If you’re crazy in love, a new study suggests expressing yourself via email is the way to go.

There’s a new romantic gesture on the block that just might tug at your phone-hating heartstrings: According to a new study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, sending an email can be more effective in expressing how in love you are than leaving a voicemail (no matter how adorable).

Previous research (and lectures from the family) have suggested the opposite is true—that voicemail is a more intimate way to connect with someone, and that sending emails and texts are “cold” forms of communication that you can’t properly convey emotion with.

To understand how we respond emotionally to emails, co-authors Alan R. Dennis and Taylor M. Wells worked with 72 college-age participants and tracked their psychophysiological responses. Responses were tracked by placing skin sensors on the participants’ faces, which measured muscle movement linked to positive and negative emotion, and on their feet to measure arousal. Each participant was randomly assigned to do voicemail or email first, and produce a utilitarian or romantic message first.

They found that people who sent romantic emails were more emotionally aroused and used stronger and more thoughtful language than those who left voicemails.

“When writing romantic emails, senders consciously or subconsciously added more positive content to their messages, perhaps to compensate for the medium’s inability to convey vocal tone,” Dennis and Wells wrote in the paper.

“Email enables senders to modify the content as messages are composed to ensure they are crafted to the needs of the situation. Voicemail lacks this feature,” they continued. “A sender records a voicemail in a single take, and it can be sent or discarded and re-recorded, but not edited. Thus senders engage with email messages longer and may think about the task more deeply than when leaving voicemails. This extra processing may increase arousal.”

No difference was detected in how men and women reacted, and the team found that even with utilitarian messages, email aroused more psychophysiological responses than voicemail. The results counter media naturalness theory, the commonly held belief that suggests the further we get away from face-to-face interaction, the less effective communicating becomes.

“In this case, we found people adapted,” Dennis said in a statement. “Email’s been in the popular consciousness since the 1990s, and if you look at the new generation of millennials, and that’s who we studied, they’ve grown up with email and text messaging. So it may not be as unnatural a medium as we at first thought.

“There’s a lot of theory that says email and other text communications don’t really work very well,” Dennis added. “We should probably go back and reconsider a lot of the stereotypical assumptions that we hold about email and text messaging that may not hold true when we take a deeper look at how people react physiologically.”

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Fact: Happy couples would totally make us vom if they weren’t so adorable.

As much as we want to throw up at the sight of a happy couple—especially when they do all of those cutesy things in front of us (you know, like get along), they help us forget every cynical thought we’ve ever had about relationships. Come on, admit it: You cringe on the outside, but you’ve got the warm-and-fuzzies on the inside.

Here, 9 things the Tatums of the world always do that will help you and your sig-o join their ranks:

1. They take care of themselves as much as they take care of each other

The only way to have a healthy relationship with someone else is to have a healthy relationship with yourself. Happy couples maintain their individuality as much as they maintain their coupledom, but more than that don’t project their own shortcomings onto each other. They better themselves and in turn better the relationship.

2. They re-negotiate on the regs

People’s needs change over time, leading happy couples to constantly re-evaluate and re-negotiate to make sure they don’t grow apart during rough patches—but more than that, make sure that one half of the couple isn’t making more sacrifices than the other.

3. They love each other “as is”

They love each other for who they are in the moment, not for who they “could be” in the future—or worse, what they want the other to be instead.

4. They call the shots in their relationship

Fights happen, conflict happens, and outsiders will (whether intentionally or not) get in the way of your relationship. Happy couples keep the most intimate parts of their relationship between the two of them—when drama strikes, they don’t get drunk and blab their problems to anyone who’ll listen or post abstract Facebook statuses about their feels. They hold a united front and face their problems head on. Together.

5. They don’t disrespect each other’s interests

You don’t mock his UFC obsession and he returns the favor when “The Bachelor” is on.

6. They go to bed at the same time

Not only does doing so promote intimacy, happy couples know the importance of keeping their bodies and minds in the same time zone.

7. They break routines

Yes, they’ve got their routine down to a science, but they also take the time to be unpredictable—whether it be surprising each other with concert tickets or introducing each other to new activities.

8. They put their phones away

Happy couples have real conversations that don’t involve emoticons and abbreviations. When they spend time together, they focus 100 percent of their attention on the other person.

