Do you think you are coming out of the honeymoon period of your relationship? You just might be. Here are 13 sad signs that this phase is over.
Ahh, those blissful first few months of dating! Isn’t the honeymoon period the best? You are getting to know one another, you are falling in love, you can’t keep your hands off one another, and every time they call or text you get a huge, giddy smile on your face.
The thing is, when you first start dating someone, you are on your absolute best behavior, and so are they. Of course, you can’t help but feel happy and in a good mood about finding a new love, so it probably comes pretty naturally to you to be kind, generous, loving, affectionate, and all the other things that can be so easily lost or taken for granted in a long term relationship.
When you are in the honeymoon period, you are probably nicer to your new love than you have been to anyone in your whole life. The fact that you are so giddy and sappy means that it is far easier to overlook all those flaws that you only begin to notice after you’ve settled in to your new relationship. It’s only after some time, when you start to feel more comfortable around each other, that things start to change.
13 signs that the honeymoon period is over
Almost everyone starting a new relationship goes through the honeymoon period, and in almost every relationship, that period does come to an end. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, if you find someone who can put up with you at your worst, then they might just be a keeper! [Read: How long does the honeymoon phase normally last?]
So what are the signs that you are coming towards the end of the honeymoon period? This is what to expect:
#1 You get annoyed by the little things. In the first throes of love, you appear to be blind to any faults and flaws that your partner might have. When the honeymoon period is over, however, suddenly you realize they have all these pretty irritating habits.
They play with their phone at the dining table instead of talking to you, they leave the toilet seat up, the never wear matching socks. Even things you used to think were cute like that little snort they do at the end of a laugh suddenly start to get on your nerves and grates on you – they just aren’t as adorable as they used to be.
#2 You fancy them a little bit less. You used to think they were super gorgeous and every single time you met up with them, your heart would do a little flutter at how attracted you were to them. Now you think those trainers look really dumb, or their haircut makes them look a bit weird. [Read: New relationship advice to have the perfect start]
#3 You don’t mind telling them off. Before, if they chucked their clothes on the floor instead of putting them away, or would always leave washing the dishes until the morning, you didn’t want to say anything. Now you are more than happy to tell them when they are doing or saying things that you don’t like.
#4 You let yourself go a little. Can’t quite get the top button of your jeans done up? Shirt straining a little around the middle? Can’t really be bothered to put on any makeup for your date? Caring less about looking your best all the time is totally normal, but probably does mean the honeymoon period has come to an end.
#5 You start to like having space. You used to be joined at the hip, but now if you spend too much time together, you get on each other’s nerves, or simply run out of things to say. You realize that all those friends you’ve been neglecting as of late are far better company. You just hope they’re still talking to you after you abandoned them to slobber all over your new squeeze. [Read: 9 relationship stages that all couples go through]
#6 You don’t have to fall asleep cuddling. You now feel perfectly okay telling him or her that it’s really kind of hot and uncomfortable trying to fall asleep in someone else’s arms. You have a quick cuddle before lights out, but then shuffle as far away from one another as possible. Cue the best night’s sleep you’ve had in six months.
#7 You know exactly where you stand. The beginning of relationships, while very exciting, can also feel pretty unstable and nerve-wracking. You really like them, but by putting yourself out there you feel a little vulnerable, and never 100% certain they feel the same.
The end of the honeymoon period is the start of a more settled phase where you aren’t worried if they don’t call or text you back right away, if they cancel a date, or are too tired for sex. [Read: The 10 stages of dating for a successful relationship]
#8 You have sex less often. So you used to feel pretty much insatiable when it came to getting down and dirty in the bedroom, but lately you are more than happy to settle down, watch a bit of Netflix, and get an early night.
Often, couples worry when their sex life starts to die down a little, but this is totally normal – it’s okay not to want to make sweet love 5 times every night when you have to get up at 7 a.m. for an early catch up with your boss – really, it is.
#9 You can admit you don’t actually like that band/movie, etc. When you first get together, you love the things they love – they are totally fascinating and cool, and therefore, all their hobbies are too. As the honeymoon period ends, you can admit that you still find playing video games as boring as you did before you met them. And you are not actually that into jazz – it just seemed super romantic and sexy at the time. [Read: How to have a long term relationship that lasts]
#10 You argue. Don’t panic because you have an argument every once in a while. Even the happiest of couples can’t see eye to eye 100% of the time. Getting to know one another more deeply means that you probably will end up having things that you feel differently about, and that can sometimes cause you to clash. Being willing to listen to one another and work through it, however, shows that you both care enough to want this to work.
#11 You aren’t quite as *ahem* delicate as you used to be. You let out the occasional fart or burp, you start peeing and chatting away with the door open. Of course, you wouldn’t dream of doing anything so base in the first few months of dating, but, you know, things are different now. While this is perfectly normal, remember that it is nice to preserve some mystique sometimes. [Read: 12 Real signs of true love in a relationship]
#12 You share more. When you are together for a longer period of time, you’ll start to share much more with each other. This shows that you trust one another not to judge, and you form a deeper bond.
#13 You know your love is real. In the honeymoon period, you might feel all super loved up, but it’s actually still quite fickle, and fragile too. When you’ve gotten to the point that you’ve had a few ups and downs and seen each other’s not-so-amazing side, yet you still want to be together – well, that’s a pretty good sign!
[Read: First year of marriage – surprising truths no one talks about]
Exiting the honeymoon period doesn’t mean the end of your relationship. You can experience all of the above and still be totally happy together, it simply means that you are in it for the long haul and will stick it out through the highs and the lows.