Three Bad Relationship Habits that Couples Need to Drop
Just like individuals can have bad habits, couples can get into bad habits. There are a few bad relationship habits that can ultimately lead to problems if they’re not nipped in the bud. If you recognize these behaviors in your relationship, try to make some changes right away.
1. Doing Everything Together
Yes, you love each other. Yes, you can’t live without each other. You both know that. Your friends know that. Fine—but you’re not joined at the hip. Doing everything together not only gets annoying for your friends who occasionally want a guys night/girls night out, but you also risk wearing on each other’s nerves when the honeymoon phases is over. Another problem with always being together is you don’t get a chance to miss each other.
2. Taking Each Other For Granted
After a while, it’s easy to forget common courtesy. You don’t say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when you ask for something, or when something is passed to you. You forget to call and say you’ll be late. You make the TV a little loud at night. You expect the other person to do your laundry or pick up your dry cleaning—and go so far as to get annoyed if it doesn’t happen.
A good rule for a long and happy relationship is to keep treating each other with as much common courtesy as you would treat a stranger.
3. Lying to Avoid Conflict
Dishonesty can be a real problem in a relationship. Sure—there are times when it’s acceptable (no, hon, you those jeans don’t make your butt look fat at all—you’re hot!), but when you’re just trying to save yourself trouble you’re doing your relationship an injustice. All those little issues you hide to avoid conflict now are just going to build up into one monster issue. So if you have a bone to pick with your partner, don’t try to keep swallowing your feelings. Don’t always put on a big smile and say everything is okay. Tell your sweetie that you need to have a talk—then, with as much tact and compassion as you can muster—talk about what’s getting on your nerves.
Once you get your issues out in the open, you’ll both feel better. Even if you couldn’t find a resolution—even if there is no resolution—sometimes just getting it off your chest makes you feel like the weight of the world is lifted off of you.
Photo: Pixabay
