5 Ways To Be A Better Partner During Quarantine

Being quarantined for days, weeks, and months at a time throws a wrench into the working gears of our daily lives, including the way our relationships function be they romantic, familial, or friendly. The dramatic increase in time spent together, feelings of being unable to escape, and a genuine fear of the unknown inevitably heightens the potential for frustrations, bickering, and full-blown arguments.To help you better navigate long periods of quarantine with whomever you’re living with, follow this expert advice.

* Lay Down Some Household Ground Rules

Start by discussing how and when to divide and use your space.She likes to have her coffee and check her messages alone. Let her have that time. He likes to schedule midday conference calls. Work around him. Everybody gives one and everybody gets one.”

Come up with a game plan for how the day will go, designated certain hours for using the kitchen, working and/or spending time alone, and period of time when you'll spend time together.

* Practice Even More Patience

Stress levels are higher than usual for all the reasons we’ve outlined above. Practicing patience becomes increasingly difficult, and therefore all the more important.

In addition, give each other space to help calm down one’s mind and senses. We are social beings, but when we are frustrated and feeling overwhelmed, we sometimes need to stay alone for a while.

* Avoid Common Communication Pitfalls

Bickering is inevitable but can easily spiral into all-out brawls when confined to a small space without anywhere to go. In some cases, arguments might even be born out of boredom. When an argument does occur, make sure to avoid common communication pitfalls, which include raising your voice, spending too much time complaining instead of problem-solving, using sweeping generalizations (you always, you never), name-calling, and not listening.

* Try to Be Quieter in General

Being respectful of people’s space also means not infringing on their eardrums — a surefire way to incite frustration when you're sharing closed and close quarters. This is true whether quarantined or not, but becomes increasingly important when spending 24/7 with someone and even more true if each party is trying to get work done.

* Go Out of Your Way to Foster Positivity

It’s easy to get bogged down by negative news and uncertainty about what the future holds, which makes it even more important to foster positivity within your home.