The COVID-19 pandemic that we have all been living through for well over a year now has had many varying effects on people around the world. For many families, coping with lockdown has brought people closer together, stepping away from life’s distractions and giving them more time to spend together at home. For others, that precise situation of spending more time at home, as well as additional pressures around childcare, money and health, has placed an untenable strain on relationships.
Separation and divorce rates have been increasing around the world, with some experts warning that this phenomenon will not slow down any time soon, as the full after-effects of the pandemic make themselves known. Partnerships that are already under pressure can find themselves strained beyond repair with increased time spent together and worries coming far more to the fore when work or leisure options outside the home are suddenly curtailed. While separation can be incredibly painful and difficult to endure, how can couples work to lessen the impact and help smooth the way forward?