Having a tough time at home during MCO ? Worry not, improve any relationships with these ~

Now that the world is sick with the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries announced the lockdown to prevent the outbreak from spreading to a larger scale. Although in Malaysia we do not have the lockdown, but our Prime Minister Tan Sri Dato' Muhyiddin Yassin took a somewhat similar action, which is the Movement Control Order (MCO). Originally, this MCO was announced on the 16th of March 2020, and will start from 18th March 2020 till 31st March 2020. However, the number of confirmed cases and death cases in our country seems to be increasing steadily instead of maintaining at the same figure or even decreasing. Therefore, the government took action to prolong the time frame for another two weeks which is until 14th April 2020.

Staying at home and not going out is tougher than you actually think. Previously, everyone's daily routine is to go to work or head to school, come back tiredly, get a nice "battery charge" and repeat it again and again, while everyone enjoy their weekends enjoying some family time, which is more than enough. Now that everyone is unable to go to work or head to school, we have to stay indoors all the time, but just by playing some electronic games online or watching dramas could also be somewhat tiring. 

The MCO has made a great impact on our relationships with everyone, whether it is our friends, family, partners, siblings or kids. Perhaps previously because everyone has limited time to be together, we knew how to cherish each other, and we do not have conflicts easily. During the lockdown in China, the divorce cases had increase rapidly up to a few thousand cases each and everyday that they needed to book a time online to divorce ! Think you have nothing to do ? Your actions had been frustrating your wife and causing some arguments between your relationship with your family ? Get these on your lists and finish them during this MCO period ! Let's Check It Out ~ 

1) Give your home a makeover - "Gotong-royong" 

Actually what brings satisfaction isn't how much money you have in your pocket, isn't how many games you won in your online game, but is just to share some household chores with your family. According to a study in The Journal of Marriage and Family, couples who share household chores are happier with their sex lives ! Never underestimate the power and the toughness of giving your home a makeover. This isn't just doing daily household chores like washing dishes or mopping the floor, you should actually move some of the cabinets, change a design and arrangements of your furniture, beautify the place ! Getting the chance to designate your home with your other one would be the best arrangement ever, and she will not nag you ever again ~ 

2) Workout 

Young couples who like to workout ? Old couples who don't move much ? Get some workout with your other ones where you can share some workout tips, help each other, laugh when someone did something wrong, get some sweat so that you get a healthy body, as well as a sexy and fit body ! Many had been eating a lot even up to 5 meals a day during the MCO, as when you have nothing to do, you tend to feel hungry and start to eat. Now, if you don't want to get out of shape, you should really think of sparing your time for some workout session ! Also, carrying out some workout could release a hormone named endorphins which could help you feel more positively toward each other, perhaps there's where the attraction come back again !

3) Sleeping beauty

What's better than a good rest and long sleep ? Despite those busy bee hours last time, this is the best time for you to catch up with your sleep, which you wanted desperately last time ! During the working and studying time, everyone has to wake up early in the morning to catch a bus or train, those driving needs to wake at the same time to avoid the traffic as well. Now with the MCO ongoing, you have ample time to have unlimited rest all the day !

4) Chef of the day 

Watched some mouthwatering delicious food on Instagram or Facebook ? Get going and DIY ! Now that you have extra time where you do not know what to do, you should start to learn how to cook. Whether you are an adult or a child or even a teenager, there must be some food out there which you do not know how to cook. Of course, if you're a beginner, fear not, make sure to learn how to cook new food and acquire these cooking skills ! Your wife is a pro at cooking ? Challenge her with something special or some different cuisine ! Spend some time preparing, cooking and washing with your family. I bet you could actually enclose your relationships ~ 

5) Games

Actually what kids right now do are the same as what kids in the previous eras did, it's just with a different medium. In the 70s or 80s, there aren't technology, so kids would play with what they have. Now that in the 21st century, everyone has a laptop or smartphone which comes with an in-home Wi-Fi as well, so games are also part of the kids' life. Thinking of having a better relationship with your kids or your siblings ? Make fun, mingle around and know what they like ! The easiest way is to cope with some basic games and start the competition among your family, I'm sure there would be many laughter ~ 

My Wife is Getting on My Nerves !

Thinking that your wife isn't as nice as what she was previously ? Now change a way of living, sticking together won't do, it will only increase conflicts among you two. Here are what you should do to improve and tighten your relationships, go along with your partner. Let's Check It Out ~ 

1) Spare some Time-Out

It would be good when couples have a healthy balance between time spent together and time spent apart just like your work-life balance. Previously, your partner goes to work or school, spend time with their friends and colleagues, then come home and see you where both of you have some time spent together as well. Now that due to the MCO, creating some separate spaces would be somewhat difficult. But, never try never know ! While your partner is cooking, you could go clean your room or look at some news in the living room. What matters in a relationship is the communication and respect toward each other, whether it is your sibling, parents, friend or your partner. Tell your partner when you need your alone time, and when he or she does the same, honor it.

2) Develop a short-term goal

Most people face anxiety when the have the fear of unknown. Now that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many circumstances have changed, everything is remained unknown, from your career, to your salary to the day this ends, everything is a question mark, left blank right there. Just to let you and your family or partner feel secure, you could try developing a short-term goal. An example of a short-term goal could be learning something new, planning to change something of your house, the amount of clothes that should be chosen and thrown away during this period and so on.