Stay-at-home orders have led to a whole lot of togetherness, for better and for worse. Shared space can begin to feel like a prison if you don’t take proactive steps to carve out a space for yourself.
You used to have time to “decompress” in the car commuting to and from work. You used to take care of yourself and boost your mood by going to the gym or yoga studio. You used to enjoy finding your zen with a massage or pedicure.
These activities, all outside the home, are important for your mental health and for your relationship.
So, now what?
It’s more important than ever to find “me” time and to grant your partner “you” time. You need to be intentional about giving each other much-needed space.
It’s a good idea to talk about it – what do you need and want? What does your partner need and want?
Sitting down with a good book or putting in earbuds to listen to music doesn’t mean you want to shut each other out and escape. It just means that you’re taking proactive steps to take care of your well-being. That’s a good thing!
So, now’s a good time for an honest conversation. How do you navigate your still-busy schedule? In Girl Scouts, we used to make a kaper chart, listing various tasks for a meeting or campout along with who was responsible. Now might be a good time to create a kaper chart! On a given day, who will cook? Who will take care of the kids? Who will do the laundry? A good place to start is by listing all the non-negotiables on the schedule like work-related meetings and deadlines, then filling in the rest.
Together time is important. Time apart is equally important. While you’re taking care of others, remember to also take care of yourself. Your relationship will thank you.