In a relationship, the worst thing you can do is do nothing. Recognizing and correcting complacency is crucial, as it can help you avoid taking your partner for granted. No matter how much time has passed, understanding how to recognize and correct complacency in a relationship ensures you never slack off and continue appreciating your partner.
Being complacent in a relationship means that you have become too comfortable and content with your partner, to the point where you no longer make an effort to keep the relationship exciting and fulfilling. It is natural to feel comfortable with your partner after spending a significant amount of time together, but if this comfort leads to a lack of effort, it can be harmful to the relationship.
You automatically assume they will look out for you and provide for you no matter what comes up. But you need to remember that complacency is what causes neglect in any kind of relationship, even a marriage.
When this happens, the relationship gets boring and meaningless. Even though you might think that routine and boredom are part of a long-term relationship, you should know that complacency is one of the reasons why relationships just end.
Has the spark between you and your partner gone away?
The enchantment of a relationship typically wanes a little after a certain amount of time has passed. You no longer get butterflies when they walk into a room, and small things bother you more. Even though it’s easy to get used to someone, that doesn’t mean you should.
The thing about relationships is that after a while, the sparks and chemistry will die down. Love is a choice, not a feeling, because of this. If you choose a partner based on how your stomach feels, you’ll never get past the first few months.
Comfort is a dangerous path.
Not only is it bad for your relationship, but it can also make your partner wonder why they’re still with you. No one should feel like they’re being taken for granted, but that’s what happens when two people are too comfortable with each other.
The main problem with being too comfortable is that how you treat your partner now is so different from how you treated them when everything was new. When you’re too comfortable, you stop appreciating what you have and start taking it for granted. One day, they may leave because you stopped caring about them.
How to Tell if You Are Getting Too Comfortable in a Relationship
No one wants to forget about their partner or let things slide. But complacency is a dangerous illness that sneaks into relationships without much warning. You never really plan to be complacent in a relationship until you’re already doing it.
If you want to keep feeling happy and content in your relationship, you should do everything you can to avoid becoming too comfortable.
Look at all the signs that you’re getting too comfortable in your relationship and how you can fix them.
You can’t remember the last time you went on a date.
Consider why it’s been so long since you went on a date if that’s the case. Date night is important no matter how long you’ve been together. It gives you time to be with each other without any other things getting in the way.
Date nights are a way to show or get love, especially if one of your or your partner’s love languages is quality time.
If you don’t, everything stays the same and gets boring, which makes it easy for resentment to creep in. And it’s easy for a relationship to become dull if you don’t spend at least some time with the other person.
Plan a night out on your own. Make it a surprise to get the most out of it. Go somewhere fun that you both like and spend the night there. This will make you both remember the sparks and chemistry you had when you first started dating.
You haven’t gone on a trip together in a while.
Getting out of your usual environment and exploring a new place is a great way to spend time with people and make memories. It’s also a great way to bring back the sparks you used to have in your relationship.
When you go somewhere different from where you live now, you can also have fun with your significant other.
After all, they are not only your partner, but they should also be your best friend. You don’t have to take trips together all the time, but a trip every so often is good for your relationship.
You could go on a trip on your anniversary or on Valentine’s Day. Sit down with your partner and start talking about where you two might want to go. Once you have a few ideas, make a plan and get going!
You don’t share what’s going on in your life with your partner.
Your partner should be your best friend, which means they should be the first person you go to when something bad happens. You’ve lost your job, had a bad day, or are having trouble with anxiety. The first person you think of should be your partner.
If you don’t tell them about the important things in your life, it shows that you don’t care.
Yes, you have friends, but you should tell your partner first if you have good or bad news. Do you tell your friends more than you tell your partner? Do you talk about your day when you get home?
Even if you don’t mean to, keeping secrets from each other is a sure way to ruin your relationship.
Communication is an important part of any relationship, and if you don’t tell your partner how you feel, your relationship can go downhill. Stop assuming that your partner won’t care or won’t listen.
