No matter your walk of life, this year has proven to be one for the record books. The stresses that many of us are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing protests, wildfires, not to mention the everyday stressors of general life, are weighing more heavily on our relationships than usual, but with a mindful approach to stress management and communication, we can all get through this together, relationships intact.

Acknowledging How Each Partner Handles Stress

We all handle stress differently, and in a time of uncertainty when we are all experiencing news kinds and levels of stress, it’s important for each partner to communicate to the other their own limits, fears, and needs. The more we strive to understand our partner’s relationship with stress, the more we can support them and be supported during times of high stress. It’s unlikely that you and your partner are experiencing the stresses of 2020 in the same way, so start a conversation and keep that line of communication open.

Communicating Openly and Often

As stress mounts, it’s important to be able to vent those feelings to our partners, but as a listener, it may be hard to tame our own stress as we listen. The solution? Try practicing “uninterrupted listening”, an exercise that allows each partner to talk about whatever might be on their mind or weighing them down. Just 5 minutes of uninterrupted listening is a great way to reduce stress, but more importantly, it allows our partner to get to know our stressors and identify ways to support us. When one partner’s 5 minutes is up, the coin flips and the timer restarts, allowing both partners to practice the exercise. 

Take Time to Work on Yourself

Working on your relationship can be stressful in and of itself, but it’s okay to take time away from your partner to focus on self-care. The more we do to take care of ourselves, the less we have to rely on our partners and the better we can support our partner’s needs. By reflecting on our own needs, we can also better communicate those needs to our partner, allowing them to support us. Self-care can be as simple as closing yourself alone in a room and reading a book, or spending time with friends away from your partner. Fostering your individualism helps refresh our sense of self and allows us to approach our relationships with open ears and minds.

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