In Malaysia we are now into a month into the movement control order. By now our patience are wearing thin, frustration, irritation, anger may be flying. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring..

We find ourselves confined to our homes. We find ourselves working from home or struggling to work from home and being with our spouse, partners and children all day. This can be very stressful for both partners and for the kids.

Let’s face it, young kids have a lot of energy and when they cannot dispel that energy, they run a riot, throw tantrums, they get angry, upset.

Now spending time with your spouse, partner..in the first week it’s bliss, you get to spend quality time with each other…come 3 weeks down, living together, breathing the same space, emotions may start to flare. Habits that you found endearing now irritates now, small little argument ensues.

If you have young kids, your stress level would be at an all time high. Now couple that with being in confine space, it adds to the stress.

Your relationship may start to suffer.

So how do you overcome this current situation. How do you adapt?

Firstly, remember this MCO is only TEMPORARY. While it is easy to lost our tempers during this period, seriously consider why are you losing your temper? This is what every stay at home mothers and fathers do every single day. Consider learning more about what goes on at home, focus outwards and not inwardly. Get to know your children, what they like.

Relationship with your partner / spouse:

I’m sure we all love our partner / spouse. We love to spend time with them (when we first date) however, it can become stifling when you find yourself with them 24/7. The phrase “Absence makes the heart grows fonder” does actually ring some truth in it.

Now with the movement control order, those who are living with your partner, it becomes stressful. We aren’t used to our partners being at home all the time. There’s still space to breath for both when we go to work. Now work is from home. You see him / her everyday. Little insults may start to be thrown about, irritation, frustration, arguments. You have more arguments (Stupid ones) then laughter. With all the disagreements, intimacy with each other starts to suffer.

So how do you resolve it?

First, if you are both working from home, find a space for your both to work separately. Maybe in different rooms. Pretend like your are at the office only thing is you can still communicate with each other without the phone. Make a date with your partner for lunch – you both can prepare lunch and spend that hour together. Then it’s back to work.

Second, if there’s a disagreement, take a step back (yes it may be difficult) and see it from the other point of view. Where is he / she coming from? Has there been unclear communication? Maybe you need to be aware of how you are communicating or maybe the tone of your voice.

Third, practice patience. It is understandable that our patience are wearing thin but now is the best time to practice patience for ourselves and to others.

Fourth, never go to bed angry or frustrated. If there are any disagreements, get it sorted before bedtime. Sit down with each other and talk it over. If you don’t it will just fester and build until there’s no turning back.

With this tips and pointers, it will help you to be better, faster and stronger in solving your issues, resilience through the MCO period.