This is part 4 of a 5 part series on Time Outs excerpted from our book, “The Secret to Lifetime Love”.

As soon as you have agreed to when the Time Out will be concluded, you should make sure to keep your end of the agreement and return to the conversation at the scheduled time and place. The next Time Out rule is to do just that.

Return to Conversation as Scheduled

It is important for both parties to get together at the time that was established when Time Out was initially called. Now, occasionally one or both spouses will not be ready to reconvene at the time that was scheduled; usually it is because one or both spouses are unable to calm down enough to be focused on resolving the issue.

In those cases, we encourage a brief engagement at the agreed-upon time for the purpose of negotiating another time to have a conversation. Return to face each other as agreed, even though you are not ready to solve the issue yet; but do not pursue solving the problem. Instead, schedule when you will be getting back together again. For instance, “Honey, I thought I would be ready, but I think I’m still pretty mad and I’m not ready to do this yet. Can we get back together in about an hour?”

No Talking About Subject Until Scheduled

Time Out is a break from the emotionally triggering issue. It is an attempt to hit the “reset button” for the discussion about the issue. It is a way to pause the conversation long enough for the thinking part of our brain to catch up with the feeling part of our brain, so we can employ the Speaking and Hearing Truth process and move toward resolution.

Linda and Donald were in an on-again, off-again relationship. They were attending one of our Life Together Forever Weekends and had listed their relationship as “Seriously Dating”. During a break, Linda told us that they had tried a time out in the past but that Donald just won’t leave the issue alone. He will follow her wherever she goes throughout the house. She reported that she sometimes refuses to look at him or talk to him when he is following her around the house but that he continues to try to engage her in the argument.

Of course, Donald and Linda were not practicing the Time Out Rules together. During the weekend, we helped him develop some specific activities that he could immediately do to move him away from the triggering argument and help him calm down. Linda agreed to return to the conversation at the appropriate time, even if it was just long enough for them to reschedule the issue-solving conversation.

During Time Out, neither spouse should attempt to engage the other about the issue that the Time Out is called about. The Time Out is a Time Out about that issue, so bringing it back up once the Time Out is called and before you have agreed to meet back together is actually harmful to getting the issue resolved. It defeats the purpose of the Time Out! Leave the issue out of the conversation as much as possible.

Communication About Other Things Continues During Time Out

Time Out is not a break from life. Life goes on. Children still need to be picked up from school. Arrangements still need to be made for dinner tonight. We still need to work out tonight and tomorrow’s family schedule.

There are differences between “The Silent Treatment” and Time Out. The Silent Treatment does not have a scheduled time to re-engage for resolution. The Silent Treatment is used to somehow “punish” the person who is being isolated. In the mind of the person administering The Silent Treatment is the belief that by withholding words they are causing pain to their target. I have found that the spouse being targeted by The Silent Treatment usually feels relief that their spouse is giving them a break and not talking to them!

Time Out means that we are only taking a break about the triggering issue. It does not require the parties not to be in the vicinity of each other. It does require that communication continue about other household management issues, such as transportation, meal planning, chores, and so on. You can talk about anything that is not a triggering issue during Time Out. Speak to each other about important things that cannot wait until Time Out is over, as long as they are not triggering the subject that caused the tension.

We encourage you to learn and practice Time Out Skills if either spouse is becoming triggered. When you re-engage each other, focus on using the Speaking and Hearing Truth Skills in order to achieve issue resolution and move forward together. By using these skills, you will improve your marriage commitment and strengthen your intimacy with each other.

Now that you know what you and your spouse should and should not do during a Time Out, watch for the next post in this series on Time Outs.

What do you have to say?

We love to hear from readers.  Have you ever thought about what to do and not to do during a time out?  Have you ever witnessed one spouse try to leave a heated conversation and the other spouse follow them as they leave?  What other recommendations do you have for couples to follow during the time out and as they get back together again?

This article was written by Roy and Devra Wooten, authors of “The Secret to a Lifetime Love”. Learn more at www.LifeTogetherForever.com © Roy and Devra Wooten 2015. All Rights Reserved. You may replicate this article as long as it is provided free to recipients and includes appropriate attribution. Written permission for other use may be obtained at [email protected].