In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for the well-being of individuals and their relationships. This article highlights the story of a married US Army Reserve couple who have successfully managed to strike this balance while being
deployed together in the Middle East.

A Unique Love Story

The couple, who have been married for thirteen years, met while deployed in Iraq in 2008. As dual-military couples, they face unique stressors, but like many others, they have managed to maintain a happy, healthy, and successful marriage throughout their military career. They represent the three percent of dual military couples serving in the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.

Establishing Boundaries and Routine

To maintain a work-life balance, the couple has established a routine that helps them set boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Planning is key in their marriage, and they try to keep their downtime activities similar to what they would do outside a deployed environment. They have regular date nights and go off-post to spend quality time together.

Flexible Work Hours and Mental Health

The discussion on flexible work hours, work-life balance, and mental health has been ongoing in HR discussions. Flexible working hours have been proven to improve mental health and quality of life. It is necessary to define boundaries to maintain a work-life balance within a flexible work framework. Work-life balance requires constant work and adaptation as circumstances change.

Challenges of Divorce Later in Life

On the other hand, couples who get divorced later in life face greater financial challenges than their younger counterparts. Divorce can upend retirement plans, and couples who have been together longer have more intertwined lives and assets. There is less time to recoup financial losses due to divorce, and non-working spouses may have to venture back into the workforce after many years away. Between 1990 and 2017, the divorce rate doubled for older people, with one in four divorces being among people over 50.