How not to destroy your relationship while spending 24/7 together during coronavirus quarantine

News about the coronavirus is changing quickly.They’re leaving laundry on the floor. Eating all of the quarantine snacks — and not the perishable ones first. Coronavirus quarantining has pushed many of us to spend more time with our partners than ever before. Now we have to figure out how to work, parent, and simply get along as we move through the same rooms all day long. This can quickly deteriorate even the most stable relationships.This isn’t a vacation in the Bahamas.For a lot of couples, they’re going from a situation where they’re used to passing like ships in the morning and night to now really being with each other, and under a real amount of stress.How to save your sanity.You’re going to get annoyed. Talk about it.Sure, you love your partner’s quirks. But with tensions high and quarters close, that morning humming may suddenly make you want to scream.You can’t spell “divorce” without “Covid,”.So how can you save your relationship during quarantining? On the bright side, those home-isolating should have plenty of side-by-side time to put it into practice — and, perhaps, come out stronger.Communication is essential for preventing your annoyance from turning into anger.Stress, can heighten people’s anxious habits are often coping mechanisms. In other words, don’t be surprised if your partner’s foot tapping, which, in turn, could create an irk never felt before.Address it in a way that’s inviting and shows that you notice your partner. Instead of “stop doing this or that,” try I see you’re doing this or that, how are you feeling? To a point, whoever is more anxious about the virus should win out.We should try as best as we can to help our partners feel comfortable in this time. Find a compromise, and do your best to have empathy. If one partner feels better about grocery delivery than grocery shopping, and you can afford it, don’t put up a fight — even if you feel it’s unnecessary. And if they want to wipe down every single grocery, that’s not for you to judge.Balance ‘I’ and ‘we’.While it’s your civic duty to stay inside, there’s no need to watch every Netflix show together.There needs to be a space for you to feel like you — to listen to the music you like, to do your own hobbies. Once you start to feel like you’re losing who you are in a relationship, that brings on a whole new type of anxiety.Build a fort or have an indoor picnic.It’s still important to schedule date nights.Just because you’re spending 24/7 together doesn’t mean you’re spending quality time together.Order delivery from your favorite restaurant,and keep it playful.Although we can’t go very far while sheltering in place, our minds have an unlimited capacity to journey to new spaces, while being silly encourages flirting. Throw on some music, and make a pillow fort. Or have a pillow fight. You could also arrange for a weekend breakfast in bed or draw a cityscape together. Puzzles are trending right now. Don’t own one? Just download the apps Words. Small and sweet surprises, daily Being in a relationship lets you navigate life’s ups and downs with a co-pilot by your side. Show extra kindness to remind each other you’re in this together.If your partner’s in a work meeting, bring them a cup of coffee.Small acts of kindness can make them feel less alone in the world.Other ideas: notes on the bathroom mirror, affectionate afternoon texts even when in the same room, slipping in a treat on your next grocery run.Stress can lower your libido, but if you’re in a good place with your partner, encourages you not to let stress stop sex. It might be harder to get into that headspace right now, but try to keep in mind its benefits. “Sex releases oxytocin, the ‘love hormone,’ that can make you feel closer and bonded together.”My wife just sneezed. Does the whole “in sickness and in health” thing still apply in a pandemic situation?Just wondering.For those with kids, block out time to do this far away from their ears.Kids need stability right now.Ask for what you want.Every year, you should re-establish your needs. Now that you’re spending more time at home, those needs are likely to change, so you need to reopen that conversation.If suddenly you need alone time in the shower, but your partner’s used to barging in, they’re not going to know unless you tell them.Be specific and direct. Skip statements that begin with “you never” (…help with the chores) and “you always”.These absolute statements give the other person nowhere to go — they’re cornered.Reminding someone of their shortcomings isn’t motivating.How to cope right now Make a coping list.Write down what soothes you (music, meditation, running, etc.).Then, make a second list of things your partner does that help you relax, whether it’s back scratches or making the morning coffee.It’s a small toolkit of ways you can care for one another and a cushion for when there are the inevitable arguments.Daily laugh time.To keep your spirits lifted, schedule a daily laugh session, and use it as a bonding moment. It could be as simple as routinely sending a funny meme to each other every afternoon.A sense of humor through all this can help relieve built up stress. Say goodnight, every night Unfortunately we can’t go around hugging family and friends right now. But you can embrace your partner. End the day on a positive note by remembering to say goodnight. No matter how exhausted you are, a kiss or hug each night can go a long way.