9. They maintain intimacy

They know the whole obsessed-with-each-other honeymoon phase doesn’t last, but they also know that when it fades, it doesn’t mean the relationship is doomed. Happy couples maintain the small things: Hand holding, going out on dates, even reading together to keep the bond strong.

How do you and your sig-o keep your relationship thriving?

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Here’s how to decide if getting back together is the right thing to do… or you know, not.

Forgiving your guy for doing something stupid (or ahem, someone) is a tricky beast. If you do forgive him, you feel like a Stepford wife. If you don’t forgive him, you feel like a “Kill Bill” installment. You have to make a choice between what feels like a worse decision, and an even worse decision.

How do you know whether to forgive him or forget him? Here are 6 factors to consider as you make your decision:

1. He fessed up

If you didn’t hear about his mistakes from someone else, this is a very good sign. Guys almost always attempt to keep things like this a secret, so if he’s upset enough to spill, it shows he respects your feelings and values your relationship enough to set the record straight.

2. Your relationship

Look at your relationship as a whole: Are you happy more than you’re unhappy? Are his screw-ups few and far between? Is he genuinely sorry, or just trying to alleviate his own guilt? (You’ll be able to tell the difference, trust.) If you’ve answered yes across the board, then the option of getting back together may be a serious contender.

3. Why it happened

The context of why the faux pas happened is just as important as the happening thing. How was your relationship at the time? What were you two going through? Even though your bond hitting a rough patch is no excuse for him hurting you, most of us do stupid things when we’re feeling low. Re-establishing your expectations of each other can go a long way in clarifying things between the two of you—even if you decide getting back together isn’t on tap.

4. The aftermath

Your forgiveness and trust is a luxury he has to earn. Pay close attention to how he behaves after his screw-up. If he’s putting in extra effort to prove your importance to him, then it shows he’s genuinely sorry (especially since guys tend to suck with the whole words thing).

5. The shoe on the other foot

At some point down the road, you’re going to mess up too. (It’s hard to believe, I know.) Put yourself in his position: If you acted how he did, would you expect him to work things out? If your answer is yes, then there’s a good chance there’s something left worth salvaging.

6. Your future

Forgiveness doesn’t make you weak, and getting back together doesn’t make you a doormat. That being said, there’s a big difference between saying you forgive someone and actually doing it. If you can honestly let go (or at least accept) what he’s done and not judge future him on past him, then a second chance may be in the cards. If you’re on the fence, don’t even think about getting back together until you decide which side you fall on.

What are your ultimate dealbreakers for getting back together?

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How to make period sex a little more sexy and a little less… massacrey.

There’s no way around it: periods are a total pain in the vagina, and depending on how severe can be a total buzzkill in the bedroom. It’s not because we’re embarrassed by them—this isn’t high school, after all—but because we feel disgusting. We’re crampy, we’re bloaty, we’re definitely moody, and we just want to deal with our random diarrhea attacks in peace. With chocolate and Netflix.

My hatred of period sex has nothing to do with society conditioning me into thinking it’s “gross” or “wrong,” and I’ve never cared about what boyfriends think about it either. It’s a perfectly natural bodily process, but during said process my head simply isn’t in the game. Sex becomes this mechanical, awkward romp, and the logistics don’t do it for me.

But when your boyfriend’s looking at you with his I’m-about-to-hump-the-sofa-cushion face, you’ve got to do your best to play red rover in such a way so it benefits the both of you. Here are some pointers that really do help:

1. Always be prepared

Spontaneous period sex is one of the biggest buzzkills, since you’re not so much focused on the sex itself, but keeping the mess to a minimum. Lay a dark towel on the bed, and keep some handy wipes in your nightstand for a quick and easy cleanup afterward.

2. Set the mood

You might not feel all that hot, but you can always fake it till you make it. Dim the lights, light some candles, wear some kinky lingerie. Soon, you’ll be too busy getting busy to notice your period.

3. Have shower sex

If you’re not-so-prepared and don’t want to put your makeout on pause by looking for a towel and all that jazz, suggest getting frisky in the shower. It’s the best way to have period sex without feeling like you’re having period sex.

4. Do the menstrual cup thing

Menstrual cups are a sex-friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads. It collects blood instead of absorbing it, so you can leave it there during period sex and switch back to your regularly scheduled programming afterward.

5. Try new positions

Lying on your back or side will be less messy than a woman-on-top approach, since you know, gravity. Try upgraded versions of the standby positions, such as missionary with your legs hooked over his shoulders.

