When my wife gives me constructive criticism, I turn things around on her. I say things I don’t mean. I always apologise later but I know I hurt her feelings and I know I’m damaging our relationship. How do I stop doing this to her?

Firstly, take ownership of your behaviour. During a time when everyone is calm, sit down with your wife and hold a conversation. Explain that you see the error of your ways. And you want to work on creating positive change. Secondly, develop a plan together. Work with your wife on developing a plan that will support your efforts to remain calm. The plan might involve taking a break or walking away for a few minutes when you feel frustrated. And lastly, work on yourself. A little self-reflection might go a long way toward helping you better understand what happens when your wife brings up an issue. Uncovering the reason that you get defensive can help. You’ll likely discover that you’re making some incorrect assumptions.

Since I started working remotely, I have been really lonely. My co-workers were the only people I really talked to, but now I only see them in the occasional Zoom meeting. How do I make friends as an adult?

When it comes to making friends, you might not necessarily need to start from scratch. There may be some people in your existing network that can go from acquaintance to friend fairly easily. Would you like to talk to some of your co-workers outside of regular Zoom meetings? If there is someone that you could imagine being friends with, you might reach out to them. Let them know you’re feeling a little disconnected from the world now that you’re working remotely, and you’d love to see them face-to-face. Perhaps you could invite them for coffee. You might find that your co-workers are feeling lonely as well. And they may appreciate some human interaction. In addition to becoming friends with co-workers, you might also tap into your existing network by reaching out to an old friend or two. Perhaps you’ve lost contact with your college roommate, or you’ve drifted apart from a neighbour you used to talk to often. Also, get out of the house and get involved in some activities that will allow you to meet people in your community. You might join an organisation, volunteer, attend religious services, or take a class.