Managing Burnout In Relationships: Conservation of Resources Theory cover art

Managing Burnout In Relationships: Conservation of Resources Theory

Managing Burnout In Relationships: Conservation of Resources Theory

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 Thank you for engaging with our content and tuning in to the podcast. We like and appreciate you! If you’re interested in exploring more, browse our affiliate links for toys and tools to enhance your connection and pleasure. Be sure to use our discount code DRJESSVIP to save when checking out. Code DRJESSVIP THANK YOU! 💜 (for real) Code: DRJESSVIP-Save $ + Support Us! No pressure — but if you’re shopping, use our code DRJESSVIP for exclusive savings and a little support for us, too. Win-Win! LOVEHONEY.COM WE-VIBE.COM This is an affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Thank you! TL;DR: The Conservation of Resources Theory and Managing Burnout in Relationships Burnout doesn’t just affect work, it depletes emotional and relational resources, impacting intimacy, desire, and connection. Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory helps reframe burnout as a resource imbalance, not a personal or relational failure. Reclaim energy by setting boundaries, prioritizing solo joy, and rebalancing resource exchange with your partner. Tools like the We-Vibe Melt or Touch can support solo and partnered pleasure as part of healing. Reflect weekly: What’s draining you? What’s restoring you? What can you shift to show up more fully and without burnout? Burnout & Relationships: A Tangled Web We Can’t Ignore Burnout isn’t reserved for the boardroom — it shows up in our bedrooms, dinner table conversations, text replies (or lack thereof), and yes, even in the quiet pauses between eye contact. In this episode of the Sex With Dr. Jess Podcast, we dive into the signs of burnout, how they manifest in our relationships, and how the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory offers a practical framework to better understand and manage this ever-growing emotional epidemic. From that sense of feeling “frozen” to the internal tug-of-war between showing up for your partner or just zoning out for self-preservation, burnout isn’t always easy to spot. And it’s even harder to talk about, especially when love and care are at stake. What Is Burnout? Emotional exhaustion, detachment, reduced empathy, irritability, a dip in desire (for intimacy or anything at all), these are more than just rough days. When you’re depleted for weeks, months or even years, the foundation of your relationship starts to shift. Burnout occurs along a spectrum, and that means we’re not just talking about full collapse. The early signs (social withdrawal, communication breakdowns, loss of interest in things you used to love) all serve as red flags. It’s not that you no longer want to connect, cuddle, or care. It’s that you literally can’t. Applying Conservation of Resources Theory to Relationships COR theory, developed by psychologist Stevan Hobfoll (1989), is based on a beautifully simple idea: humans are wired to conserve and protect valuable resources. These include: Object resources (e.g. money, housing, physical safety) Condition resources (e.g. status, roles, relationships) Energy resources (e.g. time, emotional bandwidth, attention) Personal resources (e.g. self-esteem, resilience) Relationships (intimate, platonic, familial) require a constant, fluctuating investment of these resources. And when they’re running low? Conflict, resentment, disconnection and dissatisfaction thrive. But when you’re both able to recognize burnout as a resource imbalance, instead of a personal failing or relational flaw, you can start making changes rooted in care, not blame. Managing Burnout With Relational Intelligence 1. Start With You (Yes, Even When You’re Burnt Out) You cannot pour from an empty cup. You don’t need to be overflowing, but consider where your emotional, physical, and mental energy is being spent.
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.