How the Pandemic Affected Relationships?

2020 was an unprecedented year that forever revolutionized the way we viewed relationships. Human relationships are usually difficult to navigate, and the pandemic stress further heightened this difficulty.

During this period, many relationships had to be fought for. Relationships during covid were tested and tried. While some fought and came out strong, others couldn’t make it out in one piece.

Just like with our finances, the pandemic was also a double-edged sword with our relationship. While it made some relationships stronger, it destroyed the others. During the pandemic surge, while divorce rates increased, some couples also experienced closeness more than they ever did. This begs the question, why does the same experience shape us differently?

Pandemic And Paradox of Time and Space

Different schools of thought would argue what time and space do to a relationship. While some would support the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, others might agree that out of sight meant out of mind—the pandemic heightened time and space, whether spent together or apart.

Couples who were spent all day together soon began to get frustrated and irritated with each other. The time spent together made the romance goes sour. Other couples grew fonder of each other with the increasing time spent together.

For couples in different citizens especially during the lockdown, the same thing happened with those stuck together. While the distance strengthened the relationship for some couples seem to connect over the shared loss and pain, the pandemic brought, even when far apart. Other couples struggled to maintain contact with the whole distance.

Whatever the situation, there is a common denominator - the couples. What time did was reveal and multiply whatever was always there. All that was needed to navigate the tough period was a will to make it work, effective communication, and maintaining communication rituals during this hard period.

Stress And Pandemic Boredom

Stress and boredom were two factors that changed the dynamics of relationships during the pandemic. Having a lot of time to spare, coupled with the psychological effect of the stress of dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, tends to make partners take it out on each other.

As the pandemic progressed and anxiety increased, stress began to take a toll on relationships, reducing intimate moments and time spent doing romantic things together. As intimacy reduces, couples start to lose their connection, fight and blame each other for the stress that they are experiencing.

The blame game further causes a strain in relationships. However, most couples that blamed the pandemic rather than each other found a way to have a happier relationship despite the strain.

The lack of end of the day reunion of partners also worsens intimate relationships. Because couples were always together, they quickly got bored of doing the same thing, and some people stopped altogether.

Maintaining The Rituals of Communication

The relationship struggles couples faced during the pandemic stemmed from a rift in communication. Shared and renewed affection in a relationship strengthen the bonds between partners. A hug, constant kisses, words of reaffirmation - are simple yet highly effective ways to feel connected to your partner.

The pandemic showed us that everything could change in a blink of an eye. Learning to maintain a level of normalcy with these changes can be good for your relationship. The pandemic boredom made some couples lose interest in these routines that strengthened their relationships, leading to a fallout.

Looking At Relationships Through a Different Lens

If the pandemic has thought us anything, it is the value of every moment. The pandemic has made people more intentional about who they date and how much time to spend on relationships that do not spark their souls.

After months of lockdown, people began to reflect on what they valued in a relationship. Post covid, people are looking for more defined and consistent relationships in their life. Intimate relationships have become more than sex but more of friendship and an ability to stay together and work things out even during a crisis.

The Rise of Online Dating

As the pandemic continued to rise and the human relationship suffered, people began to find a way to keep relationships alive because let’s face it — humans thrive on relationships. Most people began going on virtual dates and connecting with people all over the world.

Even as the pandemic ebbs and flows and cities gradually open up, the rise in remote work means social life would continue to be different. This change encouraged the continued use of dating sites to meet new people and forge new relationships.

How To Meet New People During Covid?

As covid-19 stripped away the way we randomly meet new people at bars, street, or house parties, people began to result to virtual events to meet new people. To meet new people during covid, you can join an interactive virtual class or sign up for an online dating site.

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