In any relationship, there are times when you just want your significant other to be as far away from you as possible. Unfortunately, it’s not always practical to storm out the door in a huff with no real destination in mind. Aside from just going to the another room (where there is always a chance of being followed by said significant other), there are a few special ways that you can get the frick away and protect your privacy.

•  The easiest way is to put on head-phones and turn up the volume as loud as you possibly can. This will more than likely aggravate your partner, but you will be free to listen to your own music, read, or surf the net in relative privacy even the same room. Do not underestimate the power of the headphones to give you the illusion that you are alone. If you have small children that need attending to frequently, you might want to use this tactic only when they are in bed because you might temporarily forget that they even exist.

•  Another way to get some down time by yourself when you need it is to take a bath. Add some bath salts or bubble bath, grab a glass of vino- red is preferable for bath time, and read the smuttiest piece of literature that you have in your house. For indulging yourself a little extra, some chocolate truffles will compliment both the wine and the smut.

•  Take a quick walk around your neighborhood and try to notice things in a different way. Of course, if you are angry, a jog might be a better alternative to get out your angst and give you some privacy. Headphones and an i-Pod are definitely advised for this option as well.

•  Write. Grab a journal and write your feelings. The nice thing about a journal is that unless you are unlucky like Harriet the Spy, journals are private. You can write your feelings about your husband, boyfriend, dog, or whatever and no one will ever know what’s really going on in your head. Of course, it might cause some discomfort if the person you are writing about is actually in the room with you, but I’ve never let it stop me.

•  If your partner in crime agrees, watch your own TV shows for an evening. Vegging out to the TV is a lot easier to do when you are actually watching shows that you like.

If all of that fails, use your “Get out of Jail Free” card and go out with some friends. Don’t leave the house angry and make arrangements  for a designated driver so that you can drink as much as you need to.