Quarantine and chill, they said. More like quarantine and children. Quarantine and work from home. Quarantine and wash, cook, and clean. And this list could go on.
Absolutely no one signed up for the stress COVID-19 has presented, but it’s better to be safe at home with your loved ones than to be sorry. We know it can get hectic being around your significant other and/or your children all the time, so Flair created its very own guide on how to get through coronavirus without killing each other. See the suggestions below:
If you and your boo are working from home, we suggest doing so in separate rooms or corners so that you can pretty much act like you’re going to work.
Have lunch dates. Find an appropriate time that syncs with your and your honey’s schedules, and eat lunch together. It’s a great way to catch up on the day’s events.
Share chores. Invariably, when you’re home together, it is the female who is expected to do the home chores. But remember that you are both working from home. Set out a roster that works for both of you, and be flexible about it as time progresses. Things can change, which might require an adjustment in the line-up. Have a shift system
If you have children, have a shift system in place so that one person stays at home and the other person goes to work, depending on the demand. If you’re flying solo, work between an assigned task that you give to your children that will take up their time and give you the time you need to tackle a few tasks. Hopefully, you can put them down for a nap so you can get back to regular programming. Also, children thrive on structure, so be sure to provide a day of learning and fun activities for them. It can’t be all work and no play, and it definitely shouldn’t be a free-for-all situation, either. Activities can include those that are just for them, or they can incorporate you, the parents, too. Avoid taking out your frustrations on the little ones; they didn’t want this any more than you did. Take the time out to bond with and appreciate your bundles of joy; you might learn a thing or two from them.
Partners, support each other through these roadblocks. Your partner could probably use an extra pick-me-up, based on how the workday is progressing. Supply them with a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, or anything that he or she would appreciate as an extra perk. Then go about your business.
Try to go on work breaks together, if that is at all possible. Take a romantic stroll in the garden, or take in some well-needed, well-deserved fresh air.
On the flip side, it’s easy to get swept away by all the happenings of the days and be flustered by them, too, so encourage your partner in life to take a break and have some necessary me time. He or she can just be alone for a minute, or 30. That way, the return can be that of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Make an event out of duties like cooking. Get persons in the household actively involved with a couple’s cook-off or a culinary mission for the entire family. This is an exciting way to have everyone participating and spark interest in the kitchen. On a sultrier note, couples can move from one fire to another, if it is that they are only entertaining a party of two.
Aspire to remain as close to normal life as possible. Although you have the break from your nine-to-five, be cognisant of the fact that while at home, especially if you have children, you might be neglecting your partner. So spend a little time with each other after the children have gone to bed. I know the days are longer than normal, so make that quality time with your lifeline count.
Story by Krysta Anderson
krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com
