5 Warning Signs Your Business Is Killing Your Relationship

When the conversation about quality time starts, you better be paying attention.

Running your own successful business is great, especially when it creates financial freedom. But many business owners get stuck in the trap of working around the clock. Burying your head in the sand with the intention of working 24/7 may ultimately cost a high price. Unless you juggle your business and your personal life effectively, relationship breakdown will manifest.

Incidentally, there are warning signs pointing to the direction of relationship destruction. Ignorance has an adverse effect, which ultimately can lead to killing your relationship. The following are some of the fundamental relationship warning signs.

1.  Endless arguments about lack of time.

Not enough quality time with your spouse is one of the main relationship killers. Running your own business is a blatant time stealer. Working more than 40 hours each week, excluding weekends, coming home and jumping on the laptop or computer, having to attend networking events, meetings, and other business functions and tasks demand lots of time.

This will affect the quality time you spend with your spouse, causing you to grow apart. Feeling alienated and overburdened is a recipe for pushing your spouse to do their own thing. Not only that, but resentment will give birth to arguments and lead to frustration and a toxic environment in the home.

Prioritize family time. Develop a schedule and slot in quality relationship time, business time and social time. Be flexible and don’t put your business before your relationship. Also, outsource tasks to freelancers or contractors that do not require your attention and free up more of your time.

2.  Burnout puts stress on your relationship.

Not only will burnout cause emotional, mental and physical tiredness, it puts enormous strain on a relationship. Fatigue feeds irritation and stress. And stress can push you over the limit, inducing outbursts of anger. On top of that, burnout induces tension, exhaustion, lack of motivation, constant headaches, insomnia, reduced energy levels and other negative emotional and physical symptoms.

Ignoring these warning signs can destroy your relationship. Take steps to fix the problems now. When burnout kicks in, stay on top of it by getting a good night’s sleep, drinking less caffeine and alcohol and eating healthy and exercising. Take a long lunch break and lots of small breaks during the day, and get regular health checkups at the doctor's.

3.  Business talks dominates conversations.

Let’s face it. Owning a business is similar to having a new baby to the family. It’s consuming. It’s exciting. It fuels your passion. You could easily live and breathe your business. Gradually, it becomes the center of every conversation. All well and good if you’re single. However, in a relationship, you must identify that the distinction between business talk and relationship talk may become blurry. This isn’t healthy and could force your spouse to wonder where they fit in your life. In the end, non-stop business talks create division. You could be physically present but mentally absent, cocooned in your own business world.

Don’t allow business talk to control your attitude and kill your relationship. Know when to switch off. Stimulate personal conversations. Set aside designated time to update your spouse about business happenings. In addition, arrange regular date nights for light-hearted fun. Demonstrate your commitment to your relationship.

4. Financial instability can lead you down the divorce path.

Having a guaranteed and regular salary each month stops when you become self-employed. The stability of a boss paying your wages has been replaced by a nail-biting uncertainty. The uncertainty of a steady income is one of the drawbacks of running a business. Coupled with the fear of losing all, tension mounts between you and your spouse. Money quarrels are marriage breakers. It produces disagreements, empowers negativity and snaps teamwork between you. Usually, this indicates the beginning of the open door to divorce.

This age-old problem in marriages is not impossible to resolve. Agreeing there is a financial crisis is a good start for dealing with the dispute. Although some couples find it difficult to talk about money, keeping lines of communication open is vital. Other steps could include setting up a budget system and opening a joint bank account. If your spouse works, their wages will help pay the bills.

Finally, don’t rule out visiting a financial adviser or a marriage counselor who helps entrepreneurial couples.

5. Lack of emotional support from your spouse.

Your spouse’s support is crucial to your business success. Not supporting your dream or vision, especially during rocky times can lead to business failure. Perhaps they feel threatened because your business dominates the relationship. Or maybe they think it will fail. On the other hand, could it be you’ve changed from the person you used to be? Whatever the case, this presents a challenge.

How do you fix it? Lavish lots of attention on your spouse and make them feel secure and appreciated. Don’t let the business come between you. Find out their concerns. Make important decisions together. Ask for their ideas and listen to what they have to say. Share business struggles or successes and plan together. Stay committed to each other.

Although running your business is a big deal and could kill your relationship, it doesn’t have to be that way. Work on promoting a better balance between the two. Careful consideration, precise planning, commitment, dedication, and quality time together, good communication and knowing when to switch from business to relationship mode will promote a healthy work-life balance.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com
Image Credit: Shuttershock

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