Healthy relationships vs the lockdown

Relationships are being tested, and now, there is no chance of saying that partners are not spending enough time with each other. Not only is this pandemic taking a toll on everyone's social life, but also shaking up the dynamics of many a marriage. To keep everything from tanking, here are some things to keep in mind.

Be mindful

Being home 24/7 means consuming household items more often. In an already stressful situation, to maintain a healthy marriage, presumed gender roles should have no place and both parties should take responsibility for cleaning up after themselves and dividing household chores. Expecting one partner to do everything while the other finishes work and relaxes will only raise tensions and lead to unwanted arguments from which there is no storming out of.

Balance 'I' and 'We'

Just because spending time together is easier now does not mean it is  mandatory. Not every Netflix series has to be watched together, nor does every moment from sunrise till sunset need to be spent in unison. Doing so will only build frustrations and shorten one's patience. Despite the situation, everyone needs time for themselves. Pandemic or not, no one likes to be crowded all the time.

Perhaps, before the lockdown, it was a luxury to be able to do things together. But time apart only makes relationships stronger and intensifies the appreciation partners have for each other.

Learn to appreciate the silence

Alone time is crucial, even if it means having separate rooms as temporary work stations and for now, getting some alone time is tricky. But accepting the fact that partners will not always have something to talk about is often challenging to many. Sometimes, the silence is enough to strengthen a marriage. Embracing this silence is the next best thing when alone time becomes scarce.

Keep the romance alive

A lockdown should not bring in slobbery and dullness. No one said romance was an element alien to the indoors. Sometimes, surprising your partner with a cup of coffee during work, cleaning up the house or preparing lunch, are more than enough to keep the spark alive. Nothing like good vibes!

Communication is key

Things might get tense at times. To talk through and resolve any conflict, partners should have some time each day to simply unload their minds. Be it something they have been wanting to get off their chest or something new they have learned; communication is key for any healthy marriage, with or without a pandemic at play. Hear them out!

Daily laugh time

Similar to mandatory communication, having scheduled hours to be cheesy and make each other laugh is a mood-lifter. Watching funny cat videos or sharing jokes always helps to lighten everyone's mindset.

Be it to cry or to laugh with, we appreciate having someone to lean on and share our lives with. But that does not mean every single waking moment. With that being said, during every blood boiling argument when you are at the end of your tether, keep in mind that this is not forever, and end each day loving one another, on a good note.