A healthy relationship is made up of two individual people working together. Growing together as a couple also means creating space in your relationship for you and your partner to grow as individuals. Support one another in pursuing your hobbies and passions, and help one another find time for self-care and alone time within the relationship. When you support one another in growing your identities as individuals, you can create opportunities to learn more about one another and continue to grow your relationship!
Quality time is key to growing together as a couple! Take some time each week to focus fully on each other and your relationship. This may look like a weekly date night, where you get a babysitter, or even having an at home date night after the kids have gone to bed. When you set aside time to focus on one another, you can build a deeper, more intimate connection, strengthening your relationship with one another!
While conflict can be challenging, it is an inevitable part of any relationship. Sometimes, it can feel uncomfortable or even scary; however, it’s important to remember that conflict doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When you and your partner have an argument or disagreement, try to use it as an opportunity to grow and learn as a couple! When you communicate openly and honestly, while respecting one another’s needs, values, and feelings, you can work through conflict in a healthy way that actually brings you closer together. Visit our Toolkit for Couples for more tips on building healthy couple relationships!
Growth is an important part of happy, healthy, and safe relationships! Relationships grow and change over time, as we move through life and experience successes, challenges, failures, joys, and tragedies. Through these changes and challenges, it is important for couples to be open and honest with one another to promote growing together, instead of growing apart. We realize that growing together as a couple can be difficult and takes hard work, so we’ve created a series of tips to help you and your partner grow together as you move through life!
By Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed., HRI Program Coordinator
With all of the uncertainty and emerging news about coronavirus, you’re probably hearing a lot about “social distancing” and the recommendations for everyone to practice social distancing as part of public health prevention efforts. It’s important to follow these guidelines to help reduce the spread of the virus, but it’s also important to figure out other ways to stay socially connected amidst these social distancing practices.
Social distancing can make it difficult to stay connected with loved ones and can bring about increased feelings of anxiety and loneliness. Making the time to check in or say hello to a loved one becomes even more crucial when we are not seeing people on a regular basis.
Technology can be a great tool for connecting with loved ones when we cannot travel or be physically present. By using video calling such as FaceTime or Skype, you can participate in special moments or watch a show without having to be together. Sending an audio message or a pre-recorded video is another way to show your loved ones that you are thinking about them. Other ideas can include sharing and engaging more with social media and sending thoughtful or funny text messages.
Older adults or those who live alone especially need support during times of social distancing, especially since they already are at risk for social isolation. It can be beneficial to develop plans for regular communication, such as calling at the same time each day or sending check-in texts. For those living in close-knit neighborhoods or retirement communities, agreeing to turn the light on in the same room or to raise the blinds at the same time each morning is a fast and easy way to check in with one another.
Staying in tune with your emotions and mental health is especially important during social distancing. Meditating, taking deep breaths, or listening to soft music can help reduce feelings of stress or anxiety. If you are spending more time at home, it may be helpful to rearrange your spaces so they are calming and peaceful. Reaching out for help or support will help you to stay connected and emotionally healthy and balanced.
Social distancing may keep us from being physically close to our loved ones, but it doesn’t have to keep us from staying connected. Being intentional about reaching out to the ones we love will help to maintain some kind of stability in an ever-changing coronavirus landscape.
