How to Stay Independent… While In a Relationship

You can (and should!) be independent within a relationship. And there are ways to do it without compromising your bond. 

- Esther Perel

So from feeling stifled, which can lead to a split. Plus, solo time enriches your life and makes the moments when you’re in each other’s company way more meaningful. So if you’ve been letting your entire world merge into his, you’d be wise to create some breathing room with these rules.

PLAN SOLO ACTIVITIES

When you’re immersed in those first few intoxicating months of a relationship, it’s only natural to find that you have less time for your usual hobbies. Spending QT with your guy and making him happy makes you happy, so who cares if you’re blowing off a random mani-pedi or spinning class, right? Wrong. Consistently putting yourself second sets an unhealthy precedent for the relationship and sends a message that your life is based solely on what he wants and on his timeline. It’s critical to honour your own desires. That means getting those nails done if you feel like it, hopping on a bike and pedalling your butt off, or doing whatever it is you’ve been neglecting. Most important: once you commit to these plans, don’t cancel —even if your honey wants to hang. He can wait.

SEE YOUR FRIENDS OFTEN