The Clear Sign That Your Relationship's Honeymoon Phase Is Over
The honeymoon stage of a new relationship is a unique time. Finding someone you love spending hours with can lead to many memorable dates. Since everything is new and exciting, even the simplest of activities can enhance your spark. Conversations where you are just getting to know each other can fill you with joy. It's easy to feel inseparable during these first few months of dating and it's not uncommon to overlook or ignore any less positive characteristics.
However, all good things must end, which is true for the honeymoon phase of a relationship as well. While many people may think that the early stages are the most fun and carefree, a sense of safety and fulfillment can come when two people have grown together and care deeply for each other. It's simply different from the honeymoon phase, and recognizing when this shift starts will help you put your relationship in the right context.
How long is the honeymoon phase?
Once the whirlwind of a new relationship begins to calm, couples often struggle to seamlessly blend their lives together. If a long-term committed relationship is the goal, there will eventually need to be more serious conversations with key questions about moving, finances, kids, and life goals. While it may seem like everything lined up perfectly at first, more nuances tend to come out as each person becomes more transparent and comfortable with sharing their needs.
While the honeymoon stage is magical, there may be less transparency or vulnerability because the relationship is new. It can take time for walls to come down. Many people tend to be more agreeable in the honeymoon stage because they don't want to ruin the moment or create a source of contention.
However, somewhere between six months and two years, reality will begin to set in as the honeymoon vibes fade. Once you start noticing a willingness to disagree or a flaw in your partner that you overlooked before, it means the rose-colored glasses are coming off. Contrary to popular belief, conflict can actually be healthy for a relationship. Nobody is perfect and every relationship will have its challenges. Simply acknowledging your irritation or even questioning if you should end your long-term relationship is completely normal.
It's okay to mourn the honeymoon phase
Life is hard and relationships take work. When arguments or difficult moments begin to occur more frequently in your relationship, it is valid to miss those carefree months when everything in life seemed blissful. The honeymoon stage is extremely special, and while not all couples even experience this magical beginning, those that do have every right to cherish its memory.
Of course, holding onto the past for too long will inhibit healthy relationships to move forward and grow. A long-term relationship is really about building a life with someone else and learning to sacrifice while also being clear on your own boundaries or needs.
The most important thing to remember going forward is that the honeymoon phase was never meant to last. It was a brief phase, but the actual test of a lasting relationship comes when a couple faces challenges or adversity and actively chooses to remain committed to each other. There is a deep love that continues to grow as you spend your life navigating the ups and downs of this world together. Just because the novelty of a honeymoon phase gives you something to miss, try not to overlook the beauty that exists on the other side, too.