Being forced to be with your significant other constantly during the quarantine lockdown can be a tremendous challenge for your relationship. Coronavirus has created many fears about getting sick and how to survive if you lose your income during this time. The stress and anxiety can add to you both getting on each other?s nerves and cause a severe breakdown of your relationship. Fighting over issues in a relationship is the main cause for 50% of couples divorcing, so it?s important to take steps to prevent that from happening if you want to stay together beyond the lockdown. Here are tips on how to save the health of your relationship during quarantine.
Stick To Your Normal Pre-Quarantine Routines
Before the coronavirus outbreak, you and your significant other weren?t together all day long. Now that you?ve suddenly been forced to be around each other all the time, it?s easier for potential conflict and unease to arise. Sticking to the individual routines you both had before the quarantine as much as possible can be highly beneficial for the health of your relationship. By having a structure to your day, it can help you both feel more productive and positive and give you both some much-needed breathing space.
Talk About Your Anxieties and Fears
Anxieties and fears can increase irritability in the interactions with your partner. It?s important to remember that you married for love, just like 88% of Americans. Discussing your fears and anxieties with each other about the pandemic can bring you both closer and strengthen your loving bond. But, try to keep these talks to a minimum. Talking about your fears and anxieties can easily permeate your entire day and take a toll on your relationship and mental health.
Be attentive and understanding with each other?s concerns. Remember that this pandemic is only a temporary crisis. Try to come up with a list of activities that can ease tension and help you both cope during all the coronavirus craziness. Pay attention to how much time you spend on social media and watching the news to keep up on current pandemic events as this can stress you both out more. Use this time to deepen your intimate connection with each other.
Have Fun Together
Having fun is a great way to relieve stress, especially when you?re stuck in the house all the time. Spend time watching funny movies or playing board games together. Do things that you know you both enjoy. It can help remind you both of why you fell in love with each other and got married like the 2.4 million couples who get hitched every year.
Get creative and do something new together, like taking a cooking class or singing and dancing to YouTube videos. Schedule weekly indoor dates just as you would if the restrictions were lifted. Doing whatever makes you smile will ease tension and stress and help you get along with each other better.
Create Room For Alone Time
It?s crucial for you and your partner?s mental health that you create room for each of you to have alone time away from each other. Whatever you do to relax during this time is up to you, but you need to be able to truly relax and not have your partner barge into your space at any given moment. Sit down together and carve out a schedule for alone time that you can both agree to. Be sure to set some ground rules when it comes to noise or interruptions. This will help you both get the breathing space you need and not have to feel like you want to rip each other?s heads off.
Spend Time Outdoors
Even though you?re subject to a stay at home order, that doesn?t mean you can?t get outside for some fresh air or exercise. Spending time outdoors is beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing. Take time to go for a bike ride or walk on a daily basis. This can be especially helpful when things with your significant other are the tensest.
Maintain Outside Relationships
Maintaining the relationships you have with friends and family members can be difficult with the social distancing rules. Since you can?t physically visit them, use technology to help you stay in touch. Staying connected with others can boost your mental health and sanity and relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Make at least one phone call or video chat each day. This can help better your relationship with your partner by not having to rely as heavily on each other for emotional connection.
Engage In Hands On Activities
Engaging in activities that involve using your hands can help you regain a sense of control and improve your psychological health. You can do things such as gardening, sewing, baking, or doing art projects. Perhaps there is a home renovation project you can both work on together. This can help you feel productive even when all the days blur together.
Renegotiate Household Responsibilities
How household tasks were managed before quarantine may not work so well now that you?re both in isolation. You and your significant other may need to sit down and redefine your household responsibilities. Have a meeting and discuss everything that needs to get done on a daily basis and decide who will do what. This can help you make things run more smoothly so fewer conflicts arise. Work together to get ahead of problems before they occur instead of letting potential resentment build up over unspoken expectations.
During this uncertain time, it?s more important than ever that you take care of the health of your relationship by showing each other some extra love and support. You may not be able to keep conflict from ever rearing its ugly head, but you can confront it in ways that are emotionally healthy for you and your partner. Use the tips above to help you make your relationship stronger than ever before. Keep in mind that the pandemic is only temporary, but your love for each other is meant to last forever!
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