6. If the ick factor’s still going strong…

The cramps, the bloating, the wanting to crawl under a rock…ing. If you feel completely disgusting and miserable during your period, there’s nothing wrong with waiting until your heaviest flow days are over before pouncing on your guy. I mean, what’s the point of powering through if you’re just not into it? It’s your vagina. It’s your life. Do with both what you will. Period.

How do you feel about period sex? Yay or nay?

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Has his cell become the other woman in your relationship? Here’s how to combat his smartphone addiction.

Here’s a stat that’s (not the least bit) shocking: According to a recent study published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 70 percent of married/cohabiting women said that smartphones were interfering in their relationships.

Researchers found the majority of women had their conversations, meals or alone time interrupted by their sig-o screwing around on a device – which made them more likely to be less satisfied with their relationships and lives overall (obvi). I mean, when he ditches an important conversation you’re having because an “important” text came in, you can’t help but tear your hair out.

If you want to find harmony between your real life and digital one but his smartphone addiction is still going strong, here are 5 ways to work through it:

1. Get his attention

Instead of doing what you really want to do, which is shove his smartphone… well, you know, text him while he’s zoned out to bring him back into the present moment. A flirty text or a picture of you looking like a hot tamale to let him know what he’s missing keeps things playful, but also lets him know he’s being a total ass without actually saying it.

2. Set emergency ringtones

Depending on his job, it might be necessary for him to carry his phone with him in an emergency. Waiting on confirmation that a deal’s closed is understandable – playing Angry Birds while you wait for your appetizers is not. Talk to him about setting an emergency ring tone for his boss, or setting up alerts on specific emails so he’s only alerted to what’s important – you know, so you can enjoy your bread basket in peace.

3. Don’t follow each other on social media

His smartphone addiction is inevitably going to make you feel like he’s distant and distracted (because he is), and will encourage you to jump to the worst-case scenario. One of the most tempting – and least fulfilling – ways to fill the void is to check his social media accounts to see what he’s been up to. Insecurity breeds insecurity, and it’s not worth going down that rabbit hole. Trust.

Also, he might find it easier to check in on you through your accounts, instead of actually using his smartphone for you know, being smart and phoning you. Keep the mystery in your relationship alive by nixing cyber-drama before it starts.

4. Make your bedroom a phone-free zone

No smartphones in your bedroom. Ever. Introduce him to the wide world of alarm clocks.

5. Draw the line

We all have bad habits we’re trying to break, and we all know that successfully doing so isn’t the easiest thing in the world. It’s important to be patient and supportive as he kicks his smartphone addiction – without losing yourself in the process.

If it seems like he’s not trying very hard and you find yourself unable to finish a sentence without getting interrupted by beeping, buzzing or scrolling, it’s okay to cut your night short and make plans another time. Bad habits can be a black cavernous hole of doom, and falling off the wagon is par for the course – but you don’t have to get run over by it.

Does your guy have a smartphone addiction?

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There’s nothing quite like winter sex. You know, if you play your thermostats right.

It’s hard to say why our sex drive plummets in the winter… oh, who am I kidding? The reasons are a plenty: It’s freezing and taking your clothes off equals more freezing, not to mention the 45 minutes it takes to strip off all your layers. Then there’s the shaving dilemma: You don’t want to shave because the extra layer of insulation really comes in handy, but the second you don’t your beau’s not going to bust out his “let’s get it on” face, leaving you to feel about as attractive as Chewbacca. And that’s just the tip of the libidoless iceberg.

As the temperature drops, here are 6 ways to make sure your sex drive doesn’t drop with it:

1. Get your flirt on

Love isn’t all about sex, so it’s important to flex your flirt muscles every once in a while. Recreate the flirty feeling that connected you two in the first place: Head to your fave bar and kick his ass at pool, relive your first date, have an indoor picnic and pretend it’s not 50 below outside. And should all the flirting lead to increased nookie, well…

2. Give your bedroom a makeover

It doesn’t have to be an extreme makeover (well, unless the result is Ty Pennington coming over), just a teensy facelift to turn your bedroom into a romantic haven for the two of you. After all, us ladies thrive on the warm and fuzzies.

3. Flannel sheets

My winter sex theory is: If you want me to strip off my nice warm clothes, then you need to offer me an equally warm location for all that shivering nakedness. Owning several sets of flannel sheets should basically become a winter sex law.

