Does Absence Really Make The Heart Grow Fonder? Why Living Apart Works Better For Some Couples
Does Absence Really Make The Heart Grow Fonder? Why Living Apart Works Better For Some Couples
Living Apart Together
A relationship shouldn't define how we ought to live, even if we're married. These days, many couples are steering away from societal norms and choosing to live apart together. Does that mean they're not madly in love? Some may argue the contrary. Find out why living apart keeps the magic alive in many romantic relationships.
1. Independent Growth
Living apart from your partner gives you both more of a chance for independent growth. When you live with someone, you tend to be dependent on them without realizing it. Living on your own grows confidence and problem-solving skills. You can become the best version of yourself, which in return, makes you a better partner.
2. Make Your Space Your Own
It's your space to make it exactly how you want it. You don't have to share a closet, and you can decorate to your preferred tastes. There's no "man cave" or "she shed", every room is yours and caters to your lifestyle.
3. Hotter Romance
No matter what stage your relationship is at, time apart can make you feel like you're falling in love every time you're back together. You can get ready for date night without changing in the same room and you'll be eager to greet them at the door with a kiss. Living apart together is bound to spice up the romance.
4. Establishes Healthy Boundaries
Sometimes when couples live together they end up doing everything together. You become a package deal and you don't know how to socialize without your other half. You often overstep each other's boundaries without noticing. By living apart, you can control how much time you spend together and create healthy boundaries that benefit your relationship.
5. Dissolves Gender Roles
Even if you both work and split up chores, heterosexual couples will often slide into stereotypical gender roles. This can create tension in the relationship if one person feels like they're working harder on the household than the other. Living apart will likely dissolve this issue altogether.
6. Better Focus
When you're on your own you can often focus better on your work and hobbies. There are less distractions and more time for clarity. If you're someone who wants to progress in their career or talents, living apart might be ideal for you to focus on your priorities.
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7. Less Arguments
Living under one roof means you're in each other's space often. If you're a neat freak, you might not appreciate your partner's clothes on the floor and they might not enjoy your bitter remarks. Naturally, there will be less arguing when you have your own space.
8. More Appreciation
Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. When your spouse isn't always around, you're often going to miss them. The next time you see them you'll show more appreciation because moments together are precious. Time apart gets you to take a step back and expose your gratification.
9. Personal Space
Living apart means more personal space. You have the freedom to do your daily routines without any coordination with someone else's schedule. Your space is yours and you can share it when the time is right for you.
10. If You Don't Want Marriage
Living apart together is a no-brainer for couples who don't want to get married. They already have an alternative mindset that goes against the grain and living apart makes sense. First comes love, then what comes next is whatever you please.
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11. If You Don't Want Kids
Just like couples who choose not to be married, some choose not to have kids. Children would make living apart more complicated but there are separated parents who do it. Either way, without kids in the mix, the freedom to live apart is ideal.
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12. More Self-Care
Living alone means more "me time". You can have more quiet time for mindfulness and take care of your needs first. After all, they say you should love yourself before you can truly love somebody else.
13. Enhances Your Individuality
When you live and do everything together, sometimes you end up molding into the same person. Although that can work for some people, it can also create lack of independent thinking and personal opinions. Living apart could save your individual spirits.
14. Personal Comforts
Just because you're a couple doesn't mean you live the same way. Your comforts may be sacrificed when you live with your other half. You might like the thermostat set at different temperatures or one of you can't sleep because the other one is snoring. Living apart solves these little discomforts.
15. Better Socializing
Couples who live apart will often make more time for friends and family. They're also more likely to have separate friend circles which is healthy for personal growth. It's good for your mental health to talk to other people and socialize without your partner every once and a while.
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16. Career Paths
Sometimes the scenario to live in a different home from your partner works better with your lifestyles. If one works nights at the bar and the other is up at the crack of dawn, your sleep schedules don't align. It can be more beneficial for your health and your relationship to live separately when your career paths differ greatly.
17. Quality Time
When you don't live with your other half, the time you spend together is more meaningful. Unlike many couples who live together and say they'll go out, you'll actually go on dates out of the house. You could end up spending more quality time together then if you lived in the same place.
18. True Love
When you have time away from your partner, it'll uncover the truth. You'll know deep down if you've found your true love by how you feel when you're apart. If you miss them and can't wait for the next time you can hold their hand, you know it's love. Time apart can also make you realize if your relationship needs work or something needs to change.
19. If You're Older
If you've been on your own for a while, the idea of merging your life with somebody else might not seem ideal. Maybe you're divorced or widowed and you're ready for love but still want your own space. Living apart together can work wonderfully for older couples who've had a past life before they met each other.
20. Pets & Kids
You may have fallen in love with your significant other but that doesn't make your cat allergy disappear. If one of you has pets and the other one doesn't, living separately may give you the best solution. The same goes with kiddos; it could be beneficial to your relationship and to the whole family to live apart.
