Common Relationship Issues and how to tackle them?
This is a collaborative post
The last two years have been tough on everyone’s mental health. From lockdowns to working from home, restrictions on travel and missing friends and family, many of us have spent far more time with our partners than we would do normally and this hasn’t always been a positive experience. If you feel like your relationship needs some TLC in 2022, here are some of the most common couple arguments and how you can resolve them.
Money
By far the most common argument amongst couples comes down to money – or quite often, the lack of. If you have a partner who doesn’t manage their money well, has significant debts, or fails to pay their fair share when it comes to expenses, it can be the source of a great deal of frustration and anxiety. Try and have an open dialogue about money and the importance of planning ahead. If you or your partner are self employed, consider setting up direct debits to pay your tax to HMRC as you earn, rather than receiving a large bill at the end of the year. Budget, where you can, ensuring everyone, is clear on what they can be expecting to pay each month. If your partner has significant debts, consider contacting an agency who can help combine and manage monthly payments at an amount you can afford. This way, your debtors are all seeing some progress towards paying off what is owed, and you don’t have to worry about chasing letters arriving on your doorstep.
Household Chores
Gone are the days of “a woman’s place is in the home’ and in modern society, both parenting roles and household chores should be shared equally amongst the partners. Whilst running a home, looking after children and working full time can be a juggle, why not break the household chores down into manageable daily tasks and split them between you. For example, one of you may be more comfortable cooking whilst the other is happy to clean up. One can do the laundry the other can fold and put it away. Aim to share the tasks equally, unless one person has more child / work free time to allocate to tasks in the home. Remember, being at home with a a child is not the same as being at home, particularly when that child is intent on making mess as quickly as you can clear it up!
Diet
After two years at home, many of us may have noticed a significant change in our lifestyles, diet and weight management. If your partner has made comments about your appearance, they can be hurtful and upsetting, even if said with the nicest of intentions. Rather than making comments which can be hurtful or have negative connotations, why not work together to make positive changes to health and lifestyle, considering vegan diets, carefully checking food safety (https://www.pasc-fhcp.com/) and hygiene status, eating out less regularly and making healthy food subs. You could even consider exercising, walking or running together if your routine allows?
Communication breakdown
If communication with your partner is becoming increasingly difficult, you may want to consider relationship therapists, particularly if you have children and your arguments are impacting the entire family. There is no shame in encouraging an open dialogue, and therapists are trained to elicit communication that can otherwise be left unsaid in a safe shared space. Whilst sometimes it can be challenging to hear how your partner really feels, getting a better understanding of your partners thoughts and feelings can be the first step in moving forward together in future. (See relationshiptherapymississauga.ca)
