RELATIONSHIP ADVICE
Are You in a Stagnant Relationship? Try These Tips
You get home from work and your partner is already eating dinner. You feel irritated, but you don’t say anything. That’s just how it usually is. You can’t even remember the last time you ate dinner together.
Somehow, even though there’s no big problem, you just know something’s wrong. You feel stagnant in your relationship, and you don’t know why.
What is a stagnant relationship and what causes it?
According to the online therapy service platform, BetterHelp, a stagnant relationship is “one where growth, excitement, and progress that typically characterize healthy relationships have slowed or come to a halt.”
No one wishes for their relationship to stagnate, but circumstances and major life events can cause the breakdown of emotional and physical closeness.
However, there are ways to rekindle the flames that kept you as a couple warm in the beginning.
If you sense that your relationship is starting to feel stale, don’t panic. It’s not automatically doomed. But you probably need to reignite the spark.
Recognize the Signs
Is your relationship stagnant or are you just going through a rough patch? The difference is stagnation is usually prolonged. You might even mistake it as normal even if it doesn’t feel good.
But you may notice that you’re no longer as passionate or affectionate towards each other. You leave issues unresolved. You’re disinterested in spending quality time together, preferring to go on your own ways.
Some couples say it’s like they’ve devolved into a roommate situation. It’s worse than that though. At least roommates don’t feel dissatisfied being roommates.
Know the Causes
Aside from the previously mentioned causes, a stagnant relationship can be the result of the couple not putting in enough effort. Poor communication, lack of quality time, and neglecting each other’s needs can affect your relationship.
Knowing and understanding the causes allow you to find the right solution.
Practice effective and open communication. This should be there right from the start and maintained all through your time together. Good communication can solve or even prevent most relationship problems to begin with.
When you communicate well with each other, you’re able to express your needs. You know how to show each other love in your preferred love languages.
Spend Quality Time Together
Routine shouldn’t be a bad thing. They’re how we get through our everyday responsibilities and still enjoy life.
So be intentional about incorporating quality time together into your routine. It could be as simple as starting the day with breakfast together. You can also do some chores together.
Go out on date nights often and do so with the intention of romancing each other. Laugh and play together and show more appreciation for each other.
The more open and willing you are to spend quality time with each other, the easier it is to reestablish the passion and intimacy you once shared.
Establish Goals Together
Setting goals as a couple helps relationships thrive by fostering feelings of belonging and camaraderie.
Collaborate towards common goals, such as saving up for your dream house, building a small business together, or raising your kids imbued with love and life skills.
Support each other towards the pursuit of your individual goals. Couples should care about each other’s personal growth.
A couple can recover from a stagnant relationship when they encourage growth and progress within their shared life.
Conclusion
Relationships don’t just become stagnant. They usually happen when couples take each other for granted. At times, couples may be burdened with obligations and other circumstances beyond their control.
The good news, though, is that stagnation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s gradual. That gives couples time to do something to stop it.
So couples should be mindful, and when they first notice the signs, they should clear away the creeping stagnation with communication, commitment, and growth.
Also published on Medellin Singles
