New Data: Happy Relationships Lead to Better Work Performance

For many, being a hard, dedicated worker is a positive trait, and it can help you work your way up the ladder in your career. Men often strive to overachieve at work so they can make more money and better provide for their families. But what happens when your work starts becoming a priority over your relationship with your partner and children?

For a man who is trying to give their family the life they deserve through hard work, finding a good work-life balance can be hard. That lack of balance can lead to conflict within your home, which you may think is the price you must pay to provide for your family.

Well, that may not be the case. A new study from Ours, an online couples counseling service, found that the key to better work performance is having a happy, healthy relationship. They surveyed 1,000 people about balancing work and relationships, and the results may surprise you.

Balancing Work and Family Is Difficult, but It’s Worth It

If you think it’s difficult to be successful in both your relationship and your career, you’re not alone. In their survey, Ours found that 75% of people think it’s difficult to have both a successful career and a successful relationship. While many people believe this, it’s not necessarily the case. There are plenty of people who are succeeding in their relationships and their careers, but it’s because they’ve found balance.

The team at Ours asked people how much they agreed with the statement, “I perform better at work when I am in a happy, healthy relationship (compared to when I am single).” Over 75% of people agreed or strongly agreed with this statement.

Better work performance is what leads to higher pay and promotions within any company, and this is why it’s important to ensure that your relationship is in a good place.

Is Your Job Harming Your Relationship?

Oftentimes, men learn to prioritize their careers over all else, and this can lead to overworking themselves while also harming their relationships. More and more jobs are demanding more of their workers, which can lead to signs of burnout as well as turmoil with your partner.

Younger generations are starting to shift their priorities. Half of people ages 31 to 40 and 45% of people ages 25 to 30 say they’d consider leaving a job if it’s causing a strain on their relationship. This is compared to only 25% of people ages 51 to 60 saying the same.

When your job is causing arguments at home, it can lead to a paradoxical situation. As you now know, a happy relationship can boost work performance. However, conflict in your relationship can make you perform worse. In the survey, 80% of people say they can’t focus at work when they’re in conflict with their partner.

If your job is causing you to work more, leading to more arguments at home, it may be making you worse at your job. For some people, finding a less demanding job is the best way to find success in both their careers and their relationships.

How To Work Through Conflict When You’re Out of Balance

There are many ways that your job can cause conflict within your household. You may regularly run late or miss important events in your children’s lives, and it can take away time with your significant other. It’s also common to not fully be present when you are spending time with your family because your mind is at work or you’re using your phone to take care of business.

The reality is that conflict arises because your partner and your children love you and want to spend time with you. Unfortunately, many men don’t have the proper tools to open up about their own stresses or ways to resolve conflict in a healthy way. Couples counseling can be a great way for you and your partner to come together and learn how to resolve conflict as you strive to grow and achieve mutual goals.

While couples therapy is extremely helpful for those who are going through a rough patch, there are also ways to work on your relationship on your own. Many couples take advantage of couples therapy worksheets that they can download and work on together. These worksheets can help you check in on your relationship, learn how to show more appreciation for one another and find ways to get out of a negative cycle.

Work is important, and having a successful career allows you to earn more so you can buy your dream home and take your family on fun vacations. As the data shows, if you want a better chance at having a successful career, the best strategy is to ensure your home life is in order.

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