We’re over a year into this pandemic, which has heavily disrupted all of our lives in one form or another. The good news: We have a vaccine; it’s being distributed; and our positivity rate is decreasing. The bad news: This past year has taken a toll on our businesses, our mental health and our relationships.
If COVID-19 has had a negative impact on your relationships, you’re not alone. The effects of the pandemic have amplified issues that are already common relationship pressures, including financial stress, parenting stress, work stress and social isolation. For some couples it may mean a few more disagreements than normal; for relationships that were already struggling, it may be highlighting some long-ignored deeper issues. I often tell couples, it’s no surprise that communicating and managing conflict feels difficult because no one teaches us how to do this. We’re taught algebra and chemistry, but few of us use those skills on a daily basis. We are, however, continually interacting with friends, family and co-workers, and we can all use tools on how to talk to each other and manage conflict.
