We have been dealing with COVID-19 since mid-March, and it is unfortunately not showing any signs of slowing down. Another lockdown may come in the soon-approaching holiday season, which presents different issues for different people. People in relationships, specifically, may encounter challenges as they may live with their significant other and will have to spend more time with them or will have to take time apart from their significant other for a period of time if they live separately.
You may want some advice to help you feel as though another potential lockdown is more bearable. What is it that you can do to make sure your relationship stays healthy if you are not living together?
Plan a virtual date
Consider eating dinner together. While you may not be able to physically eat in-person together, you can still do so via Facetime or Skype.
Mental health check-ins
Check-in with your significant other to see how they are doing mentally. This is a very trying time for people in all aspects of life, and both you and your partner may need some extra support from each other. Luckily, we live in the world of smartphones and can easily text or call each other to check-in.
Send each other mail
Sending each other mail is both engaging and exciting. You and your partner can stay connected in an interesting way, and this additional method of communicating will bring more excitement to your life. Consider sending your partner some inspirational quotes, descriptions of your favorite memories together or tell them how much you miss them.
On the flip side, you may be in isolation with your partner. This can bring its own problems. Suddenly you might be spending more time together than before, and that itself may cause some stress.
Take some time apart.
While your significant other reads a book in the bedroom, watch television in the den. Do something without your partner. This can help you both destress and mentally reset.
Whether you are physically alone or together, it is crucial to maintain open communication. This allows for both people in the relationship to feel that they are being heard and to establish a healthy way to speak with each other in times of stress.
Whether you are living with or without your partner during lockdown, there are many ways to make a relationship work through patience, compassion and understanding. This is a challenging time for everyone, and we all need to take a step back and focus on ourselves as well as checking in with loved ones. Remember to try and take it one day at a time; you are not alone.