While staying home may have felt relaxing at first, prolonged self-isolation can become stressful. When tensions rise at home, whether between partners or family members of all ages, finding relief is challenging. Try these methods to help ease tension while sticking it out with quarantine protocol.

Do Inner Work

If a heightened awareness of your own emotions has you bearing the brunt of isolation stress, consider seeking support. Turning inward can highlight your personal challenges and help you grow as a person. For help with adapting on your individual path, consider consulting with a wellbeing coach like Leanne Holitza. You can learn how to harness your internal power and enact positive change, regardless of the environment around you.

Start a Household Routine

Developing a household routine can bring much-needed structure to your quarantine home life. As Very Well Mind confirms, a lack of structure can worsen stress and anxiety, cause overwhelm, and reduce focus.

Both children and adults benefit from an orderly structure – and consistency, predictability, and follow-through are essential, notes the CDC. Of course, adding fun elements like game nights can even make self-isolation a positive experience for kids.

Prioritize Sleep

Another part of keeping the entire household on a schedule is ensuring all ages get enough sleep. Especially for kids, a lack of quality rest can mean high emotional tension. Reflecting on your children’s bedtime rituals and comfort objects, if any, can help provide perspective on achieving restful sleep.

Of course, for kids that are afraid of the dark, it can be extremely challenging to relax at bedtime. Acknowledging their fears and devising solutions together can go a long way toward overcoming nighttime anxiety.

Indulge in Hobbies

Hobbies are an excellent way to cut tension and enhance relaxation. As Kaiser Permanente notes, engaging in hobbies presents both mental and physical health benefits – side effects include improved mood and a lower heart rate. No matter what you love, it can help you reduce stressors if you partake regularly.

Even gaming can be a source of stress relief, especially for kids. But if you’re into popular games like Fortnite, recognizing that you’ll need more robust internet could be a problem. It might be time to look into fiber-optic connections to support your family’s hobbies. The best internet for gaming is quick and responsive, and that speed and agility can translate to easier access for work and school, too.

Set Goals for the Family

From DIY renovations to learning a new language, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy as a family. More importantly, you can set goals that everyone can work toward – together. Having a goal in mind offers motivation for your household. Harvard Health explains that goal setting helps reduce stress. Plus, focusing on a specific project can help redirect energy that would otherwise become destructive.

Spend Time Outside

People of all ages can benefit from spending more time outdoors. If you can maintain social distancing practices, heading outside can be almost therapeutic after time spent shuttered indoors. For families, getting active together is another excellent way to burn off tension. But time in nature is healthy regardless – and every outdoor activity has the potential to lower your stress levels and help you relax.

Connect with Friends

Before self-isolation, everyone in your home probably spent time with friends or colleagues. But remaining in close quarters with only your family members for long periods can become draining. Another healthy way to burn off steam is by connecting with your friends – even if it’s only virtual. Even kids can have remote playdates and continue to build social skills while maintaining safe distances.

Tension is normal in any household, but it’s especially prevalent in those sticking with self-quarantine. Fortunately, there are ways to find relief from the turmoil that’s happening inside those four walls. With these seven strategies, you can enjoy a more peaceful home – even if you have to stay inside it for even longer.

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