You'll Have to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
You'll Crave Alone Time
Now that you'll be spending almost every. single. waking. second together, it's natural to want to have time to yourself. You might want to leave the house for a few hours, or maybe you'll sit with your partner for an entire night silently doing your own thing. Giving each other some space is healthy.
You'll Also Crave Each Other's Company
Couples who live together can also get stuck in loops, and your daily routines can get really boring. There will be times when you'll miss your partner and feel like you haven't made enough time for each other, especially if kids are involved.
So try something new! Studies show couples who try new things regularly and make time for fun activities have happier relationships.
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Sex Won't Be the Same
Sex might start feeling less exciting, more routine and even less frequent. Maybe it's because you're seeing each other every day or have more chances to be intimate than before, or maybe it's because you're both now very present in the other's day-to-day emotions. All these factors can change your sex chemistry in fundamental ways.
If you are not happy with how things go, be sure to talk about it openly with your partner. Research shows couples who have more sex have a higher level of relationship satisfaction. So don't ignore it!
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Ikea Will Test Your Relationship
Every new couple who moves in together must go to Ikea. It's just a rule. The thing is, your first trip together will make or break your relationship. (Just kidding, the children will).
You may not like his affinity to red and he might think your modern furniture is the least comfortable thing on the planet. And then you have to assemble the damn things together, which will most likely lead to a blow out. Even the Wall Street Journal says so, so it must be true.
That's because underlying relationship issues bubble to the surface as couples attempt to choose furniture. "I've had couples go to the mat over a couch that neither of them even liked," marriage counselor and radio host Dr. Jane Greer told the WSJ. "Underneath, every discussion is really about how important am I to you?"
You'll Want to Talk About Screen Time Habits Before Bed
Some people hate screen time before bed (apparently that phone's glow can be really annoying to someone trying to sleep). But other people need those few minutes (OK, maybe an hour) unwinding and scrolling through Instagram or the day's news before getting some shut-eye. Now that you'll have someone sleeping next to you every night, if you and your partner have different preferences, be sure to talk about it (yes, communication is a huge theme here).
Chores Won't Feel Fair
Set ground rules sooner rather than later. It might be an awkward conversation at first, but it's one that'll make things go much more smoothly in the future. Talk about how you'll divide responsibilities and revisit the list every once in a while. Complete balance may not be possible. Studies continually show parenting is a lot harder on moms and working moms do more at home than working dads (which totally has to change!) But it's also important to remember some days one of you will have to give more than the other.
