5 Tips for Maintaining Relationships Whilst Working Away From Home
Relationships are an important part of life that we can sometimes take for granted. Whether it be your partner, your children, your parents or even your friends, these people are there to support you in times of need and help you to be the best version of yourself. However, when you work away from loved ones for extended periods of time, strains on these relationships may occur. This can be caused by communication issues, time difference, or just little to no effort being put into the relationship from either party. This can lead to major problems for one’s mental health, so it is imperative that you continue to nourish these relationships whilst working away. Below are 5 tips and suggestions on how to successfully maintain those important relationships in your life.
1. Stay Connected
The most important and most obvious rule of thumb in any relationship would be to stay connected with loved ones. Communication is key, so making it a habit to regularly call, message, or keep in touch with friends and family through social media should be a priority. Simple things like sharing photos and keeping each other up to date with what is happening in your day to day lives is crucial to ensure a feeling of normalcy and routine within the relationship. Facetiming or Skyping is also a great way to talk to friends and family as it allows you to see their faces which makes it more intimate and easier to convey emotions through a screen, ultimately making conversing more effortless as you are both more likely to be on the same page.
2. Set Expectations
Setting clear expectations with your partner can help to avoid unnecessary arguments as well as help to establish boundaries. Communicating how much time you will spend together when the FIFO partner is home as well as how much time will be spent with friends and extended family is a good way to allocate time and ensure those other important relationships are also being nurtured.
3. Plan Ahead
Planning activities and dates in advance for when you or your partner returns home from work can not only help to make the most out of the time spent together, but also gives the two of you something to look forward to while the other is away. It also makes the time you do spend together that much more special and memorable. Planning is also important as most FIFO workers end up missing special family events due to work commitments. Having the conversation of how you are going to plan these events (whether it be over Skype or brought forward/postponed) to make sure no one is missing out will make all the difference as it will prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation on the FIFO partner’s behalf.
4. Do Things Together While Being Separate
Reading the same books, watching the same movies and TV shows, listening to the same podcasts, or playing an online game together gives you and your partner or friends new topics to talk about and bond over each week. This is good as it creates shared experiences even though you are living apart, and makes you feel closer and more connected to each other.
5. Know Each other’s Schedules
When working FIFO, it is common to have an insanely busy schedule with very little spare time between working and sleeping, so it is helpful to know when your partner, friends and family are free to talk, especially when they are also most likely busy with work, home life, responsibilities, and socializing. It is also good to keep each other informed of any small or big events that are taking place such as meetings or business trips to make sure you are both aware of important dates and milestones in each other’s careers.
In addition to the above suggestions, there are thousands of other creative and fun ways to stay connected to loved ones to build and maintain healthy and happy relationships. Keep in mind, communication is the foundation for everything when it comes to long distance relationships, so it is important that you and your partner master the art and everything else will follow through.