There is a difference between being in a serious relationship and being an old married couple long before you’ve ever even said “I do.” One is exciting and loving and the other is tired and routine. Be careful not to fall into these ruts and keep your relationship vibrant and fun no matter how long you’ve been together.
- You’d Rather Stay In Together Than Go Out. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to curl up on the couch together and stay in every once in a while with Netflix and a pizza delivery. However, as soon as staying in becomes your everyday routine, you may be in danger. Spending cuddly time together is amazing, but remember the early days when you would go out for drinks or see a movie in an actual theatre? If all you do is hang out at home, you could be in danger of not only missing out on experiences with your partner but becoming a relationship hermit.
- Your Idea Of Date Night Is Cooking Dinner Together every single time. This goes hand and hand with becoming a relationship hermit. Since you never leave the house, date night doesn’t happen either. Whenever you want to celebrate something special or switch things up a little bit, you find yourself heading to the grocery store, cooking that favorite meal together, and once again curling up on the couch. Sure, cooking together is a really fun activity and should definitely be mixed into your date routines. But if it’s what you do every time, it loses its charm pretty quickly.
- You Go To Bed Religiously Before 10 p.m. After a long day of being in an emotionally fulfilling relationship, you need your rest… not! It’s Friday night and there’s no reason for you to be in bed! Obviously, there are exceptions, but if you find yourself yawning and checking the clock at 8 p.m. when you used to go to bed at a normal time, that’s not a good sign. You don’t have to stay up all night to enjoy a fun and fulfilling relationship, but if you can’t think of anything better to do together than go to sleep, you need to reevaluate.
- Your Sex Life Becomes Routine. I remember I used to hear jokes growing up about parents saying, “Oh, that’s our sex night!” Yes, old married couples schedule their sex into a predetermined day of the week just like a doctor’s appointment or errand. Sex should be fun and spontaneous. It should overtake you so that you get lost in the heat of the moment! If you’re no longer feeling that drive or spark and sex has just become another part of your week that you have to do, that’s a serious issue.
- You Start Referring To Yourself As A “We.” We’ve all heard it, that dreaded moment when someone invites someone to something and they immediately see if their partner is able to go. What’s worse, if their partner can’t go, neither can they. I’m a strong believer in the idea that a relationship should consist of two amazing individuals coming together to make their lives better. As soon as you morph into one co-dependant blob, you’ve lost what’s made you an individual and that’s never okay.
- Your Arguments Become Petty and Small. Honestly, this is just a sign that you as a couple are starting to get annoyed with each other. Maybe you spend too much time together or have lost that connection. Regardless, your relationship should not be fighting about whose turn it is to buy toilet paper or who made more of an effort this week. Fights are a natural and important part of any relationship, but they need to be constructive and always, always end on a positive note. If you’re not moving forward, then it may be time to walk away.
- You think boredom is normal. If you were really honest with yourself, you’d have to admit that you’re bored with your partner and your relationship as a whole. Instead of realizing that this isn’t normal and that you should do something about it, you instead think that’s just how things go in relationships and you accept your lot in life. Big mistake.
