The Naked TruthHow new coronavirus lockdown could improve your relationship, not ruin it: be playful, try eye-gazing and remember to self-soothe

Being together 24/7 again doesn’t have to be a threat to a couple – it could be seen as an opportunity to improve your connection

Activities such as cooking together or pretending to be going out to dinner but then eating at home can create a good ‘date night’ atmosphere

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Many people are understandably fed up living under coronavirus restrictions and this can take its toll on relationships – but not if you see it as an opportunity to grow closer. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:00am, 9 Aug 2020Updated: 2:00am, 9 Aug 2020

With us all living under the unrelenting pressure of a global health crisis that is taking a toll on our physical and mental well-being, we need to consider the strain our relationships and home lives are currently enduring.

Hong Kong is experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 infections that seems even more devastating than its predecessors as it caught most local residents by surprise while the city was slowly returning to normal.

In response, more stringent social-distancing measures have been installed – such as the compulsory wearing of masks in all public places, both indoors and outdoors – and more people are back to working from home.

Many people are understandably fed up living under restrictions with seemingly no end in sight. Such prolonged restrictions are harming our state of mind, and consequently, our relationships. They can trigger feelings of oppression and cause mental and emotional stress, as well as physical stress due to a lack of exercise and fresh air. Usually our quality of sleep is compromised, too.

This can all activate our unconscious coping mechanisms. Common coping mechanisms include overeating, drinking more alcohol and procrastinating, says holistic love and sexuality coach Linda Moana.

The prolonged restrictions can also ignite our fear of the virus and ultimately trigger a deep, unconscious fear of death, she says. “Fear is the most toxic and completely shuts people down.”

Linda Moana, love and sexuality coach and founder of Linda Moana Coaching.