"Work-Life Balance" is quite the buzz phrase in psychology. In fact, the private practice where I'm employed specializes in helping people gain that balance.

It may be important, but it can also be elusive. In my experience mediating divorces, I find the lack of work-life balance can lead many couples toward infidelity and, ultimately, divorce.

Just last week, an article was published on the matter. It stated the obvious--that social media has made it easier than ever to be unfaithful, and many people use social media to "unwind" after a long day at work.

But, it also brought up the not-so-obvious--the idea that many people have a difficult time separating work from life, and that leads many people to start a relationship with a "work wife" or a "work husband." As the article states, "they spend the entire day with these coworkers, eating meals together, gossiping together, meeting up for happy hour and swapping funny emails."

Even if a physical line is never breached, an emotional line is easy to cross.

I try to keep these things in mind when mediating divorce or counseling couples--it's not easy to "unplug" from work and keep healthy boundaries with co-workers, but it just may save your marriage.

Here's a link to the article: Work-Life Balance and Infidelity

Britt