Every relationship has its ups and downs as time progresses, but did you know that there are three phases that correspond to the times that couples usually call it quits and go their separate ways?
Yes, believe it or not, relationship experts can pinpoint key moments in every relationship where the struggles might just get a little bit too much and cause an otherwise happy couple to take a visit to splitsville.
Breaking up is never nice and it’s never easy, but being aware of these key moments could help you to avoid them.
Are you ready to future-proof your relationship? Read on and find out how you can avoid the most common partnership pitfalls…
Danger Zone #1: The Honeymoon Phase
This phase is known as the tender, romantic period of a relationship. The two of you are excited and completely infatuated with each other. You’re making plans for the future and you feel as though you’re walking on thin air.
The dangerous aspect to this phase of a relationship is the fact that we tend to overlook the less-than-flattering side of our other half. We tend to idealize him and the problem occurs when we start to realise that our partner isn’t actually a knight in shining armour – he’s actually just a normal person.
At this point in a relationship, our partner’s bad habits can start to grate on our nerves and we may find ourselves picking problems and fights.
How to Avoid Disaster:
Make it a point to be completely open and honest with your partner from day one. The biggest problem that you can make is to bottle up your feelings. If you keep quiet about the things that annoy you, eventually they’ll get bigger and bigger until they eventually turn into resentment and no one wants that.
Danger Zone #2: The Adjustment Phase
This phase occurs when the newness of your relationship starts to die down and relationship experts rate this phase as being the most challenging for couples.
All the initial excitement has been replaced by the mundane and yourself and your partner start to feel more like ‘friends’ rather than lovers. It is during this phase when sexual desire starts to subside. The good news is that this is completely natural and, in most cases, a temporary problem.
In this stage the main problem that couples have is finding space for each other in their lives. If you don’t live together, the logistics of spending time with each other can cause fights. If you do live together, the lack of personal space can cause fights.
Either way it’s a difficult phase as both partners are struggling to find out where they stand within the relationship. This phase is also when the issue of commitment arises too.
How to Avoid Disaster:
In this phase, couples are likely to avoid conflict. This won’t do your relationship any favours. It sounds counterproductive but one of the main things you need to learn within a relationship is how to fight fairly with your other half.
If you really want to talk about where things are headed, sit him down and explain that you need to have a talk. Say your piece, give him a few seconds to absorb the information then ask him for his thoughts, opinions or concerns. Fighting fair is all about communication. Rather than brushing your problems under the carpet and allowing them to fester, address them head on for the good of your relationship.
Danger Zone #3: The Long-Term Phase
This phase occurs when you’ve been together for a few years. The shine has completely disappeared from your relationship and you may feel as though the initial spark that brought you together is starting to die down.
During this phase it is crucial to keep things exciting. The more new things that you experience with your partner, the fresher your relationship will be.
How to Avoid Disaster:
Make a plan with your other half to have a date night once a week. On this night try to do something you haven’t done before. Relationship experts state that having new experiences with your partner will actually bond you even more.
If you can’t think of anything new to do together, at least try to spend a few hours alone and use that time to reconnect with your other half and remember just why you fell for each other in the first place.
