Many people are part of what’s known as a dual-career couple (DCC), or couple in which both partners work. Statistics show that 81% of women and 63% of men are part of a dual-career couple. As you may have personally experienced, it can be challenging to balance, especially when there are children or other responsibilities involved. Here are a few helpful things to consider when it comes to dual-career couples.
Champion Each Other’s Careers
- Show interest and curiosity in your partner’s work and what drives them to do that work.
- Communicate regularly with each other about goals, challenges, support needs, boundaries, etc.
- Celebrate victories together, such as milestones, accomplishments, or promotions.
Share Household Duties
“While 70 percent of men in opposite-gender DCCs believe they share household duties equally with their partners, only 42 percent of women agree.” 1 Further, “research shows that individuals in DCCs who share home responsibilities equally are less likely to feel burned out.”1 Sharing the burden of household duties equally is essential for supporting the mental health of you and your partner.
- Communication is key again… be clear about the expectations that both of you have, the things that need to be done, and the role each of you will play in completing those tasks.
- Consider developing a chore chart or organizational system to distribute the household duties on a daily / weekly / monthly basis. Remember to review your plan, especially when changes happen.
- Work together on household projects to avoid either partner feeling overwhelmed.
Make Time for Family and Your Relationship
- Be mindful of staying present when you are home with your family. There will always be an email to send or work to do, but save that for work time.
- Set hard stop times for work to help ensure you aren’t missing out on family time.
- Make specific plans for activities with your loved ones and follow through on participating.
Work on Creating Balance
- Discuss ways to share schedules or regularly check in with each other about plans.
- Recognize that give and take is important for a healthy relationship, and be willing to listen to your partner’s feelings and needs.
- Express appreciation and encouragement toward each other.
Find Help When Needed
Even the strongest relationships require work, intention, and commitment to be successful. If you feel that your relationship could stand to be strengthened, your EAP is a great resource to utilize for couples counseling.
Source: (1) Chen, C., Huang, J., Obeid, M., & Zucker, J. (2022, February 14). Supporting employees in the work-life balancing act. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/supporting-employees-in-the-work-life-balancing-act.
