In self-isolation, it’s easy to lose your mind when you’re stuck at home. Here are the rules to live together during self-isolation in peace and happiness.
No one likes being in self-isolation. We all had productive and busy lives before this happened, and we want to go back to having our freedom. And this sudden change is emotionally hard on many of us, and our routines are completely destroyed. Some of us lost our jobs, while others are trying to work from home. However, we can incorporate rules to live together during self-isolation to help maintain routine and a sense of control.
No one expected this to happen, and for many couples, this is a huge test on their relationship. I just had a friend tell me, “I don’t really know who my boyfriend is.” They would only see each other at the end of the day. Now, they’re spending all day and night together.
14 quarantine rules to live together during self-isolation
But there is a positive to this. Now, we’re going back to basics and getting to know our partners or family members all over again. And this isn’t a bad thing. But it’s easy to get into mindless arguments and project your anxieties onto the other people around you.
[Read: How to take care of yourself emotionally and avoid falling apart]
But it doesn’t have to be like that. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. But once you start to incorporate these tips into your self-isolated life, you’ll have a better experience.
These are a few must-follow rules during self-isolation that can help you, and your relationship.
#1 Take time for yourself. Yes, you’re in self-isolation with your partner, but that doesn’t mean you spend every waking moment together. Take time for yourself and practice self-care. Take a bath, watch your favorite show, or read your book. Give yourself time to take a break. [Read: How to make the absolute most out of your alone time]
#2 Stay active together. This is crucial. It’s easy to get lost on the couch watching Netflix until your mind goes numb. But you need to stay active, and so does your partner. Maybe do yoga together, go for a walk together, or follow a fitness class on YouTube. Staying active can help you feel good about yourself and clear your mind.
#3 Create your own routine. It’s important to create some sort of routine for yourself. Do things with your partner as well, that’s fine, but also make sure you have some sort of routine that’s your own. If you want to do yoga every morning, then do it. Create a routine that makes you feel good. [Read: How to survive and thrive during the coronavirus outbreak]
#4 Help each other out with household chores. You may be the one who usually does the laundry or washes the dishes, but now that both of you are home, it’s time to help each other out. Help your partner do chores that they’re struggling to finish because they’re working from home. Now is the time to be a team.
#5 Give yourself time to socialize with friends and family. You may be at home with your partner, but your family and friends aren’t that far away. If you have a smartphone, you can easily connect with them and have a date night with your parents or friends. Everyone needs to support each other through this experience. [Read: How to handle the isolation and cabin fever during the pandemic]
#6 Focus on effective communication. This is everything. Most of the time, we only see our partners for a couple of hours at the end of the day. But now, you’re with your partner all day long. It’s easy to get on each other’s nerves or feel disconnected from one another. But this is the time to reconnect and communicate with each other.
#7 Be kind to yourself and your partner. Listen, this is a crazy time, and no one in our generation has experienced this before. So, remind yourself to be kind to your partner and yourself as well. You’ve never experienced this before; it’s completely new to you. So, be easy on yourself and remember to communicate with your partner. [Read: How to be a better person and grown in a kind human]
#8 Don’t assume you know how your partner feels. You may be feeling overwhelmed and anxious, but that doesn’t mean your partner is sharing those feelings with you.
What’s important is not to assume you know how your partner is feeling. Everyone is experiencing this pandemic in a different way. This is when you communicate and check-in with your partner.
#9 Understand you may get on each other’s nerves. It’s going to happen. Even if you are the best of friends, the fact is you haven’t left your house in weeks. So, it’s normal that something small will get on your nerves and possibly cause some conflict. But learn from this and communicate your feelings. [Read: How dealing with a pandemic could bring you closer to your partner]
#10 Separate work from your personal life. If you’re working at home, it can start to feel like your home is now an office. But it’s important that when your working day is over, you leave it at your desk. Keep a specific area of your house only for work. This will create more of a divide between your work and personal life while in quarantine.
#11 Set goals together. After this pandemic, maybe you travel to South Asia or repaint your house. The goals can be long-term and short-term, but what’s important is that you set goals together. Now, with these goals, you have something to look forward to.
#12 Assure each other that it’s going to be over. Here’s the thing, this is going to end eventually. And that’s what you reassure in each other when you’re going through difficult moments. This will be over, and your old routine will eventually come back into your lives.
#13 Don’t forget date night. You need to have a date night at least once a week. Maybe you can cook together or order in and light a couple of candles for the table. I know you don’t have a lot of options, but you don’t need many. It’s just a night for you to reconnect and take a break from what’s going on. [Read: Want a really fun date night while staying in? Try these drinking games for two]
#14 Stay intimate. It’s so easy to slip into your sweatpants and then never get out of them. And when you’re stuck at home for days and days on end, getting intimate can feel more like a chore if anything else.
But being intimate with your partner is crucial during these emotionally difficult times. It doesn’t have to be sex, but cuddling and kissing helps you bond and remind each other of what’s important.
[Read: The best way to create and maintain emotional intimacy]
If you’re at home with your partner, you have someone to share this experience with. Use these rules to live together during self-isolation to help make it a positive experience.