Whether you’ve been dating for years or for just a few months, moving
in together can make even the most comfortable of couples a little
uneasy. What should be a fun, joyful, memorable time in your
relationship is often easily sabotaged by worry over all the negative
things that could potentially happen. Every relationship has its own
unique set of challenges -- so how can a couple ensure that things will
go smoothly? By taking the following tips into consideration, you'll be
way more likely to alleviate some of your co-existing anxieties.
Agree To Disagree
When
you take the leap and move in together, remember that you won’t always
agree on everything – and that's okay! From the time you first met your
boyfriend or girlfriend, you’ve most likely been telling everyone "we’re
perfect for each other" -- but chances are you tend to agree to
disagree on a handful of things. This will become more apparent when you
share space, which is all part of relationship growth.
Whether debating over what couch to buy, or where to order dinner from, learn to pick your battles. Speaking of which…
Pick Your Battles
If your boyfriend consistently goes out with friends and strolls in at 3AM when you have to be up for work three hours later,
speak up and clear the air. If your girlfriend habitually hijacks the
TV with no remorse, feel free to calmly express your feelings of
frustration. But if your significant other forgets to replace the toilet
paper roll one silly time, try to let it roll off your shoulders --
we’ve probably all made that mistake at some point. Knowing when to
speak up and when to just breathe and let something go is an important
part of any relationship, especially when living together.
Human Nature
Remember the children’s book “Everyone Poops?”
You might want to read it again, because it speaks the truth: everyone
does, indeed, poop. If you've fallen in love with someone, you must
accept that they are human, and they poop.
Keep It Romantic
However
-- although there's little better than lounging around in sweats after a
long day -- it's still important to keep things sexy. Not that you need
to channel your inner Victoria Secret/Calvin Klein model every day –
but occasionally cooking a nice dinner, dressing up, or splurging for a
shared bottle of champagne is clutch for keeping the romance alive. In
cohabitating, it's easy to fall into habits that make you feel more like roommates and less like lovers. Try to make the extra effort once in awhile, and be thankful when your partner does the same.
Share The Chores
Don't
let your significant other do all the work – it's as easy as picking up
after yourself! Chores haven't been fun since childhood, but living
with your mate can change that entirely if you turn on some music and
clean up together. Not only can it count as chatty quality time with one
another, but the work will get done faster, and you’ll have more time
for the activities you both like to do in your home.
Make It Fun
Remember
in High School when you dreamt of moving in with your best friend?
Moving in with your love is that dream come true…with extra benefits!
Moments such as decorating your new space or cooking together will help
shape your relationship and create lasting memories. Invite friends
over, dance in the living room, and enjoy the space that you've built
for one another.
Choose Wisely
Finally,
if you think you’re ready to commit to sharing a space, make sure you
are doing it for the right reasons. It’s a process that will undoubtedly
present challenges, so it’s important that you and your partner are
fully committed to each other and willing to work hard to continually
improve your collective quality of life. Choose to live with a person
who you know will be just as happy to see you in the morning as they
were when you went to bed!
By Jessica Vacco
