17 Expert Tips To Keep Your Marriage Strong And Blooming During Quarantine (3 of 3)

Ask for what you need

Instead of assuming that your partner knows or will know what exactly you want and then feeling frustrated when they don’t, try improving your communication and telling them what you want from them clearly.

You should let your partner know what exactly you would like them to do, points out relationship expert Nikki Loscalzo. You cannot be mad about things that you never asked for in the first place, she further adds.

Do some new rituals together

Just because you are cooped up in a house for a long time and you cannot go to a new restaurant or hike doesn’t mean you can not try some other new things with your spouse.

Los Angeles based marriage expert Saba Lurie points out that doing some new things with your spouse can add that new spark your relationship badly needs in tough times like these.

If you want to boost your spirits, you can do something as simple as cooking a meal together once every week. The key is to plan and find something that both of you enjoy doing together.

Limit news time

We all want to keep ourselves updated with what’s happening around us, especially in troubled times like these. However, with nothing major going on around the world other than the pandemic causing chaos, watching too much news can make you feel unhappy and can affect your relationship.

Psychologist Pria Alpern, Ph.D. adds that watching the news for long hours can trigger anxiety and lead you to isolate yourself from your spouse. To overcome this, you can schedule a time when you’ll watch the news while doing some cooking or listening to music.

Enjoy your together time

Being in the same room as your spouse does not mean you two are engaged and doing something together.

Marriage expert Heather Sexton adds that binge-watching favorite shows on Netflix or browsing social media seems to be the thing most couples are doing these days. However, that is not really quality time. Although, it does not necessarily have to be something grand.

You can do something as simple as having a conversation, dancing and just trying to connect with each other.

Surprise your spouse

Following the same schedule day in and day out can make your relationship monotonous. To overcome this, you can plan a few surprises that will go a long way in ensuring your relationship stays rock-solid during troubled times such as these.

You can leave a small note that your partner discovers later, or do something special for your partner like baking a cake or cooking a meal, points out Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D..

Keep things simple

The world surely feels all doom and gloom as of now, but being a little cheerful can certainly go a long way in keeping the two of you happy together.

You most certainly know the kind of humor that tickles your partner – just use that to make your partner laugh and feel happy, suggests Sultanoff. Studies point out that empathic and caring humor can strengthen relationships, and now seems to be the best time to employ that humor in your relationship.

Prioritize affection

We all know that relationships are not exactly at the peak for most people, thanks to the pandemic and the quarantine. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot make an effort to bond with your spouse better.

Oxytocin, which is also called the cuddle hormone, is a great mood booster, says therapist Patricia Celan MD. You should cuddle with your spouse for at least fifteen minutes a day to bond with them better and keep your relationship on the right track.