Couples Are Borrowing This Strategy From Their Corporate Jobs to Make Their Relationships Better — And It's Working To avoid the costly and emotional toll of a breakup, couples are bringing home this common corporate strategy and applying it to their relationships.

In 2021, 689,308 divorces were reported in the 45 U.S. states that provide this information. Accordingly, there were 1,985,072 marriages in that year — meaning that the marriage rate in the U.S. was six marriages for every 1,000 people.

In short, marriages outnumber divorces each year.

Now, onto the bad news.

Many reasons can lead to a marriage crumbling, but 75% of people and couples blame a lack of commitment. In most cases, this ends a marriage. As such, many spouses are embracing a trend known as the "HR-edification of Marriage."

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HR-ification of marriage refers to the increasing use of workplace productivity tools for relationship management. Increasingly, couples seek ways to streamline their communication and planning because marriage can be full-time work.

The Pros of the HR-ification of Marriage

In terms of HR-ification of marriage, there are several potential benefits.

The first benefit is that it can encourage couples to be more intentional in their relationships. Specifically, to avoid conflict, tracking your goals, communicating your needs, and checking in regularly is crucial.

Secondly, HR-ifying marriage can facilitate a greater sharing of responsibilities between couples. In turn, it's easier to avoid resentment when you know what needs to be done and who's responsible for it.

Furthermore, the HR-ification of marriage may enhance couples' sense of connectedness. You will likely feel like you're all on the same team and working towards the same goals when you regularly check in with each other and discuss your goals.

A few specific pros of HR-ifying marriage include:

• Increased communication. Communication tools like Google Docs and Slack help couples express their goals, responsibilities, and needs to one another. The result can be a reduction in conflict and the building of a stronger relationship foundation.
• Equitable division of labor. Couples can avoid resentment by tracking household duties and dividing them up evenly.
• Greater sense of connection. Checking in with each other regularly and discussing goals can make couples feel more like a team and work towards the same goals.
• Improved productivity. Couples can maximize their relationship productivity by staying organized and tracking their progress. You can use this time to spend time with your family or pursue your interests independently.

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The Cons of the HR-ification of Marriage

Although this approach may have some benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Here are some of the cons of HR-ifying marriage:

• The process can be dehumanizing. When a marriage is treated like a business transaction, some romance and intimacy can be lost.
• It may be too rigid. Relationships don't all fit neatly into spreadsheets or to-do lists. As such, if you try to force it, you may not succeed.
• You may need to devote a lot of time to it. You may not have time to enjoy your relationship if you're constantly meeting and sending emails.

The HR-ification of marriage is ultimately a matter of personal preference. If you and your spouse find that it helps you stay organized and communicate more effectively, it could be a valuable tool for you. Alternatively, if it makes your relationship feel less romantic or intimate, you might not want to take this approach.

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It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of using workplace productivity tools to manage your marriage before using them. Be careful, however, that if you decide to go this route, you do not lose the intimacy and romance of your relationship in the process.

HR-ifying Marriage Tools

The use of productivity tools helps HR professionals communicate and automate tasks. HR-ification of marriage is no different. Remember, here are some tools you might want to consider.

• Google Calendar. You can use this tool to schedule appointments, events, and travel. Regular meetings can also be scheduled using a shared calendar.
• Calendar. Using machine learning, this calendar app simplifies your life. As you use it, it learns your contacts, schedule, analytics, and tasks. As a result, it does all the things you would typically have to do when scheduling meetings.
• Google Docs. You can create household chore lists, budgets, and to-do lists using this cloud-based word-processing platform.
• Honeydue. Using this app, you can track your spending, remind yourself when bills are due, and set financial goals together. Research has shown that healthy financial communication can help prevent divorce-related economic issues.
• Cupla. In addition to being intuitive and easy to use, Cupla's To-Do list is customizable to meet your individual needs. You can add labels, priorities, and due dates to your to-do list.

Couples can use these tools to HR-ify their marriages. Your individual needs and preferences will determine which tools you choose.

Couples can also use the following tools to manage their relationships:

• Relationship agreement templates. Couples can use these templates to define their expectations for their relationship, such as how to handle finances and chores.
• Couples counseling apps. These apps can be used to improve communication and resolve conflicts.
• Marriage trackers. Using these trackers, couples can keep an eye on the progress of their relationship.

In addition to helping couples stay organized and communicate effectively, these tools can also help them manage their finances effectively. As a result, the relationship can become stronger and more fulfilling.

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The Future of the HR-ification of Marriage

The HR-ification of marriage is a relatively new phenomenon. As such, the future remains uncertain. It is likely, however, that this trend will continue.

A contributing factor is marriage's increasing complexity. Working conditions and the economy will continue to change, so couples must find new ways to protect themselves emotionally and financially. It is possible for couples to do this through HR-ification.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Consider these tips if you're thinking about using productivity tools at work to organize your marriage:

• Start small. Make sure you don't implement too many changes at once. Begin by tracking one or two tasks. Gradually add more as you become comfortable.
• Be flexible. You don't need to be afraid of adapting tools to fit your needs. If one approach doesn't work, try another.
• Make it fun. You should aim to improve your relationship, not make it seem like work. You should both enjoy the process, so make it as enjoyable as possible.

Not everyone is comfortable with the HR-ification of marriage. But it's worth exploring if you're looking for ways to improve communication, divide duties, and achieve a sense of connection.