4. Take a bath together

Same idea as above: Make sure you have a hot and steamy place to get hot and steamy.

5. Bring sexy back

Even though your winter style staples include slouchy sweaters and Flashdance-inspired leg warmers, that doesn’t mean you can’t wear something scandalous underneath. (It’s what’s on the inside that counts, HA.)

6. Layer strategically

Winter layers limit easy access, but if you layer strategically, this doesn’t have to be the case. It’s the best of both worlds: A hot, steamy quicky where you don’t have to get entirely undressed, and a hot, steamy body temperature so he’s not stuck doing an icicle.

How do you keep winter sex from getting all… well, wintery?

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Is your relationship with your pet turning your partner into a jealous boyfriend?

When a study came out last year saying one in 10 women love their pet more than there boyfriend… well, I wasn’t surprised at all. I’m also the first to admit that during my common law days my cat took top billing – especially during rough patches in the relationship.

If you’ve got a jealous boyfriend on your hands who gives the stink-eye to your pet at every turn, you’re probably making him feel like a third wheel. For most of us, we don’t even realize we’re doing it: We’re just carrying on with the relationship we’ve had with our pets all along (in other words, pre-boyfriend). But for some, there could be more going on:

“If you truly love your pet more than your partner, I suggest taking a closer look at your relationship,” says Kimberly Moffit, psychotherapist and relationship expert. “Does your partner give you the intellectual stimulation, romantic chemistry, and unconditional support your relationship needs?” If you find you’re turning to your pet for what your relationship isn’t offering, it’s probably not the right relationship.

If you’ve fallen into this rut, it’s nothing to feel bad about. There’s no relationship more uncomplicated or unconditional than that of a pet’s – they never argue with you or point out your shortcomings, and are always excited to see you. Plus, they’re adorable little balls of fluff! Even now, as my cat’s treating his kitty litter like a sandbox, I’m all, “Aw, how much cuter can he get?”

I know, I’m lame. Here’s how to make sure your beau doesn’t turn into a jealous boyfriend (or feel like the third wheel of a bizarre love triangle):

Greet your boyfriend first.
When you get home from work, greet your beau first thing. “If you give your hubby or boyfriend a peck on the lips, and then gush over your pet for five minutes straight, reverse the energy,” says relationship expert April Masini. You can always apologize to your pet later (kidding – sort of).

Include your boyfriend during time with your pet.
Take your dog for walks together, or make snuggling on the couch a family affair. Include him in your “conversations” with your pet: “Talk to your pet about how awesome your partner is, like ‘Doesn’t Jim look so handsome today, Spot?’” suggests Elizabeth Lombardo, psychologist and bestselling author of “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness.”

Create one-on-one time.
When you and your beau are spending time together and have specifically planned a date night, give him your undivided attention – in other words, don’t talk about Frisky giving you the cold shoulder in a fancy restaurant… unless you’re a fan of dinner for one.

Make your bedroom a no pet zone.
There’s nothing worse than being distracted from your romp in the sack because your pet’s watching your performance. (There were times where I’d pull a Rachel and giggle uncontrollably, even after my cat had been kicked out of the room. Buzz. Kill.) You’re probably going to feel guilty for neglecting your pet at first, but like all habits, building new ones takes time. You’ll both get used to the transition and you’ll have a very happy boyfriend on your hands – always a plus.

Gush over your pet when it’s just the two of you.
When your beau goes out to watch the game, play poker, or takes a business trip, use these opportunities to gush over your pet as you see fit. (You know, just make sure to get it all out of your system before the boyfriend gets home.)

Has your beau ever turned into a jealous boyfriend over your pet?

Resource: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/10434830/One-in-ten-women-love-their-pet-more-than-partner.html

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When you’re a clean freak and your beau’s a slob, it’s easy to feel less like his girlfriend and more like Cinderella (you know, except you don’t have little mice singing to you or birds dressing you in the morning). Most days you’re in a lose/lose situation: Either you don’t say anything and find yourself picking up his socks for the 6,242nd time, or you say something (a lot) and become known as a nag.

I was watching “The Carrie Diaries” last week, and there was this scene where Carrie’s dad has his new girlfriend over for the first time. She really wants to do the dishes, and he really… well, doesn’t, and she becomes so obsessed about the dishes crusting up in the sink that she can’t sleep with him until the dishes are clean. He considers this cute and quirky… which is how you know the scene is fiction. I can only imagine how charming he’ll find it a few years down the road.

