill, I&#39;ll make an exception. Other than that it&#39;s MY way or the HIGHWAY. Keep it pithy.
A Yahoo! Contributor
but is your job REALLY one the line? i SERIOUSLY doubt it. sometimes we take work schedules BEFORE we meet our partners, not knowing that later, it can be a problem. i can understand it if the change is TEMPORARY, but if there is some way to make your relationship easier, and that YOU&#39;RE in charge of, like changing your work schedule, then do it! trust me, your partner would be greateful for it, and will show it to you in many ways! as it stands, they are probably doing EVERYTHING they can on THEIR end to make things easier on the two of you. so stop being a jerkoff and give a lil! pulling a &quot;my way or the highway&quot; attitude, will just keep you alone. which in your case, would probably be good. heh......and if your girl is pushing you away, she&#39;s upset about something and wants you to read her mind and fix it. since you&#39;re probably NOT a mind reader, the best thing to do would be to sit down and ask what&#39;s up. or talk to her friends. there&#39;s probably a chance she wants out, but isn&#39;t woman enough to stand up and tell you that.
A Yahoo! Contributor
female here-just lost a relationship,to a significant other, of almost going on 4 years due to my work hours/job--to me the relationship superceeds the work hours or the job. Whats more important? Apparently I wasn&#39;t loved enough,because he gave up the relationship,due to the fact I had a job and made money??He wanted me to find a different job with different hours and weekends off. If I had no job and no money,then I be tagged a s a loser.What gives??Cant win for losing............relationships are too complicated in today&#39;s world,and sometimes no worth the effort.So here I am single again,but my heart is still with him,,,,,,,,,,even though he totally ignores me.
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