My Partner Is Working Longer Hours To Avoid Layoffs. How Do We Continue to Invest in Our Relationship?

February 13, 2009 -- Question: With layoffs looming, my partner is working extra hard to ensure his/her job is safe. What should we be doing to make sure we're still investing in the relationship?

Answer: There are lots of ways that you can stay in touch and support the person while they're going through this really terrible time. You can call them. You could email them. You could do something where you come up with a secret message that means work is really horrible so they could say it to you in code so you could give them support.

Another thing you can do that is really nice is you can just do something after work and if you have kids, after the kids are asleep, where you just watch TV and rub each other's feet because that actually releases oxytocin and makes people feel more bonded to each other.

And men and women both respond to oxytocin and you windup with feelings of attachment and being soothed and well-being, which should be really a wonderful thing to do while you're going through this tough patch.

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