Bailey’s Love Tip’s: Love at Home 

Transitioning from going to work every day, to spending all your time with those near and dear to you is a big change. Extra time with loved ones is a wonderful thing, but being quarantined comes with challenges. Here are more than a few ways you can fill your new found time at home with positivity. 

Check-in on Family and Friends Virtually

Spread the love by keeping in touch with friends and family. Facetiming with grandparents and relatives is a great way to stay connected while apart. Writing thank you notes to friends and family in the medical field, or sending letters to elderly church members are great ways kids ( and adults!!) can help create a sense of community. 

Break out the Board Games

Now is a better time than ever to share a favorite hobby, recipe, game, or book with a loved one. Have a family game night, or teach your kids your favorite childhood game. Make your grandmother’s cookie recipe or invite a family member to join you in your online Yoga class. Use this time to share your passions with the people you love and maybe discover new ones. 

Support Local Businesses 

Check the social media accounts and websites of your favorite local business to see how they are handling COVID-19. Local businesses may be offering fun at-home activities, like Southern Sugar Bakery’s at home cookie decorating kit, and restaurants may now be offering takeout and delivery options. You can find a list of triangle restaurants offering takeout or delivery here.*

An easy way to support local businesses is to share their updates, ideas, or takeout menus to your social media pages. Buying gift cards to local businesses or restaurants that you can give as gifts or use in the future is also a great way to support local businesses. Don’t forget to keep shopping local!

*Local businesses are updating their hours and offerings daily. So please check to see what’s currently still available.

Make Time For your Partner

You may be spending more time with your partner than ever before, but make sure you are still setting some time to focus just on your partner. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your work or keeping children entertained while they are out of school, but make sure you take a few minutes each day to ask your partner or spouse about their day and how they are feeling.

Marriage 365 challenges couples to “Put your heads together and decide how you, as a couple, can be a blessing to someone you love that’s hurting. Maybe it’s sending a check to a friend or family member that lost their job, maybe it’s sharing some of your toilet paper or groceries with a hurting neighbor, maybe it’s donating your time to watch a friend’s child while you’re off of work and they aren’t. Just do something positive, for someone else, together.”

At-Home Date Night

Staying at home is no reason to postpone date night. Here are a few date night in ideas from Country Living’s list of “25 Best Home Date Night Ideas That Are So Much Better Than Leaving the House.” These are sure to help you and your partner make the best of your at-home time together. 

Order some of your favorite dishes from local restaurants, or better yet, order only dessert for dinner. Grab a charcuterie board from Mandolin or some pimento cheese fritters from Relish, light a candle, and enjoy an indulgent meal with your spouse. 

Challenge your partner to an at-home cooking competition. Have a bake-off with a technical challenge recipe from the Great British Baking Show, or give each other a surprise ingredient and host your very own Chopped showdown.

Pick up some canvases and paints from Craft Habit and “have a DIY wine and paint night.” Paint something that brings you joy and maybe break out that bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion. 

Check out the full list from Country Living here for more ideas. 

Focus on the Positive

More time at home means more time spent with family, more time to explore passions and hobbies, and more meals around the table together. During times where many of us may be experiencing worry or anxiety, it is important to be thankful for the good things and happy moments in our lives.

The Gottman Institute recommends asking your partner, “what brought you joy today?” as an easy way to shift the focus from anxiety to joy. This quick question can be extended to any friend or family member and helps “give joy a chance to shine.” For more relationship tips, you can subscribe to the marriage minute by the Gottman Institute.

While staying home may not be ideal, it’s an act of love, it’s a sacrifice we all are making for a healthier world. We’re all in this together, and it’s up to us to share the love with our families and our communities. #LoveIsNotCancelled.

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