As a fellow clean freak, I’ve learned to accept two things:

1. My home will never be clean enough.

2. No matter the guy, he will always be a slob to me, so there’s no sense in taking it out on the one I happen to be living with.

Otherwise, I’d let the details get to me and constantly breathe fire.

If your loved one is a slob and you feel like nothing is ever in its place (including your mind), here are seven survival strategies every clean freak should arm herself with:

1. Understand each other
You both come from different backgrounds and have different sets of priorities. As much as you want him to understand why you’re a fan of cleanliness, you also have to understand why it’s not such a big deal to him. Believe it or not, there are likely valid reasons masked behind the automatic assumption of laziness. Until you both see both sides, it will always be a point of contention.

2. Get to know each other’s cleaning styles
You both have different ideas of clean – defining what you’re especially nit-picky about (for example, how the dishes are organized or how the laundry’s done) will help you both respect the organizational systems that are important to the other person. Keeping those in place will help you refine the rest of your processes together.

3. Throw him a bone
Negotiate and designate areas of your home where he can freely be a slob and you can unleash your inner clean freak sans criticism.

4. Automate daily chores
Create habits of your daily chores and divvy them up between the two of you. When you automate your habits, you dispense less energy toward them which makes the process of cleaning less frustrating for both of you.

5. Focus on your strengths
If there are certain aspects of cleaning he’s really good at (for example, he’s a master recycler), then divvy up the chores based on what you don’t mind doing. For chores you both despise, throw on some music and do them together. Make an afternoon of it so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

6. Designate time for the details
Every home needs to be thoroughly, spotlessly cleaned periodically. If your inner clean freak is feeling neglected, send him on a guys’ weekend so you can spend it cleaning your home from top to bottom. It’s a great way for you both to have time to yourself and relax (in your own quirky, clean freak way).

7. Focus on why you’re together
When clutter’s clouding your judgement, accentuate the reasons why you do work as a couple. They’ll help lighten the load as you work through your differences.

If none of this works tell him he either has to start helping you clean or shell out the dough to hire a cleaning crew (or, you know, train birds to dress you and mice to sing to you every morning).

How do you keep your inner clean freak satisfied in your relationship?

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Trust is key to successful partnerships. But how do you build trust in a relationship, especially if you’ve been burned before?

A new relationship! On the one hand, you want to jump in with both feet. On the other, your momma didn’t raise no fool. You want to enjoy the ride, but if it turns out the person you’re trusting is actually a toad, you want to be prepared for that too – without sabotaging everything before it starts.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people who are trusting are more likely to forgive their partner’s mistakes because they remember transgressions as less severe. On the flipside, those with trust issues have the opposite reaction and remember them as more severe.

According to the study’s lead author Laura B. Luchies, your psychological reality of trust in a relationship isn’t what actually happened, but a distorted memory – when you trust your partner, you assume the betrayal is a one-time thing; when you don’t, you assume it’s a pattern of bad behavior (which is a lot harder to forgive). For those trying to build trust in a relationship, this can easily turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more you try to avoid something you’re fearful of – being cheated on, turning into your mother – the more likely you are to make it a reality. Sh*t.

When it comes to trust in a relationship, you get what you give. More than that, forgiveness isn’t foolish – it’s brave. Here are seven ways to build (and maintain) trust in a relationship:

1. Trust yourself.
There’s a fine line between forgiving someone and allowing them to use you, so many of us overcompensate with a tough girl routine to avoid getting hurt – and miss out on the entire ‘trust in a relationship’ experience. When going all in, trust your ability to make the right decisions for your well-being. This will put you at ease and help you feel empowered.

2. Surround yourself with trustworthy people.
I’ve seen many couples crumble not because of the lack of trust in a relationship, but because of who the couple hung out with – lazy friends, narcissistic ones, drama queens, even ex-flings (I mean, seriously?!). Surround yourself with people you both trust and feel comfortable with – building trust in a relationship is hard enough as it is!

3. Don’t keep secrets.
If you’re going out with friends, don’t say it’s an innocent slumber party. If someone hits on you at work, don’t keep it from your partner. If you’ve messed up or get in a sticky situation, your beau needs to know that he’s the one you turn to – especially if the potential backlash involves him by association. When you make him the first person to know what’s going on in your life, he’ll do the same for you.