How would you know if you didn’t even give them that chance? Be careful not to complain about things that don’t really matter, like gossip or small talk, when they seem busy. Instead, talk about events and fun, odd things that happened while you were at work or away.
Your sexual life has gone downhill.
It’s totally normal for your sex life to slow down a bit as your relationship goes on. However, this is no reason to stop trying. Your sex life is more than just sex; it’s also a way to connect that words and actions can’t do.
When your sex life starts to get worse or goes away completely, it could be a sign that you’ve become too comfortable in your relationship. Simply put, one of you or both of you aren’t trying as hard as you used to to make your physical intimacy exciting. Maybe it’s become too boring or too much of a routine.
Still, this is no reason to give up. In fact, it gives you even more reason to try. The sexual connection between a man and a woman needs to be as close as possible.
Changing up your sexual life could also be all it takes to bring your relationship back to its former glory. You might want to plan a weekend trip or staycation to get your sex life back on track.
You take out your problems in them.
As you get to know someone, you don’t have to put your best foot forward all the time. But it’s not a good sign if you find yourself getting angry with them or taking out your problems on them.
Complacency doesn’t just mean you stop trying; it also means you no longer care about showing your partner how much you love them. No matter how long you’ve been with your partner, you shouldn’t treat them like garbage. Your partner didn’t make your bad day happen.
If you’re honest and talk about things instead of yelling and acting out, you’ll probably be able to get closer. You can’t always blame your partner for your bad mood and problems that you haven’t solved. They’re not with you, so they can take your emotional blows.
You and your partner aren’t as close as you used to be.
When you don’t care about someone, it shows. We’re not just talking about physical distance; we’re also talking about emotional and mental distance, which is worse. You feel like there’s a wall between you two that you can’t break through no matter how hard you try.
It’s almost like someone is standing in the middle of you and pushing you apart. Sometimes this distance can get too far, which can cause the relationship to end. Even though you are in the same place, this distance can make you feel so alone that it hurts.
This is a clear sign that you’ve been too comfortable in a relationship for too long and has both gotten used to the way things are. You’re in a relationship, but you don’t feel connected or close to the other person. If you feel like you’re not as close, ask yourself why.
Then, make it a priority to do more things with each other and maybe spice up your sex life a bit to get closer again. You can always find ways to break through that wall, but you have to be willing to try.
You are not kind.
Again, it’s normal that your feelings for each other won’t be as consistent after a long time. You don’t have to touch each other all the time anymore, but your love has settled into warmth.
But you’re being complacent in a relationship if you no longer do simple things like kiss each other on the lips or tell each other you love them. No matter what, don’t be too lazy to show the other person how much they mean to you.
If you don’t, you never know if they’ll leave you for good because you took them for granted.
So, Do You Take Your Partner for Granted?
If most of these signs apply to you, it’s likely that you’re not trying hard enough in a relationship. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that you’re no longer together.
This is your chance to get the sparks and chemistry back by giving your partner your time, attention, and effort and talking to them.
When you become complacent in a relationship, you may stop putting in the effort to do things that used to make your partner happy, such as planning date nights, surprising them with thoughtful gestures, or expressing your love and appreciation for them. You may also stop communicating effectively with your partner, assuming that they know how you feel and what you need without expressing it directly.
This can lead to feelings of boredom, dissatisfaction, and resentment in your partner, ultimately leading to the relationship’s breakdown. Therefore, it is essential to make a conscious effort to avoid complacency in your relationship by continuing to work on it and keeping it exciting and fulfilling for both you and your partner. This could involve trying new things together, communicating openly and honestly, and making time for each other despite busy schedules.
Related articles you might like: 8 Most Common Relationship Issues and Ways to Resolve Them, 7 Indications That Your Bumpy Relationship Needs Another Chance, 10 Difficult Conversations You Must Have With Your Partner
