7 signs your work is more fulfilling than your romantic relationship

7 signs your work is mora fulfilling than your romantic relationship7 signs your work is mora fulfilling than your romantic relationshipLets face it. It can be hard to pull yourself away from work.All the more so if you genuinely like your career, receive praise and promotions for burning the midnight oil, and especially when you seeexecs like Elon Musk and Jack Ma boastingabout the extreme lengths they will go to for their careers.But research has shown that its our relationships outside of work thatmake us the happiest in the long run.The good news? A few small changes can go a long way in resetting your relationship while still honoring your passion for your career.Recognizing theres a problem is half the battle. So here are seven signs your work is more fulfilling than your romantic relationship.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhen you say we, youre talking about you and you r company, elend you and your partnerMake sure youre being mindful, because we do live in a culture of your identity being so tethered to your work. Its very dangerous, Charreah Jackson, author of Boss Bride The Powerful Womans Playbook for Love and Success, told Business Insider.Read more9 signs youre sabotaging your marriage without realizing itIf you want to shift away from the company we (we did really well this quarter) to a more relationship-oriented we (we are thinking about getting a dog), Jackson recommends creating rituals with your partner.For example, you could decide to do something outside together every Sunday or cook together on the first of every month. Its an easy way to keep your personal life a priority and it gives you something to look forward to on a regular basis.One of the things I talk about in the book is when life gets hard, a lot of times its notlage your job or coworkers who will show up. Its your friends, your partner and your family, she said.When you receive a text from your partner, it feels more like an obligation and gets an eye-rollTexts from our partners tend to come with an unspoken deadline,Marla Mattenson, a relationship and intimacy coach, told Business Insider. If you dont respond within a certain amount of time, you know there will be consequences.The issue here may also not be the sender, but the content. As we get further into a relationship, texting tends to be less about flirting and more about logistics.Its typically not a sexy text or Hey, just sending you lots of love, Mattenson said. Its probably a When are you coming home or Will you pick up these things on the way home.Here, Mattenson recommends modeling. Send your partner the kind of texts you would like to see lighting up your phone. Think about how you can make your texts more fun or playful, even if they are about who needs to pick up the almond milk on the way home. If you feel pressed for time, consider sending an emoji to confirm that you got the not e.Obviously this depends on your relationship, but if theres still hope in the relationship, then one of the best things you can do is model the kind of behavior you would like to receive, Mattenson said.When your coworkers ask about your weekend, you dont have anything to sayIf your weekend is just recovering from your week, then your work week didnt end, Jackson said.To reclaim your weekend, you may need to be a little more proactive in how you spend your time. What do you value Activism? Time with friends? Get it on the calendar. Not only is this good in and of itself, it can also translate into a more dynamic relationship.That makes you a fun date, Jackson said. Because your partner doesnt just want to hear about work either, theyll want to hear about other things that are happening. So what else is exciting?You travel for business at the drop of a hat, but cant remember the last time you booked a trip with your partnerResearch shows that couples who engage in new activities tog ether increase their bond while also increasing happiness levels, Mattenson said. When you experience anything new, it keeps the relationship more fresh.But if youre already feeling annoyed with your partner, you may feel hesitant to commit to even more time with them. Mattenson challenges couples to go into travel with fresh eyes. Be open and your SO might surprise you.Of course, money is a question - after all, travel for work gets expensed while travel for fun gets expensive. But remember it doesnt have to be a grand European tour to feel novel. Even a day trip or afternoon hiking offers plenty of opportunities to reconnect.When you do a good job at work, you feel like others take note. In your relationship? Not so much.Praise can be highly motivating. If you know that words of affirmation make you feel validated, then you can bring that quality out in your partner in a few ways.The first is to make sure youre loving yourself.Often, people dont treat us the way we treat them. Pe ople treat us the way they see us treat ourselves, Jackson said.The second is to be direct with your partner and ask for what you need. Finally, when your partner does offer you the feedback youve solicited, let them know you appreciate it.Know whats celebrated is repeated, Jackson said. Its the saatkorn way with a three-year-old, its the same way with your 45-year-old boyfriend or your 45-year-old boss.You find yourself staying late even when your workload doesnt merit itIts common for ambitious personality types to draw more satisfaction from work, where setting difficult goals, delivering results and climbing ladders all come with the territory.If you know you get a thrill from achieving goals, why not bring that into your relationship? Mattenson recommends setting up a weekly meeting where you and your partner can discuss your relationship goals, such as becoming more patient in arguments or better articulating your needs.You can also enlist your partner to work on personal goal s with you. For example, if you want to read more, then the two of you could agree to set aside time to read while snuggled up, give each other book recommendations, or even transform part of your home into a little reading nook.If you can activate their goal-setting and ambition in relationships in a playful way, then youre going to see a whole new side of your partner, Mattenson said.This harkens back to the issue of how youre spending your time. If your partner only gets to see you when you are at your most exhausted, such in the odd moments of a 50- or 60-hour work week, then its no wonder that all you want to do is watch the game or nap.But according to Mattenson, you can create new memories with your partner while also boosting overall intimacy. She points tonew researchthat has shown that couples who take art classes or play games together increase levels ofoxytocin, a hormone associated with happiness and trust.And one sign that you may be doing better than you think? Your c oworkers and romantic partner know about each otherIts easy to assume that if one aspect of your life is going well, then you must be making sacrifices somewhere else. Right?But life doesnt have to be so segmented. Our work and personal lives are not in competition with each other, but can actually bolster one another. According to Jackson, one indication that youve figured this out is if your coworkers and your significant other know about each other.If your partner can cheer you on and offer advice during the ups and downs of your work day, and your coworkers know enough about your partner to ask after them, you might want to consider giving yourself more credit.Its not about balance, Jackson said. Its about integration and harmony.This article originally appeared on Business Insider.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily sc hedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people