Taking Care of your Relationships During a Pandemic
Brooke Terrell, M.A., Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate
The COVID-19 Pandemic has taken the world by storm, wreaking havoc on many American families. Parents are frustrated with sudden homeschooling responsibilities and being cooped up with restless, bored children. Husbands and wives are anxious about lost jobs and income, while children are sad and confused at the sudden closure of school, cancellation of sports, graduation, and other activities they were looking forward to enjoying. The frustration and disappointment of the new “normal” can cause discord in the home.
So, how can we take care of our relationships during these stressful, scary, uncertain times? Here are a few tips:
Keep the lines of communication open: It’s more important than ever to talk about fears, needs, wants, and expectations with one another. Try turning off the TV during meals and instead use this valuable time for discussion.
Get on a schedule and stick to it. Schedules can help ease stress by creating a routine and normalcy at home. This is especially helpful during a time when everyone’s routine has been disrupted. Have a set time to get up, eat meals, do school work, do chores, play, walk the dog, and go to bed. This will get everyone on the same page and minimize frustrations.
Make time for fun. Did you know that laughter boosts the immune system and lowers the stress hormone cortisol? That’s right, laughing is actually good for you! During communication time, talk about activities that the family can do for fun and then make time several days a week to do them.
Have a date night once a week. Parents, this is for you!! Setting aside time for one another (alone) at least once a week is really important for your relationship, especially during times of stress. Here are a few ideas: After the kids are in bed or while they are otherwise entertained, prepare a candlelit dinner for the two of you in a quiet place, have a picnic in your backyard, take a bubble bath, read a marriage workbook together after the kids are in bed, get up early and have a coffee date, or take a romantic stroll at sunset--anything that will allow you time to focus on your relationship.
Practice self-care- During times of stress, our bodies can become more susceptible to illness, that’s why it’s important to be extra vigilant about self-care during times like this. Getting plenty of rest is very important, at least 6-7 hours a night for adults and 11-12 hours of sleep per night for kids. Also keep sugar intake as low as possible. Studies have shown that too much sugar is linked with hyperactivity in kids and moodiness in adults. Drinking plenty of water, exercising, and taking a high quality multivitamin every day are other important ways that you can keep yourself and your family healthy and strong.
Look on the bright side. Purposely finding things to be thankful for is a must during times of stress. Look for even the smallest blessings if needed: clean, easily accessible water, freedom, toilet paper (if you still have any), family. NOTE* IF anxiety or depression are unmanageable, please seek the help of a mental help professional!
Most important of all, pray for one another and don’t forget to give and receive grace. Be quick to forgive each other’s shortcomings and remember that everyone is doing the best they can. Take heart, we are all in this together, and it will be over soon! In the meantime, protect and take care of the special relationships in your life.
