COVID-19 and Relationship Strain

Have the COVID restrictions put your relationship in peril? Maybe you can’t be together right now? Or, perhaps, you live together, and the constant proximity is putting a strain on your connection? Find some covid relationship tips in this article, for you to consider today for you and your partner.

What Should I Do?

2020 has been a trying year, and strained relationships can adversely affect our mental health. 

So, maybe it’s time to take stock and re-evaluate our connections. 

If this sounds familiar, read on for tips on how to keep a relationship going when faced with unprecedented change. 

Relationship Tip #1: Schedule some quality time together

Many of us have faced long periods of separation this year. And it puts a strain on relationships like nothing else. 

So, schedule in regular video calls. Seeing each other – even in digital form – can really lift your spirits and remind you why you love each other. Plan a call at least once a month for a long catch-up (and stick to it!). 

If you know that you’re going to run out of conversation, mix things up by playing a few online games or watching movies together. Constant natter can be exhausting: just enjoying something like your favourite TV show together can be enough. 

Or perhaps plan a dinner date. You don’t have to be in the same room! Plan a specific night, get dressed up; maybe even plan to eat the same meal and drink the same wine. A Zoom date can be super-intimate! 

If you’re always together and you’re both picking fights, set a time where you can focus on reconnecting. Plan a romantic date night during the weekend – you don’t have to go out to enjoy each other’s company. 

Avoid conversations that cause tension – like finances, or household duties – and focus on rebuilding your love and connection.

Relationship Tip #2: Make some personal space

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Giving each other some personal space works wonders for refreshing strained relationships. Continually texting and messaging each other isn’t always a great idea. 

Throw yourself into new hobbies or books you’ve meant to read. 

You’ll find that their absence isn’t so significant if you’ve got things to occupy yourself with. 

Ultimately, relying on somebody else for your happiness and entertainment can put a significant strain on your relationship. 

Similarly, if you’re living and working from home with a partner, establish your personal space. If you can, work in separate rooms, or do things you enjoy by yourself like taking a bubble bath. 

By the end of the day, you’ll find that you’ll have more things to talk about: like a fascinating book, or what you saw on your walk earlier. 

Relationship tip 3: Be mindful

During these difficult times, it’s inevitable that emotions will run high. This is especially true if you’re sharing a cramped or messy home.

Disagreements escalate when we fail to listen to each other. If you feel the tension rise, take a time-out: go and sit somewhere and take some deep breaths until you feel calmer. And when you feel the bile rising, count to ten before you react. 

It sounds simplistic, but it works. 

Pay attention to what your partner is thinking and feeling, and validate their needs.

Sometimes, the other person just needs to vent and let out their emotions. Don’t belittle their problems; you know how it feels when that happens to you.

We hope you found those covid relationship tips useful, it’s important that we don’t lose touch of ourselves during these tough periods. Ensure a good balance of affection and personal space to effectively adapt to the lockdown hardships that may arise.