Taking a break is one of the most challenging, frustrating, and saddening parts of a relationship. No one wants to feel as though their relationship has failed or that they themselves have somehow failed. But sometimes, a break is necessary. Not only is it necessary, sometimes, it's a good thing.
Here are eight signs that it's time to take a break from your current relationship.
1. You don't talk anymore. Do you spend time talking -- really talking -- with your partner, or do you resort to talking about the weather (or other trivial stuff) only? When you've stopped really communicating, it's time to take a break.
2. You don't spend time together. Movie night has been replaced with "guys' night." Dates are a thing of the past. Trying to pin your partner to even hang out together is like nailing Jello to the wall. If your partner does not want to spend time with you (or the reverse), it's time to take a break.
3. You fight all the time. Sure, some amount of fighting is normal in relationships. Relationships (no matter WHAT others say) are hard work. But if fighting becomes the only interaction you two have, it's time to take a break.
4. You don't have sex. Sex is a very important part of any relationship. It helps bond you to your partner, and provides a sense of intimacy. No sex = a problem. It's time to have a (gentle) conversation about it or take a break.
5. You sleep in separate bedrooms. Very few couples can survive living in separate bedrooms for very long. It's not healthy, and very little good can come of it.
6. Your relationship has more bad than good. Yes, relationships are hard. Yes, they all have unique challenges. But when you can estimate that your relationship has more bad than good, it's time to take a break and reassess how the relationship is really working for you.
7. You think about breaking up -- a lot. Once you start thinking about life without your partner often, and it doesn't make you weep, it's time to reevaluate why you two are together in the first place.
8. You're not happy. Your partner isn't happy. Happiness, my friends, is worth a lot. If your relationship doesn't make you happy and fulfilled, it's time to take a break.
What about you? What are some signs that you know it's time to take a break from a relationship?
Image via Ben Zvan/Flickr
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Comments 67
A Lot of these apply to me, and i see some of you saying why break up without working things out such as counseling. But you guys also have to know sometimes your partner might want to go to counseling and that's my issue I'm very unhappy in my relationship, now it's like my hubby is my roommate we sleep in separate room and we don't have sex.And yes i think about getting a divorce all the time.
I have alot of these issues, & some I can come up with reasonable explanations (like sleeping in another room, my man can SNORE), some I know are common probs in long term relationships & just need extra work. I've known my boyfriend for 14yrs, dated for 10, lived together for 5. Sometimes there just isnt a lot to say! And some worry me that no matter how hard we try it will all wind up being pointless in the end. But I'm the type of person who has to know we gave it our all and did everything we could before I can just give up. I sometimes think love would last if others felt the same about not giving up.
My parents sleep in seperate bedrooms and have for years. They have been married 48 years.
Sex is important, yes. It is not, however, THAT important. If you dump your husband because you aren't having sex, you weren't meant to be together at all.
Reading the Stir is starting to make me sick to my stomach.
4 out of 8
I've been pregnant most of the time my spouse and I have been together. It's been rough, no sex for the last couple of months of the pregnancy, I had c-sections all three times, so I sleep on the couch or in the bed and he sleeps on the couch because I'm so sore and hard to get up. We don't argue as much as we used too because we go to counseling to work on seperate issues and issues within the marriage. We don't talk much because he works all the time, and before I got pregnant this time, I worked over nights so when we seen each other it was for a few minutes so there wasn't time to talk or share a meal. We don't have date nights because I'm unemployed and we have three boys (a new born). This list doesn't necessarily mean that you need a break or that it's over, it means you need to work on things. Our relationship isn't perfect but it's not horrible either because we dont "talk" some people don't "talk" because they can't really express themselves, this is a really crappy article