Marital satisfaction is much higher when spouses treat each other like best friends. But it's difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship and friendship while you're trying to build your empire. 

Being an empowered female entrepreneur isn't easy, but it is always worth it. And by utilizing eWomenNetwork and marriage courses, you'll be able to split time equally between your spouse and your business. 

Research suggests that couples need a 3:1 ratio of happiness to succeed in marriage. This may sound easy for some, but when you're a working woman running a successful business, it can be difficult to make a work-life balance a reality. That's why we're looking at 5 tips for maintaining a thriving marriage while running a company.

1. Work Smarter

One way you can maintain a great work-life balance is by working smarter, not harder.

At eWomenNetwork, we help women connect, collaborate, and create. By utilizing our resources, not only will you be building your business and making your entrepreneurial dreams come true, but you'll also have plenty of time left for keeping your marriage strong and healthy. You can have it all!

It's good to have a to-do list for your business since it helps keep you motivated to get bigger and better. But, don't let your long list overwhelm you. Instead, work smarter by setting small, achievable goals.

Don't try and do it all in one night. Even if you feel like you're behind, pulling an all-nighter at the office or in front of your computer is only bound to exhaust you and make you lose focus faster. Instead, go home and relax with your spouse. This way you'll feel rested and refreshed to tackle your workload in the morning. 

Preparing for meetings or the work week in advance is another great way to utilize your time to the fullest.

2. Take Time to Recharge

Stress can have a negative effect on how you handle yourself in business and in your marriage. 

Recharge by spending time with your spouse doing uplifting activities. Research indicates that couples who laugh together enjoy a happier, more satisfying relationship. In fact, one study says that sharing humor with your spouse is similar to having a warm and agreeable personality. You can also rest and recharge by carving out time for yourself, pursuing personal hobbies and goals.

It can also be beneficial to incorporate de-stressing mechanisms and wellness opportunities into your work environment. Having such things as yoga mats or relaxation corners in your office can help boost company morale and lower stress.

3. Put Your Phone Away

Cellphones are a great way to stay connected to your business at all times. With the push of a button, you have instant access to emails, video-calls for business meetings, social media, and other business apps.

While this is great for your business, it isn't so wonderful for your marriage.

Healthy marriages courses will teach you that in order to boost your marriage, you'll need to learn to leave work at the door.

When you are with your spouse, make sure you are devoting your time and attention to them - not to your phone. Studies show that "phone-snubbing" (ignoring your partner while on your phone) has been shown to undermine relationship satisfaction and increase a couple's risk of depression.

Schedule "quiet time", turning your phone off or putting your ringer on silent, once you're home for the day. This will help you to focus on your relationship with your spouse and your kids without being distracted by work.

4. Schedule Time Together

Intimate partner time has also been closely associated with heightened emotional intimacy in couples.

Research shows that having a weekly date night can have an amazing effect on your marriage. One-on-one couple time has been closely associated with higher relationship quality and lower divorce rates. 

Having a regular date night has been shown to improve couple communication, increase novelty and passionate love, lower stress, and improve a couple's commitment to one another.

Marriage courses will also tell you that physical touch is extremely important to a healthy bond. Physical intimacy, such as kissing, sexual activity, or holding hands have been shown to trigger the release of oxytocin. This hormone has been shown to relieve stress, enhance cardiovascular health, increase trust, and promote bonding.

5. Have a Monthly Check-In

Communication is important in business and in your marriage. In a survey of 886 couples, 55% cited growing apart as a major cause for seeking a divorce and 53% said they lacked healthy communication in the marriage. This statistic highlights the importance of being able to talk with your spouse. 

Yes, sometimes the best way to care for your marriage is by treating it as a business. 

Marriage courses teach couples that the best way to maintain a healthy relationship is by keeping the lines of communication open. One way you can do this is by having a monthly marriage check-in, much like you have monthly business meetings or "check-ins" with clients and investors.

Meet together with your spouse every week or month and spend a half hour talking about your relationship.

Your marriage check-in is a time to communicate about any issues you're having, as well as to commend your partner. The expression of gratitude in marriage was a high predictor in increased relationship satisfaction, greater commitment, and support for goal pursuit.

Keep the conversation positive, even when discussing avenues of your relationship that could use a little work.

To get the most out of your check-in, make sure your meeting is private, minimize distractions, and sit side-by-side instead of across from one another to give your discussion an intimate feel, as opposed to it feeling confrontational.

You must be willing to put as much time, energy, and heart into your marriage that you do for your business. This is the only way that you can have a truly thriving and successful relationship. It's also beneficial to let eWomenNetwork help you work smarter, not harder, to grow your business.