Dealing with Relationship Arguments During Lockdown
If you’re in a relationship and you’ve been quarantining together during the pandemic, you may have noticed that your arguments have become more frequent and intense. This is a common experience for many couples who are spending more time in close proximity to each other than they are used to.
But don’t worry, there are steps you can take to minimize the frequency and severity of your arguments. Here are some tips to help you deal with relationship arguments during lockdown:
Set Aside Time for Conscious Communication
One of the most important things you can do to reduce the likelihood of arguments is to practice conscious communication. This means actively listening to your partner without interruptions or distractions.
When you communicate, try to listen actively and without judgment. This will help you understand your partner’s perspective and make you better equipped to find mutually agreeable solutions.
Create and Respect Boundaries
It’s important to establish boundaries around your family schedule, work responsibilities, household chores, designated workspace, and childcare duties. Agree on who will be responsible for specific tasks and try to respect each other’s time and space.
This will help to reduce stress and frustration when everyone stays on the same page.
Make Time for Each Other
At times, its easy to forget to simply enjoy each other’s company, especially when working from home or caring for kids. Consider having weekly date nights or finding ways to bond over shared interests.
By prioritizing quality time together, you can strengthen your relationship and build a positive foundation for communication.
Schedule Daily Alone Time
While spending time together is important, it’s equally important to have time alone. This could include working out, meditating, or engaging in other relaxing activities that you enjoy.
Finding time for self-reflection and self-care can help you de-stress and feel more centered during challenging times.
Learn to Let Go
During lockdown, we’ve all experienced heightened stress levels, anxieties, and frustrations. As such, it’s important to learn to let go of grudges and resentment.
It could be challenging but making a conscious effort to let go of trivial issues and petty squabbles, you can make space for more positive experiences. Letting go of things outside of our control is also helpful in handling the anxiety prolonging the current crisis.
Be Aware of Your Annoying Habits
Do you have some daily quirks that might be annoying to your partner? Maybe it’s the way you chew, the fact that you always one-up someone, or a habit of engaging in tit-for-tat arguments.
Identify what might be annoying to your partner, and have an open discussion to address the issue. Owning up to these small things will save you from unnecessary conflicts in the future.
Express Your Admiration for Your Partner
Finally, take some time to express your admiration for your partner. By showing respect, trust, and appreciation, your partner will feel valued and seen, which can lead to greater self-confidence and self-image.
It doesn’t take much effort to pay compliments but goes a long way in the health of any relationship.
Effects of Lockdown on Relationships
Beyond the details of managing daily life together, lockdown has played a part in changing the dynamic of relationships altogether. It varies from person to person as well, but here are some of the more common effects seen on relationships around the world:
Initial Romanticization of Lockdown
Lockdown might have initially brought on a sense of surprise and excitement as couples learned how to spend more time together. With less need to rush to work or depending on external factors causing stress, lockdown started as a chance to bond over leisure activities or hobbies.
Families saw more time for experience-sharing, cooking together or spending time outdoors, resulting in an unexpected and cozy charm.
Frustration and Suffocation
As weeks and months pass, however, frustration and suffocation might set in. Couples who have been in each other’s company for extended periods might start to pick on each other’s irritations.
Feelings of entrapment and a lack of privacy are common. This frustration is normal as humans crave their space.
Changes in Dynamics of Relationships
With lockdown bringing more difficulties for a person, couples may have previously escaped through going to work or school or participating in other activities. Now, without such avenues, people might use their partner as an emotional outlet for stress and worries.
As a result, some of the relationship dynamics have changed and may take time to stabilize.
Lack of Outlets for Stress Relief
Lockdown has also limited access to daily outlets for stress relief. Whether that was going to the gym or being outdoors, individuals might feel like they have fewer ways to burn off stress.
The resulting stress and anxieties can aggravate pre-existing tensions and arguments.
Wrapping Up
During these unprecedented times, it’s normal to feel the strain on our relationships. However, by employing active communication, setting boundaries, and making an effort to prioritize and appreciate each other, we can reduce the frequency and impact of arguments, allowing our relationships to grow stronger despite the pandemic-induced lockdowns.
Remember, routine conflicts happen, but how we work through these conflicts will determine the resilience and longevity of our relationships in the long run.
Importance of Emotional Health in Relationships During Lockdown
In any relationship, emotional health plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy bond. During lockdown, emotional health has become even more essential, given the challenges we face.
The prolonged lockdowns have taken a toll on individuals’ emotional stability, impacting their relationships.
Acknowledging the Impact of Lockdown on Emotional Health
It’s essential to understand that the lockdown has impacted our emotional health, both in the short-term and the long-term. Most individuals have experienced heightened stress, anxiety, and other emotional strains.
As such, it’s natural to feel less in control of our emotions than we would like to admit. As a couple, acknowledging the impact of the lockdown on our emotional state is the first step towards recovery and building a healthy relationship.
Understanding the Root Cause of Problems
When we’re emotionally strained, it’s easy to become short-tempered and irritable, leading to conflicts with our partners. It’s therefore crucial to identify the root cause of such problems to avoid repeating them.
By understanding what triggers our emotional outbursts and how to mitigate them, we can work towards building a sustainable emotional balance. Additionally, researching emotional intelligence can add to your relationship success by giving you tools to manage your emotional stress.
Working Together to Find Solutions
We must remember that our partner is not the enemy but an ally in navigating these challenging times. Instead of treating them as the opponent, we should approach them as a teammate, working together towards finding solutions.
By presenting our emotional state elaborately and listening actively to our partner’s views, we can find mutually agreeable solutions. These discussions could happen over a home-cooked meal or a walk and talk routine to improve the routine and facilitate conversations that might not come up otherwise.
Time and Effort in Maintaining Relationships
Maintaining a healthy relationship requires time and effort, a sentiment that holds true even during lockdown. Additionally, the lockdown has provided an opportunity for couples to spend more time together, creating memories and strengthening their bonds.
Take advantage of this opportunity by exploring new activities together, improving family traditions, and bonding over a shared interest. In addition, embracing new opportunities to connect with your partner such a streaming series or video chat sessions with friends, can bring novelty, increasing the attachment between you two.
In conclusion, emotional health is a vital aspect of any relationship, and it’s essential to acknowledge the unique effects of lockdown on our emotional state and in our relationships. Understanding the root cause of emotional outbursts and approaching our partner as a teammate can lead disagreements to transformative conversations.
With time and effort, it’s possible to maintain strong relationships despite challenging times. In conclusion, emotional health and communication play essential roles in maintaining healthy relationships during lockdown.
Acknowledging the impact of the lockdown on our emotional health, understanding the root causes of emotional strife, adopting a team-like relationship with our partner, and investing time and effort to connect with each other can maintain a healthy relationship even under challenging times. By taking a more active role in rebuilding and maintaining our emotional health, we can reinforce a supportive and loving bond with our partners.