How to Thrive in Both Romance and Business Four ways to balance your work and relationship.

By Lisa Evans Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Wedding Favours

Relationships are never easy, but being an entrepreneur presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to balancing the demands of work with the needs of a romantic partner. After entrepreneurial drive nearly broke up their seven-year marriage, Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor overcame the challenges and wrote a book about their experience. Startup Life: Surviving and Thriving in a Relationship with an Entrepreneur (Wiley, 2013) explores the difficulties entrepreneurs and their spouses face when balancing the demands of work and romance.

"The passion, excitement, and commitment that the entrepreneur has to work are the same qualities that [they] will bring to the relationship, which seems like an advantage; but enthusiasm unbounded leads to exhaustion in both a work and relationship context," says Feld. Take these steps to improve both your business and relationship success.

Related: How to Avoid Burnout

1. Schedule together time.
Feld says setting priorities and making small schedule changes to accommodate the needs of your relationship can help strengthen your bond. Feld, a managing director at Foundry Group, never schedules high priority activities or deadlines on a Friday, as doing so is likely to create a scenario where work drifts into Friday night and even the weekend.

Feld and Batchelor are also strong proponents of monthly "life dinners" where they get out of the house and talk about the past month while setting goals for the next month. "Having a scheduled time together on the calendar can give you both something to look forward to," says Feld.

2. Stop reactive behavior.
Relationship expert Debra Macleod (www.marriagesos.com) trains executives how to manage the demands of work without losing their relationship and says in order for a partnership to be successful, entrepreneurs need to avoid reacting to every emergency. "There's a huge mental shift that needs to happen so that we learn the difference between responding to a demand for our time and reacting," says Macleod.

The next time you receive an "emergency" email during family time, ask how your reaction will impact your relationship. "Many of us assume that the relationship is a constant, that it isn't going anywhere, but that's not true," she says.

Related: How to Prevent Your Business From Ruining Your Personal Life

3. Make romance a business decision.
"Productive workers have lower stress levels," says Macleod. Think of romance as just as important to managing stress as your exercise routine or diet. "Romance is good for business because you're happy, you're clear headed [and] you have that kind of balance [that makes you more productive]," says Macleod.

4. Keep business out of your bedroom.
Transform your bedroom into a sensual escape. "Make it a place where you can go and have a retreat, and a technology-free zone," says Macleod. Put overhead lights on a dimming switch, add soft linens and extra throw pillows for increased comfort and keep the space clear of work papers and technology.

Taking a half hour before bedtime to talk, without the laptop or blackberry, is a great way to ensure you stay connected to your partner after a busy day. Be careful of your conversation topics, though. Feld and Batchelor warn the bedroom is not the place to bring up charged topics. "Your bedroom should be a sanctuary and a safe haven from the demands of the world," they say.

Lisa Evans is a health and lifestyle freelance journalist from Toronto.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

After a 12-Year-Old's Side Hustle Made Over $4,000 in 1 Day, He and His Dad Grew the Business to Nearly $50,000 a Month: 'It Takes Commitment'

Madden Forrest and his father, Steven, turned their passion for football into a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

10 Surprising and Inspiring Quotes From Brian Wilson, the Genius Behind The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson died this week at age 82, but his music is still blowing minds.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs For New Graduates With a Bachelor's Degree — and They All Start at Six Figures

According to a new report from Resume Genius, finding a high-paying job as a new grad is possible, even in this market.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

I Wish Every Entrepreneur Had a Dad Like Mine

I learned entrepreneurship by silently observing everything my dad did; a true businessman through and through. Here's why I wish every entrepreneur had a dad like mine.

Side Hustle

Use This AI-Powered Platform to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Scalable Business

Turn a side hustle into something sustainable with Sellful's ERP White Label plan.