What are relationships like in the new normal?

Without a doubt, one of the worst periods in our lives was the lockdown. It was a time during which no one had a good experience due to everything we had to go through. And one of the groups most affected were couples, who often had to put their relationship to the test in order to adapt to new circumstances.

Couples didn’t have it easy during the lockdown. Both those who had to go through the pandemic together and those who lived it apart had to overcome tough challenges that proved their relationship was stronger than they thought. Meanwhile, the weaker ones were left behind along the way.

Improving the relationship toward the new normal

One thing is clear: the pandemic made us go through things we had never imagined. This led many people to feel anger and frustration, which they often took out on the people closest to them—usually their partner. That anger triggered arguments. But fortunately, those very arguments that broke some couples up also helped others become stronger. Through those moments, people found tools that helped them learn and seek resources to reach agreements and become more united.

One thing is certain: when we get angry, we don’t just show the worst of ourselves to the other person—we also start to see them as irritating. That puts the relationship at risk, so it’s important to reach an agreement as soon as possible to avoid a complete breakup.

The importance of managing anger

It’s important not to take out your anger on your partner. It’s also vital to recognize that your partner has flaws, but that you’re not with them because of those flaws. You’re with them because of the qualities that made you fall in love from the very beginning.

When we’re going through a phase of anger, we shouldn’t focus on the other person’s faults. Instead, we should try to remember their strengths. To do that, it’s important to learn to be flexible and not unload all our negativity onto the person we truly care about. It’s a way to become stronger and build a more lasting foundation for the relationship.

Taking the opportunity to strengthen bonds

One thing has become clear during the pandemic: communication is vital. Couples know this very well, and that’s why in the new normal, communication has gained even more value.

For everything to work well, bonds must be strengthened. To achieve this, we not only need to express our own needs to the other person, but also understand theirs. Sometimes, those needs may clash with ours, but if we learn to compromise, we can become much stronger. Agreements in a relationship are essential to truly be happy.

When it comes to reaching agreements, it’s important to negotiate a bit, without letting that negotiation turn into a direct confrontation. In a relationship, there are not only fun and beautiful moments, but also difficult times. And it’s precisely in those hard times when it becomes clear whether a couple is truly united or hanging by a thread. If you don’t want that thread to snap easily, you must be more flexible, just like your partner. Two people who refuse to give even an inch are doomed to fail in their relationship. Numerous studies have shown that the couples who last the longest are those where both partners have learned to take a step back to support the needs of the other.

Breakups during lockdown

As we’ve mentioned throughout the article, lockdown helped many couples become stronger, but not everything was positive. A large number of relationships were also strained by the pandemic, leading many to break up. It wasn’t just short-term relationships that ended—some couples had been together for years or even decades.

When it comes to breakups, there’s been a bit of everything. Some couples realized they simply weren’t compatible and decided to part ways in the most amicable way possible. Others ended up in court after breaking up in the worst way.

What’s clear is that when a relationship isn’t working, the best thing to do is end it. We need to let go of the idea of staying together just to avoid being alone. As the saying goes, sometimes it’s better to be alone than in bad company. Moreover, ending a relationship doesn’t mean being alone forever. There are always opportunities to rebuild your life and meet someone with whom you’re more compatible. Breakups are difficult and painful, but sometimes they’re necessary to find the right person.

What’s certain is that despite the variety of breakups, most have been civil. According to experts, this is because people had a lot of time to reflect, which led them to conclude that an amicable breakup was best.

One thing is for sure: assertive communication is the foundation of understanding in any couple. It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you’re in or have been in—if there’s no communication, the relationship is bound to fail. That’s why it’s essential to work on respectful communication to ensure a healthy relationship. Even for ending a relationship, communication is key. And remember, when one of the two is no longer happy, it’s better to end it. Dragging out the suffering helps no one.