4. Self-care isn\u2019t selfish<\/strong><\/p>\nIf there’s one thing I’ve emphasised to all the couples I’ve met over the years, it’s this: taking care of yourself is paramount. If you’re running on empty, how can you expect to support your partner? Whether it’s a hobby, exercise, meditation, or just a quiet moment with a cup of tea \u2013 find what rejuvenates you.<\/p>\n
5. Get expert help<\/strong><\/p>\nThere\u2019s no shame in seeking help. Just like you\u2019d consult a doctor for a physical ailment, consulting a couples only counsellor for relationship stress is a smart move. They can provide tools, techniques, and perspectives that can make all the difference.<\/p>\n
6. Teamwork makes the dream work<\/strong><\/p>\nAt some point, you and your partner decided to do life together. You became a team on that day. When stress hits, it\u2019s not ‘you vs. them’<\/em>, it’s ‘both of you vs. the stress’. <\/em>Think of it as playing doubles in tennis. When one player is having an off day, the other steps in. In the game of life, support each other, strategise together, and win as a team.<\/p>\n7. Establish rituals of connection<\/strong><\/p>\nConsider how important rituals are to us humans. Births, deaths, marriages, anniversaries. You name it. We\u2019ve got rituals everywhere for pretty much everything. Yet when it comes to connection rituals, it\u2019s sad how few couples have them. Here\u2019s an example. Every morning, before leaving the house my wife and I have a hug and kiss. Whoever is still at home, stands and waves the other off at the door. These rituals, be it: How we part, how we reconnect, daily check-ins, weekly date nights, or monthly getaways, help to maintain a sense of connection, even amidst the most stressful times.<\/p>\n
8. Reframe the narrative<\/strong><\/p>\nIt’s easy to see stress as a colossal monster looming over your relationship. But what if you looked at it as an opportunity? Every challenge you face together strengthens your bond and teaches you more about each other. Next time stress knocks, reframe it as a chance to grow together.<\/p>\n
9. Laugh together<\/strong><\/p>\nEver heard the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine”? There\u2019s truth to it. \u201cFinding the Funny\u201d even in challenging situations can alleviate stress. Watch a comedy, recall a funny memory, or just be silly together. Shared laughter is a potent antidote to stress.<\/p>\n
10. Set realistic expectations<\/strong><\/p>\nWe often burden our relationships with unrealistic expectations. Movies, books, and social media paint an image of ‘perfect’ relationships, but the reality is, every relationship has its challenges. Acknowledging that it’s okay to have ups and downs will reduce the unnecessary stress of striving for perfection.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/p>\n
Managing stress in your relationship isn’t about finding a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about understanding, adjusting, and growing together. As you face the storms of life, remember the love that brought you together in the first place. Nurture that love, protect it, and let it be your anchor. Because at the end of the day, when the chips are down, love and understanding can help you conquer any challenge, including stress.<\/p>\n
Stay connected, stay strong, and remember that every challenge faced together is an opportunity to make your bond even more unbreakable.<\/p>\n
And if you need professional help and support with the stresses in or on your relationship\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026Go here next<\/a>. <\/p>\nBye for now.<\/p>\n
Marcus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? It’s a regular Tuesday evening. You’ve just come home from a long day at work, and the smallest disagreement with your partner feels like the last straw. Stress \u2014 it\u2019s a universal enemy, one that sneaks into our daily lives, and often finds its way into our relationships. Hi, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1474,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1465"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1469,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465\/revisions\/1469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southdevoncouplestherapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}