Let’s face it, the Covid-19 pandemic has really put pressure on all of our relationships, even the closest ones. With so many people forced to work from home, and with very little social interaction to offset the cabin fever, it will naturally have detrimental effects. Simply put, human behavior thrives on connection and interaction. With the number of people that you get to interact with face-to-face reduced to single digits, those effects are going to be even more evident now.

One of those relationships that is bound to be affected is the one between you and your spouse. Without the opportunity for real life social interaction with others, it’s easy for you two to become, well, sick of each other. It’s neither of your faults, but you both have responsibilities here. Don’t let loneliness enter into a relationship––here are several tips to help you reconnect with your spouse.

Gifts

 

Everybody loves gifts, really––regardless of whether that is the giving or the receiving of them. There is a unique satisfaction that comes with the knowledge that you have taken the time and the expense to find something that you know the gift receiver will love. Likewise, there is so much joy to be had in the knowledge that someone really gets you––to the point that they can find something that encapsulates that and give it to you (again, human behavior thrives on connections).

Spontaneously getting your partner a gift is not about buying back affections, but is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation of their patience in difficult times. At the end of the day, you’re both in this pandemic together and it will go a long way to help cheer your partner up in these difficult times. Speaking of times, if you are looking for a unique, but gorgeous, high-calibre gift for your romantic partners, then consider a decorative timepiece. The best part of giving watches as a gift is that they can be given to romantic partners at any time (pardon the pun) and regardless of gender. Still need a gentle nudge in the right direction? Head over to thewatchbox.com and start by looking into the Jaeger-LeCoultre watches for sale there.

Ignorance Ruins Bliss

Ever heard of phubbing? It’s a portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing.” We’re all guilty of phubbing someone, by using our smartphone when we’re supposed to be interacting with a friend, spouse or family member. However, it’s potentially a bigger problem than the quirky term suggests.

It’s all well and good spending time with our romantic partners (and the pandemic is certainly helping us do that), but it’s hardly the pinnacle of relationship satisfaction if you’re not quite present. Nothing opens the door to loneliness in romantic relationships more than excessive phone use. Unless you’re expecting an important call, do you really need to have your cell phone on you at all times? As with many major distraction in life that’s brought on by an impulse drawing to it’s use, excessive mobile phone use can be a sign of social media addiction, mobile phone addiction or even technology addiction. This isn’t just a danger to our romantic relationships, but a rise in despondence can lead to issues with other social interactions as mobile phone addiction can seep into, and affect, all social settings.

Nip that particular bugbear in the bud––turn off the phone and devote some time in the day to each other.

Vacation or Staycation

Going on a vacation to get away from it all can sometimes be a real healer in a relationship that runs the risk of going stale. By removing yourselves from the stresses of home life, and replacing them with a different environment, you get to enjoy your company a little more. However, with CDC advice on traveling during the pandemic suggesting that you avoid it unless necessary, you might have to settle for a vacation at home. It’s still possible to enjoy a holiday despite not going anywhere––take time off work, order take-out, spend a day in bed talking and laughing, or lounge in the garden or a park. It’s the quality of the conversation that matters, not the location.

Tougher Measures

If things are tough, then there’s alternative solutions still available. Much can be said about therapy, and studies prove its effectiveness. There’s no harm in trying (most are offered through video calling at the moment), and it’s a normal part of life to just talk things through. Little things that are left to fester in a relationship become toxic, and toxicity is poison. Don’t let this virus claim a victim in your relationship with your spouse, and take the help if you need it.