4 Strategies for Dealing With Family Tensions in Self-Isolating Households
Has your household been self-isolating since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? If you’ve carefully stuck to quarantine rules and only left the house for essential business, you may have noticed rising tensions between your family members. Now that you have a bit more freedom in terms of local activities, you can find new ways to alleviate these tensions. These tips will help you identify the sources of frustration in your household and boost your family’s overall mood.
Poor Physical Health
During these difficult months, you and your family members may have strayed from your usual healthy habits. If your diet is lacking nutritious foods, and you rarely workout anymore, you might be struggling to process built-up tension, and the rest of your family is in the same boat!
To remedy this, start developing a fitness regimen, and encourage your spouse and children to join in. Also, begin taking steps to help everyone in your household eat healthier – encourage your kids to join you in the kitchen and help you cook basic meals! And for up-to-date information about keeping your family safe from COVID-19, you can turn to online health resources like Black Family Wellness.
Too Much Clutter
After a stressful few months, your household might just need some positive energy! Redfin notes that sometimes being in a cluttered, crowded environment can put people on edge, so making your home feel fresh and vibrant again can help transform the mood in your household.
Begin by clearing away clutter, tossing any broken items, and wiping down surfaces with an all-natural, DIY cleaning solution. Get your kids involved by giving them simple tasks like putting away items in their bedrooms. When you’re done, open up the windows to get some fresh air in your home – you’ll feel like the breeze is clearing out all of the negative vibes!
Boredom and Monotony
Despite your best attempts to keep your family entertained over the past few months, you may feel like boredom has finally settled in – and being unable to partake in their favorite hobbies might be making your children feel irritable and restless. The solution? Come up with some ideas for new family activities!
For instance, you might want to take your kids hiking with you, which is a great way to help everyone get some exercising while breaking up the monotony of long days indoors. For a successful family hiking event, Hike It Baby suggests bringing plenty of food and water, a first aid kit, and some rain gear just in case! Alternatively, you could go out of town for a family beach day. It’s easy to practice social distancing at the beach, so get your towels, umbrellas, and sunscreen ready! You can also kickstart your motivation to head outdoors by investing in a smartwatch that tracks your vitals (heart rate). It might seem like a pricey investment from the outset, but tracking your activity levels can actually help you stay more active.
Interpersonal Conflicts
Perhaps people in your household are butting heads more often. Occasional arguments are normal, but if you feel like your family members have been snapping at each other more frequently, it might be a good idea to discuss how you can allow everyone to enjoy a little more personal space and time to themselves.
Having “me time” is crucial for both children and adults alike, so when someone says they need a few moments alone, it’s important for everyone to honor this boundary. When everyone in your household is able to get some time to themselves, you can often avoid family fighting.
Dealing with these unprecedented circumstances have left many families struggling with various sources of household tensions. It’s not easy to hunker down inside for several months without much outside social interaction! But you don’t have to resign yourself to bickering with each other during the coming months. If you’re proactive about reducing tensions now, you can learn to get along again!
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