Lockdown that Love: 5 Do's and Don'ts for Long-distance Couples in Quarantine

It's hard enough to be in a long-distance relationship, but what can an LDR couple do if the situation was unplanned? There are thousands of couples separated because they were traveling when the lockdowns and curfews being implemented around the world hit us hard. For many, there was simply no time or no means to get back home. If you're a long-distance couple forced to be that way because of the quarantine situation around the world, what can you do to make things better? Here's a quick list of do's and don'ts for long-distance couples forced to be separated by a lockdown or quarantine:

1. Be there for each other: She's probably frightened by the prospect of being alone at a time when the world seems to be falling apart. Be there for her by texting and emailing on a regular basis. Just a "thinking of you" every now and then can help calm her nerves. Girls, reassure your guy that you're alright; don't leave him biting his nails wondering if you're safe all the time.
2. Find close confidant(e)s for yourselves: Not every fear or worry needs to be shared with the one you love. Often, it only serves to make the situation worse because your better half knows that you're going through the pain of isolation and there's nothing they can do about it from where they are. For that reason, each of you needs a close friend or relative you can pour your heart out to. Men, don't try to be macho and hide your feelings. It's far better to vent out some of your frustration with a person you're comfortable with.
3. Engage in "together activities": Make good use of the technology tools available to us. There are several online platforms where the two of you can spend time with each other doing the same activity, even if it's as simple as playing online Sudoku, real-time online card games, virtual board games, and so on.
4. Enjoy "me-time activities": Being in different locations doesn't mean you need to spend every waking minute on the phone with each other or tracking each other's whereabouts. Reserve some time to be alone with your thoughts. You won't be apart forever, so think about the life changes you might make once you and your lover or spouse have been reunited.
5. Never, ever indulge in self-pity: It has been said that self-pity is the most destructive emotion in the world. How true that can be! It is a diving board that makes you plunge into the dangerously deep waters of depression. Admittedly, self-pity can be a soothing balm for a while, but it is nothing more than wasted minutes eventually sinking into endless hours, days, and weeks of intense melancholy. In short, it's bad for you in any measure.

The best advice for long-distance couples who hadn't planned on being apart is to go on living your lives as if you were together. Creating a semblance of normalcy in your daily routine offers many benefits, chief among them being that you will have the strength and fortitude you need to get through this tough time. Don't ever forget that the most important thing is how both of you 'feel' about the situation. The more positive your outlook, the more it will help you deal with the angst and pain of separation as the world deals with the novel coronavirus threat and the uncertainty it has brought to all our lives. God bless, be safe, and let's get through this together! We'll leave you with these invaluable tips for every long-distance couple...