Five-minute trick to help you stop bickering with your partner during lockdown

We've home for about a whole month now and if you've spent all this time at home with your partner, you might have found yourself starting to struggle a little.

For some this period of self-isolation could make or break their relationship.

A number of people might find themselves bickering over the smallest of issues and pretty soon this can escalate into full blown yelling matches. It's not pretty.

If you're nodding your head in agreement and finding this far too relatable, then Grace Hazel might have some words that can help you.

The sexual healing coach has taken to social media to share some advice for couples who are going through tough times at home.

Grace posted on Instagram explaining the concept of non-violent communication to her over 23k followers.

She explained how non-violent communication involved expressing your honest thoughts and feelings in a way that is likely to be received with understanding.

It's also about listening for the other person's needs and being compassionate even if they are coming at you with what sounds like an attack or criticism.

As well as practicing this, she adds that couples should try a five-minute communication exercise when they feel themselves approaching an argument.

She said: "If you really want to get something sorted out, try setting a timer so that you and your partner have around five minutes each to ‘consciously and nonviolently’ express what’s going on for real.

"This time is strictly uninterrupted (which includes facial expressions like eye rolls – which I am very prone to doing!)"

After five minutes, when the timer goes off, the person who was listening should respond with "what I heard you say is..." before reflecting on what they heard.

The pair then swap over and the listener becomes the one doing the talking. You can keep doing this until you both feel like you've been heard and are understood.

Grace adds: "Hand on heart THIS is the most important thing I have ever learnt about relating."

Shannon Smith, the relationship guru over at Plenty of Fish has also shared some advice for couples who are in lockdown together.

Speaking to Mirror Online about how to keep the spark alive, she said: "When you’re both spending all day in the house, it can be very easy for the boundaries between work and play to blur. So make sure you both have a point when you shut off your screens and do something away from technology (even if this is just for a bit before going back to watch a movie or video call friends).

"This break will also give you a distance from falling into endless 'work chat'."

She adds: "Doing something together can also help spark up conversation naturally; if you’re prepping dinner use it as an opportunity to talk about your favourite dishes, the best restaurants you’ve eaten at, culinary disasters and what dish you’d take to a dessert island. Or why not both choose a book to read so you can discuss it? Who said book clubs can’t be just be between you two! Being in lockdown will lead us all to try new things, so use these as a starting point to learn more about your partner.

"Similarly, if you’re planning a date night, revel in the luxury of it being only you two, rather than surrounded by others in a noisy restaurant or bar. Take the chance to chat to each other about the bigger things. You may be surprised at how little these conversations crop up when you’ve both got packed schedules, and this is your chance to properly understand how each of you are feeling and explore any anxieties or excitements you have.

"It is also important to remember that sometimes silence is okay, and you can enjoy each other’s company just by simply being together too."