Human beings are resilient creatures. Amidst the fear, stress, and anxiety brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, people relate to each other kindly and meaningfully, from checking-in online to singing together on balconies. But social distancing and quarantines can challenge even the happiest and most stable relationships. My wife Yvonne Teplitsky—the founder & owner of Artsy Goddess Studio—and I have been spending time in quarantine together. Like many couples in quarantine around the world, we've had our share of ups and downs while sharing this experience.

In today's episode, Yvonne and I share our experiences with spending time together while being self-quarantined and how we're navigating it as a couple. We discuss how we cancelled a trip to Florida in light of COVID-19 and how a quarantine can exacerbate relationship issues. We highlight the importance of communication and intentionally making space to talk about fears and anxiety about the crisis. We also discuss how appreciation can keep us grounded and connected to our partners as well as illustrate how allowing ourselves to feel joy can help us in these trying times.

"It's like we've all been turned upside-down and shaken. Everything is getting reset and we're asking: "What am I about now and how do I want to continue?'" - Yvonne Teplitsky

This week on Relationships! Let's Talk About It:

• The importance of intentionally making space to talk about fears and anxiety over the coronavirus crisis
• Creating new routines, setting boundaries, and navigating alone time versus together time while in quarantine
• How to check-in with your partner instead of placing blame
• How we respond to and ease each other's anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic
• Cultivating communication skills and things to talk about with your partner while in self-quarantine
• How to stop bickering and relationship escalations through staying connected
• The power of bringing humor and joy into your relationships
• The relationship challenges of being in extremely close quarters
• Microboredom and how we can respond to boredom while in quarantine
• The value of physical intimacy in a time of crisis

Resources Mentioned:

• Understanding and Managing Differences in Your Relationships
• The Art of Apology
• The Power of Appreciation
• Emotional Regulation
• The Goal of Healthy Conflict
• Setting Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty

Connect with Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky:

• Artsy Goddess Studio
• Yvonne on LinkedIn
• Yvonne on Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Let's Talk About It!

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Theme music "These Streets" provided by Adi the Monk