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Managing deployment separation is understandably hard. Not having your spouse around can cause major changes in your lifestyle and transfer the burden of managing the household and other responsibilities on your shoulders. But, as this article by Military Wives will explore, things don’t always need to be gloomy, as the time you spend apart can help both of you grow as individuals and make your relationship stronger.
Maintain Strong Communication
When your spouse is in the field, you can’t pick up the phone whenever needed and have a chat. But, that does not mean that you can’t stay connected and keep them updated on everything that’s going on back home.
- Send Emails
Regardless of where they are stationed, emails are a reliable source of communication. Because, unlike letters, you won’t have to wait for days or weeks for them to be delivered. Additionally, you can attach pictures or even record a personalized video for them, expressing how much you miss them and providing encouragement for their mission.
- Send Care Packages
If you know your spouse gets homesick, a care package is a great way to send them some much-needed love. Your packages can include their favorite food, personalized notes, pictures, or special items towards which both of you share an emotional connection.
- Share a Journal
A creative way of communicating with your spouse is to start writing a journal and then mailing it to them after you have filled a substantial amount of pages. Your spouse can then do the same and mail it back to you. While you may be connected frequently via email or texts, your conversations could be much shorter than you want. A journal on the other hand will allow you to flush out your feelings and experiences. Additionally, it’ll help both of you stay up to date with all the small details you’d like to share with each other.
Focus on Yourself
The stress and anxiety related to your spouse’s deployment can become overbearing if you don’t keep it in check. Here are a few ways to remain healthy and maintain a good standard of living:
- Create a Routine: While the first few days will understandably be difficult and would call for sleeping in and comfort foods, slowly you’ll need to start building towards a new routine. Developing a routine will provide your day with some much-needed structure and predictability. If you’re unsure of how to make one, you could take some tips from the expert aka your spouse.
- Set Personal Goals: Having goals will help you channel your energy towards things that will provide you with a sense of fulfillment. For instance, you can choose to further your education by pursuing an online Master’s degree. Not only will this improve your job prospects, but being online, it’ll allow you to manage other responsibilities as well. Other goals could include starting a blog, learning how to invest, going on solo adventure trips, etc.
- Be Physically Active: As reported by Healthline, exercise serves as a natural stress buster. Engaging in physical activity leads to the release of various feel-good hormones in our bodies. These hormones provide us with a natural upliftment of mood and reduce stress. Integrating exercise as a regular part of your routine will help you overcome negative emotions and have clarity of thought.
Create a Healthy Home Environment
According to research, your home environment has a big impact on mental health. Living in an untidy, cluttered home can amplify stress and negative emotions. Here are a few ways to create the best home environment for your family:
- Declutter: Given that the reins of the house are solely in your hands now, use it to its full potential by getting rid of all unnecessary items such as old furniture, decorations, run-down clothes, items in the garage, and more. With these out of the way, your home will feel naturally spacious.
- Add Houseplants: In addition to beautifying the space, houseplants are known for providing numerous mental health benefits such as lowering stress, reducing fatigue, and promoting happier moods.
Not having your spouse around is never easy, but following the above-mentioned tips will help you stay connected and help each other through the deployment period.
Contributed by Virginia Cooper