TL;DR: If the couple is already having communication or other problems, taking a lot of business trips can exacerbate the situation.
Communication Problems
Reliance on texts or calls can lead to misinterpretations or superficial conversations. What’s more, partners may have differing schedules and time zones, making communication sporadic and even less effective. When time together is limited, it’s harder to cultivate a deep emotional connection or resolve underlying issues.
Frequent business trips can also make one partner feel neglected if the other fails to prioritize meaningful conversations during their time apart. Over time, this lack of connection may contribute to feelings of loneliness or resentment.
Physical Separation
Business travel inherently involves spending extended periods apart, reducing opportunities for bonding and shared experiences. However, sharing work-related experiences can make up for that to some extent. A 2024 study explored the sharing of work-related experiences by dual-earner couples and how it affected the partners’ well-being and relationship satisfaction. One hundred two heterosexual couples in Hong Kong underwent a pretest survey, a two-week diary study, and another survey a year later. It emerged that sharing positive as well as negative work-related experiences impacted the outcomes favorably. More specifically, husbands’ sharing had a more pronounced impact on the wife’s personal well-being in the long term, while wives’ sharing had a shorter-term effect on both partners’ personal and relational well-being.
Despite this, physical separation often means missing out on day-to-day interactions that strengthen relationships, such as sharing meals or celebrating small achievements together. These small moments accumulate and play a significant role in maintaining a strong connection.
The Impact on Physical Intimacy
Frequent trips can impact the physical intimacy in a relationship, more specifically, the frequency of sexual activity. The majority of couples report being sexually active once a week or more often (57.7% of men and 60.9% of women). At the other end of the scale are people who are only active once or twice a year: 5.2% of men and slightly more women (5.5%). Those who report sexual activity 1-3 times a month are in the middle: 35.4% of men and 32.4% of women.
Family-related daily responsibilities and especially work may leave couples tired and preoccupied. As the frequency of sexual activity declines, the risk of infidelity can increase correspondingly. Couples may find it beneficial to schedule date nights as a way of nurturing their relationship. Physical proximity fosters intimacy, but deliberate efforts to create romantic moments can mitigate the effects of distance.
Increased Work Stress
Traveling partners often deal with the pressures of work deadlines, long flights, and irregular sleep schedules, which can make them emotionally unavailable or irritable. Work-related stress leads to much more than interpersonal domestic conflict. Stress at the workplace incurs annual costs of $300 billion in the US, and almost half (43%) of US workers report feeling stressed or tense while at work. This number reaches 61% for those with lower psychological safety at the workplace.
The partner left at home can feel equally stressed, albeit for different reasons. They may feel overwhelmed managing household duties alone, leading to resentment toward the one who’s traveling. This imbalance in responsibilities can create tension and amplify existing issues in the relationship.
Coping with the Challenges of Frequent Business Trips
Couples can schedule regular video calls and share details about daily experiences to stay connected. When they are together physically, they should engage in meaningful activities, the exact nature of which depends on their individual preferences. Nature walks or hiking can help people bond because spending time in nature is relaxing. Trying new hobbies, such as dancing or learning a language, sparks curiosity and collaboration. Preparing meals as a team encourages collaboration and is an opportunity to spend quality time. Physical activities like biking or jogging can enhance health and intimacy.
Another effective strategy is to create rituals or routines that foster connection, such as morning or evening check-ins, no matter where the traveling partner is. Sharing plans for upcoming trips and involving the partner left behind in decisions can also create a sense of inclusion and reduce feelings of alienation.
Couples can also utilize technology to stay connected. Apps that allow shared calendars or collaborative journaling can help partners feel involved in each other’s lives, even when miles apart.
Exploring Professional Support
For couples who find it challenging to navigate these dynamics alone, seeking professional support, such as couples therapy, can provide tools for communication and conflict resolution. Therapists can help partners understand each other’s needs better and develop strategies to address recurring issues caused by frequent travel.
Final Thoughts
Couples that are already struggling face even more difficulties when they travel for business a lot. Spending time away from each other puts off conflict resolution. Repressed issues and denial can deepen, and it’s easy to avoid discussing problems when partners are not together. At periods of downtime, though, those can spring to the fore with even more strength than before, becoming unavoidable. It can help to discuss schedules and find ways to create stability, such as planning visits or vacations when both partners are available.
Maintaining a relationship amidst frequent business travel requires intentionality, mutual effort, and adaptability. By prioritizing communication, sharing experiences, and creating moments of connection, couples can navigate the challenges of physical distance and keep their bond strong.
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