How Can You Cope With Family Tensions During Lockdown?

Family tension is at an all-time high in most households. The pandemic has pushed people inside the four walls and forced them into confined spaces with restricted movement and fun activities.

We get how living in close quarters with your family can be highly stressful:

1. You might not be used to spending so much time with your family.
2. Our family has unique ways of getting under our nerves.

According to a joint survey by YouGov, Mint & CPR, a whopping 81% of people feel that the workload has increased ever since working from home (WFH) became a part of the new normal, according to a joint survey by YouGov, Mint & CPR.

With the added pressure of salary cuts, job uncertainty & family arguments, keeping your mental health in check can get very challenging. As the second wave wrecks havoc throughout the country, let's address the family stress that has got everyone on edge.

Also Read - Keeping Your Children Safe During Pandemic

Families Don't Need To Be Perfect, And They Need to Be Open to Change

COVID-19 anxiety is real, and it grows a bit bigger every time you hear about someone losing their life or livelihood because of COVID-19.

Families that can work as a unit, a team, can be a powerful life force that can successfully create a peaceful anxiety-free environment that can help you focus on your work and flourish.

“Everything can be taken from a man, but the last of human freedoms: to choose one’s attitudes in any given set of circumstances.”

~Viktor Frankl, neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher

Don't focus on your family being perfect, and every household has a different dynamic and a different version of perfect. Find the right balance of coordination and support with the people you live with under lockdown.

But this isn't very easy to accomplish; let us look at how it can be.

Five Easy Steps To Defeat Family Stress During A Lockdown

Step-1: Schedule a 'Me' time in your daily routine.
If you don’t have a private space in your home, then putting on headphones and listening to the music of your choice, that one podcast you find soothing, or just listening to ocean sounds can help a lot, especially when you can't physically be on a beach.

Step-2: Share and communicate with your family.
Tell them how family stress is affecting your ability to work. Talking it out isn't just a theoretical experiment, but it works. Even if you don't expect your family to understand, talking to them is always worth a shot.

Step-3: Prioritize your self-care habits along with work.
As the boundaries of work and life have wholly dissolved into one, everything can look like a chore. Make sure you do something recreational every day. You can grow some vegetables in the house, join an online yoga class or a digital group workout session.

Step-4: Encouraging words has an echo effect.
Appreciate your partner, flatmate, family member. Even if you are frustrated by their presence, a simple good morning or a thank you can help them relax, making them more positive towards you.

Step-5: Stop the news now, but not the COVID-19 precautions.
Watching too much news releases stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline. It can manifest into fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

According to a study, watching just 14 minutes of negative news can make you feel sad and depressed. Limit your intake of news, and it can only do you harm.

Don't Be Afraid To Talk To A Professional

Family tension can get overwhelming at times. And without any space to blow out steam, things can escalate quickly. Don't hesitate to consult an online Therapist, either for your partner, parent, or child.

Sometimes, the voice of reason comes from outside, and therapists are best equipped to tackle the unique challenges you or any family member is facing.

Lockdown Doesn't Mean Locked Out Of Life

Although it can feel like being caged with inmates, it is essential to remind yourself that this isn't permanent, and you don't have to suffer alone.

Try to get everyone on board for some fun activity, and family arguments can turn into a family fun time if you can figure out what exercise you can all enjoy together. It could be cards, a musical session, board games, or maybe an old movie.

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in” ― Leonard Cohen.

Focus on things that make you happy. Remember, living in a pandemic doesn't mean living without joy.