Ah, the honeymoon phase – those initial months when you’re completely, utterly infatuated with your new partner. You have an extra pep in your step, your boss couldn’t annoy you if they tried (and they do), and the sun shines just a little bit brighter. What could go wrong?
Well…a lot, actually. As they say, all good things must come to an end – and that includes the honeymoon phase. What happens after that? When you come down off the cloud-nine high, will you realize you have nothing in common?
Fear not – we have some tips to help you enjoy this stage while ensuring you’re still happy when it’s over.
Here is some practical advice for navigating through the honeymoon phase:
Prioritize Time Together
While most of the honeymoon phase is spent in the bedroom (understandable), you do need to spend time getting to know each other, too. The initial attraction is usually physical, so it’s important to set aside time to talk, connect, and make sure you actually like each other.
Enjoy the Ride but Evaluate Along the Way
You’re falling in love and seeing everything through rose-colored glasses – which is great – but remember to proceed with caution. If you’re too enthralled to notice red flags, you’ll be blindsided by them when the infatuation wears off. Instead of spending every waking moment together, take some time away to evaluate everything and make sure you’re truly into your new partner the way you think you are.
Recognize Timeline Differences
Obviously, you’re not going to plan out your entire future together (yet, anyway), but during the honeymoon phase, you should pay attention to their general plans. Are they preparing to move? Buy a house? Deploy in the military? Travel the world? Whatever it is, you need to make sure your timelines sync up – it helps you avoid heartbreak once the honeymoon phase fizzles out.
Remember to Ask Important Relationship Questions
Should you talk about what to name your future kids on the fourth date? Probably not. But you should make it a point to talk about important things early on to determine if you’re compatible. While there’s no need to go too deep, you can definitely express your thoughts on monogamy, getting married, having kids, buying a house – the whole nine yards. (Just remember to do it tactfully.)
Embrace Normalcy
Once the initial butterflies and excitement wear off, you’ll settle into a sense of normalcy with your new love interest – and that’s okay. There comes a point in any relationship when things start to settle down and you become more comfortable around each other. Embrace it! Just because things have slowed down doesn’t mean they’re over – it means they’re just beginning. The relationship is getting more serious, and that should make you excited, not worried.
Keep Your Friends Close
You don’t want to be the person that drops their friends as soon as a new love interest comes along, right? While it’s completely okay to spend a ton of time with your new partner, you shouldn’t completely detach yourself from your previous life. Think about it: if things go south in your new relationship, who will you turn to if you’ve alienated everyone? It’s important to find the right balance and remember your friends and family were there first.
The aptly-named honeymoon phase is definitely one of the best stages of a relationship. As fun as it is, remember to stay grounded and recognize that it can’t last forever. (As much as we want it to.) If you keep the above tips in mind, you’ll enjoy the honeymoon phase and every stage after it.