In today’s time-pressured world of two-income families, how do families and couples manage to find time and energy for their relationships? How do you shift gears from an aggressive, high-powered work environment to the nurturing world of relationship1s and home?

This goes to the heart of our modern dilemma: Having quality relationships and family life while meeting the ever increasingly complex demands of the workplace. Here are nine tips to help you keep the fire of your personal relationship burning as brightly as the work you do.

Make your greetings special. Say with your body language, facial expressions – with the gleam in your eyes and by your warm embrace – that you are glad to be back in your loved ones’ presence. Listen with your eyes.

Take a few minutes to fill each other in on your day. Show interest and concern for one another. Coordinate your plans. Make your greetings special, and you will establish a warm emotional tone for the rest of the evening.

Take a few extra moments to unwind, set your attitude and be at your best when you hit the door.

Use the language of intimacy instead of the language of power. Shift your style of expression from the direct, competitive, action language of the workplace to the more indirect, conciliatory and tentative language of relationships.

Your partner needs courtesy, appreciation, patience and acceptance. Take time to listen and to attend to each other’s emotional concerns.

Show your love. Make a conscious effort to enter the nurturing role. Meet needs. Be kind, considerate and easygoing. Show by your actions and your words that you care for your partner and children.
Find ways of making life less difficult for one another. Find ways to please your partner. Be gracious. Be generous. Provide support for your partner when he or she is facing a crunch time at work.

Express your love and appreciation. Give affection through touches and hugs. Keep your sexual love vital and rewarding.

Share responsibility respectfully and fairly in the home. Help your partner to make your home and family run smoothly. Men especially need to be aware of doing their part with child care and housework. Roles and responsibilities need to be negotiated and divided so one partner isn’t bearing an unfair burden.

These changes fly in the face of traditional gender roles and are not easy to make. Once new habits are formed, they will become increasingly easy and natural.

Simplify your life and lifestyle so you aren’t trying to do too much. Be clear about your values and what is reasonable in view of the many demands each of you face. This world will have you do more and more. It is a world without limits, except our own.
Much of the stress we bring into our lives is self-induced. Nobody can have it all, men or women. Temper your ambitions to allow for the other part of life that brings much joy and meaning – the bonds of love, family and companionship.

When you are home, really be at home. Concentrate on the person or activity you are engaged in. Shift attention to the new situation wholly and completely. Don’t try to do too many things at once. If you are preoccupied with something, schedule a time and address it rather than have it creep into your other activities.
Try not to bring work home. Manage your work life so that you address as many things as you can there instead of at home. If you do bring work home, coordinate with your spouse on what you need and when you plan to work on it.

Outside of that time, really “be there” for your relationship. Discourage work-related phone calls coming into your home.
Learn to enjoy leisure. Do exciting and new things together. If you can afford it, take breaks – three- and four-day weekends, mini-vacations, real vacations. Schedule and protect your vacation time from work demands. Learn to play and invite the child in your partner to come to play. Make memories. Have fun.

Keep communications alive. Give your relationship a chance. Structure time together so that meaningful communication can take place. Schedule walks together, breakfasts, lunches and a regular evening out. Plan a regular getaway weekend every three months.
Update understanding of each other. Learn something new about each other. Be curious about your partner’s emotions, thoughts and dilemmas. Plan for at least 20 minutes of meaningful talk each evening.

Track the changes they are going through and the challenges they are dealing with. Share feelings, hopes, dreams and struggles. Know when things are really right or wrong in your partner’s life.
Find a work environment and a career niche that support family values. Choose your work well. Take control of your schedule. Assert yourself appropriately.

Find role models, mentors and supervisors who care and support family life as well as the work. Where you can, influence business attitudes and policies to be pro-family.

Dr. Val Farmer is a clinical psychologist specializing in family business consultation and mediation with farm families. He lives in Wildwood, Mo., and may be contacted through his website at www.valfarmer.com

Farmer’s book, Honey, I Shrunk the Farm, can be purchased by sending a check or money order for $7.50 to: “Honey, I Shrunk the Farm,” The Preston Connection, P.O. Box 1135, Orem UT 84059.