Send us a text! We’d love to know what you think!
Season 1 Episode 12: Balancing Acts: Work and Family Tensions Explored
The delicate balance between work and family life creates some of the most challenging dynamics in modern relationships. Diving deep into real-world tensions, we explore the common complaints that arise when careers and relationships collide.
At the heart of many conflicts is the "always working" complaint, where perception and reality often diverge dramatically. The working spouse feels they're making necessary sacrifices for family stability, while their partner experiences loneliness and a sense of taking second place to career demands. We unpack this fundamental disconnect with compassion for both perspectives.
Work travel presents unique challenges, particularly when one partner bears the full weight of family responsibilities during absences. Poor boundaries with technology create additional strain as laptops and phones infiltrate what should be protected family time. The post-pandemic world has introduced new dynamics too, with remote workers and office-goers experiencing completely different social needs at day's end.
Drawing from decades of therapeutic experience and our own personal struggles, we offer practical strategies for navigating these tensions. Setting healthy boundaries around work, communicating clearly about schedules, enlisting support during busy seasons, and prioritizing quality connection time can transform your relationship dynamics. Most importantly, we reveal why defensiveness only widens the gap when these issues arise, and how understanding the true message behind work complaints—often simply "I miss you"—can lead to deeper connection rather than conflict.
Whether you're the partner working long hours or the one feeling left behind, this episode provides a roadmap for maintaining intimacy when work and family compete for your attention. Subscribe now and join our community of couples committed to building stronger relationships through understanding and intentional connection.
Dr. Jenna and Dr. Nari are the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists behind the Coupled Podcast. They both have private practices where they work with individuals, couples, and families in Florida. The two are ready to shake up the world of couples therapy and want to extend resources beyond the couples they see in their private practices.
If you like this episode and want to know more about taking the next step to improve your communication, connection, and intimacy, head over to our websites to learn more about our Staying Coupled and Getting Coupled courses. These online courses give you the flexibility to improve your relationship from the comfort and convenience of your home. The Staying Coupled course is for couples who want to do the work to connect, communicate, and have the healthiest relationship possible. The Getting Coupled course is for premarital couples wanting to learn the essentials for a successful marriage. Topics in both courses include the main issues couples face:
For more information, visit drjennascott.com/courses or drnarijeter.com/courses
Disclaimer: This podcast is not a substitute for therapy. If you’re struggling, we encourage you to seek support from a licensed therapist in your state. Our relationship suggestions and content may not be applicable or advised for relationships with intimate partner violence (IPV). If you need resources, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233.
