Whether couples find themselves trying to work from home together in a crowded space or they disagree about how much public interaction is safe, 2020 has brought some strange challenges. And even those couples who felt confident about their relationship before the pandemic are likely to feel a bit of a strain right now.
As a therapist, mental strength coach and podcast host, I’m seeing couples face these five common challenges right now:
1. Priority differences
What was important last year might not feel so important this year. And while some activities may no longer be options (like sending kids to sports camps), other activities might still be optional.
And many couples find themselves in conflict as they shuffle their priorities to balance family, social activities and mental health with physical health and safety. Should we still plan to redo the kitchen next year? Are we going to go on that big family vacation in a few months? Should we let the kids go trick-or-treating?
It can be stressful to disagree on priorities. And couples who aren’t careful to talk about their concerns may be at risk of working against each other, rather than a team. So it’s important to talk about your priorities so you can discuss why you think it’s important to invest your time and money into certain activities, but not others.