4. Consider your relationship a separate entity.
Leave your emotional baggage at the door. What’s happened to you in your past relationships have nothing to do with the current relationship you’re in. Use this as an opportunity to set boundaries and build trust in a relationship. It may make you uncomfortable when your partner’s co-worker flirts with him, or make him uneasy when your ex texts you. Respecting each other’s boundaries shows that you’re taking your relationship seriously and that you have top billing in each other’s lives.

5. Keep your promises.
Broken promises will never build trust in a relationship. If you say you’ll call him tomorrow, call him tomorrow. If you say you’ll meet him for lunch, be there with bells on. Of course, sometimes the day can get away from us, so if something’s causing a delay, always get in touch with a back-up plan. Don’t be a flake – a little effort goes a long way.

6. Be yourself all the time.
Face it: Eventually you’re going to have to let go of the whole brush-your-teeth-and-run-back-to-bed-like-you-woke-up-with-minty-fresh-breath thing. Gradually let him into your world by showing him that you are, in fact, human. Letting go of the small things will make you feel more comfortable to reveal your bigger quirks – especially the ones you’re not willing to budge on. Trust he’ll be supportive and offer that same support in return. Trust in a relationship is a two-way street.

7. Ask him for help.
The best part of trust in a relationship is having each other’s back. If you’re going to be late getting off work, ask him to pick up dinner. If you’re having a problem with a friend, ask him for his advice. Eventually, you’ll feel comfortable relying on each other completely.

How do you build trust in a relationship?

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Is your professional ambition leading to disconnection in your love life?

After decades of second-class citizenship, professional ambition is now at the forefront for many modern women. The mind of an ambitious woman is like having 2,743 browser windows open all the time. The average workweek sucks up 72 hours of our life, and it can be hard to let go without feeling like you’re slacking off – especially if you’re passionate about your career and thrive on the validation of success. That’s when the ambition teeter-totter starts giving you motion sickness: At work, you feel guilty about your love life, and at home you feel guilty about your career. Oy.

“Ambitious women often focus on the other aspects of their life over romance,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., bestselling author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness. “They view their love life as a luxury they’ll focus on after they’ve achieved their goals. The problem is, they never achieve what they think they need to in order to allow themselves to start focusing on love.”

Ambition has always been my partner-in-crime and the bane of my existence, since what it’s given to my career it’s taken away from my love life (i.e. I don’t have one). Here’s four ways to work with your ambition so you can have a thriving (and guilt-free) love life:

1. Identify the source of your ambition.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology found that adult children who have at least one workaholic parent are likely to suffer from an abundance of ambition (which in my case, explains everything). I’d been using ambition as a cover for the personal insecurities I didn’t want to face about myself. Once you know what you’re avoiding by working so much, you can take charge of your life – and start creating a whole one.

2. Funnel your ambition completely into work only.
“Women who are overachievers tend to see relationships and family as a ‘goal’ or ‘achievement’ rather than a process,” says psychotherapist and relationship expert Kimberly Moffit. “They tend to focus on getting the perfect man, and their feelings of love can get lost in the process.” (Oops.) Streamline your ambition into your career and let your love life happen naturally. Letting go of all expectations will make you look forward to your time off because there won’t be a to-do list attached.

3. Instead of creating work goals and personal goals, create one big picture.
It’s about creating harmony. If you level the playing field and make your personal goals as important as your career goals, you’ll be more likely to thrive in all areas. Don’t categorize your goals: allow your career and personal life to intertwine and benefit from each other. “Ambitious women need to realize that love isn’t just a distraction,” says Moffit. “A good relationship will provide steady and stable support which will help you work more effectively when you’re on the clock.”

4. Add your personal life to your to-do list.
Adding your personal life to your to-do list is an easy mind-trick that kills two birds with one stone: it helps you prioritize your personal life and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you check “Watch Scandal” off your list.

“It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing: career or love,” says Lombardo. “You can prioritize love while at the same time excelling at other areas of your life.”

What about you? Does your ambition get in the way of your love life? Tell us about it in a comment.

Related on EcoSalon:

7 Relationship Tips for Fresh Ways to Spice Up Your Love Life

Couples Therapy: Doing What You Love Builds Healthy Relationships

How to Green Up Your Love Life

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