When you decide to take the leap and move in with your partner, it can be quite daunting. Sure, it’s exciting to have a perpetual sleepover with your best friend, but it comes with a host of responsibilities and #adulting becomes real life.
There are definitely a few things to keep in mind to ensure your move-in doesn’t become a move-out after a couple of weeks.
AVOID THE BUBBLE
During the first few weeks of living together, you may find it hard to leave the house. The desire to revel in the company of your partner can be hard to resist, and your friends may fall by the wayside. Lock in time to see your friends and get away from the ‘living together’ bubble. It’s tempting to go home straight after work to watch Netflix with your partner all evening, but make time to catch up with friends and find out what is happening in their lives.
SHARING IS CARING
Something that needs to be established from the get-go is that a relationship means both of you need to put in effort to help out. Gone are the days where housekeeping duties were left to women; we all have a role to play. We love the idea of, “whoever cooks; the other cleans”. Make sure most duties are shared equitably, as it will lead to domestic harmony. If schedules permit, try to make some time to grocery shop together; turn that soul-sucking trip to the store into an outing where both of you go. Generally one partner is going to be a more talented or passionate cook than the other and sharing ideas as you shop is a great way to reinforce a bond. Worst case, at least you can bemoan the rising price of sweet potatoes together!
HONESTY: THE BEST POLICY
Living together almost always means that you’re going to see an entirely new side of your partner, and you have to be prepared for that. You might find out that they’re a little too obsessive about cleanliness, or their propensity to hoard makes it hard for you to throw out old cereal boxes.
Whatever those habits are, you’re going to have to learn to live with them, or compromise and find a middle ground. If you’re annoyed or frustrated with your partner, don’t keep it pent up. This isn’t just unhealthy for your relationship, but also for you. As soon as you’ve got a problem, voice it, and work together to reach a solution that you both agree on. And whatever you do, don’t go to bed angry.
DATE NIGHT
Once the honeymoon phase is over, you’ll find that sometimes you can get too comfortable with each other. Don’t be fooled into the fairy-tale idea that you’ll never need to leave the house because the romance is already there; it will fade… fast! The easiest way to combat this is to schedule a regular date night. Netflix & Koala doesn’t count for date night; get out of those pyjamas and spend some time in the outside world! It might mean going for a long walk together by the beach or trying out that new restaurant just around the corner, but it’s important to get out of the house and keep the magic alive.
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