Many Americans bring their work home with them from the office. This is due to the ever-increasing demands of many occupations. However, bringing actual work home does not account for the stress that many bring home to their house. The reality, though, is that forty-hour workweeks are a thing of the past for full-time employees today.
In some jobs, there’s no choice for employees other than to work long hours to retain their job. It can, therefore, seem convenient to bring work home from the office. But, it is important to note that it’s also extremely challenging not to bring home stress from that work as well.
Recent research suggests that we should be more attentive to the stress from these increased workloads, regardless of whether the actual work is brought home or not. Unfortunately, there are real relationship costs if work stress is left unchecked.
Research into How Work Stress Affects Your Life
In a study published in the Journal of Management, researchers surveyed people age 35 and older. Participants were mostly heterosexual and worked full-time. They were all asked to complete an online survey three times a day, each survey having a particular focus. In the morning, the participants replied to questions about whether they had sex during the night and examined their current mood. The afternoon survey focused on satisfaction at work. During the evening, survey participants reflected on whether they experienced any conflicts balancing work and their personal lives.
Researchers found that people bringing home work-related stress, are less likely to have sex with their partner. This tells us, not surprisingly, that our personal lives and work lives affect one another. The results of the study applied both to men and women.
How Sex Improves Work Performance and Reduces Stress
Keith Leavitt at Oregon State University, who was in charge of the study, notes that we experience neurochemical changes when we have sex. Sex activates dopamine and oxytocin in the brain, which puts us in a better mood. Participants who reported a better mood in the morning might have been experiencing the residual neurochemical effects from having sex the night before.
Because the study focused on the workplace/management perspective of sex and relationships, it didn’t explain why bringing work stress home harms one’s sex life. However, it is pretty straightforward as to why stress could be a problem for couples. Less stress in your life leads to feeling more relaxed, which is needed for anyone to be interested in being sexually intimate. Leavitt also explained that sex improves the quality of sleep. He stated that being well-rested, in turn, creates more self-control and allows partners to focus more effectively on work the next day.
Controlling Stress Makes a Big Difference
The bottom line is that the study underlines the problems associated with stress in our lives. How we manage stress makes a big difference. Interestingly, Leavitt also discussed that having sexual intercourse with one’s partner had a greater effect on work performance the following day compared to other kinds of non-intercourse related sexual activity.
Tips to Follow if You’re Struggling to Manage Work Stress
If you are struggling to manage work stress, try to find ways to transition from work to home. Some ideas include:
- Playing relaxing music in the car
- Meditating (there are ways to meditate while driving safely)
- Exercising after work at the gym or at home to blow off steam
- Participating in an after-work club or recreational sport team
It’s clear that stress, left unchecked from work, can spill over and affect your personal life. If you try the above tips and still struggle to process work-related stress before going home, don’t hesitate to seek out couples counseling. Talking to a professional counselor will help, not just to cope with work stress, but it can help you learn to consistently relax and enjoy a higher quality of life.