Whether you have spent five months or five years with your significant other, moving in and joining your lives is not an easy task. For most of us at this age, it is hard enough to simply cultivate a successful and fulfilling relationship, let alone share a living space.
Spending all of your time with someone is not the same as living with them. You will get a front row seat to every sick day and bad morning without escape. Your patience will need to grow, and your love will need to mature. Keep those things in mind:
Be flexible
Combining two separate lives into one functioning cohesive relationship under one roof is very challenging. You grow accustomed to doing things a certain way on your own, and a lot of that has to change to accommodate their particular routine. You need to be flexible to their needs, and it is okay to expect them to do the same for you.
Share the covers
It seems cliché and corny to talk about sharing bed space or hogging covers in a relationship, but it can be a very real problem. Most college students aren’t spending their nights in a California King, and sharing a double or XL twin mattress every night isn’t ideal no matter how much you love your honey. Split up blankets, designate a centerline and build a pillow marker or whatever it takes to ensure you both sleep comfortably.
Cook for each other
Happy bellies lead to happy hearts. Whether you’re the designated chef of the relationship or not, it is an amazing gesture to take the time to cook a meal for each other. Eating good food releases the feel good chemicals in your brain and cuddling on the couch with your baby after a good meal is a must for couples trying to successfully adult.
Give their weird stuff a chance
There is a good possibility that there are things you didn’t already know prior to moving in with your love bug. Maybe they like to watch Two and a Half Men every day at 3 p.m. or maybe they put salt on their mac and cheese. Whatever it may be, you should be open to it. Little quirks that you might not care for are what make them who they are, so don’t try to change it. Embrace it, and they will embrace the face that you like to put marshmallows in the freezer and shower with your dog.
You time is a necessity
Don’t give up your things. Don’t let go of the hobbies you are into just because it’s not something they like to do. You need to set aside time to go to the gym, veg out and watch Grey’s Anatomy, or take a bubble bath. The same goes for the people you like to spend time with. Keep your friends close no matter what. Set aside a girls' or guys' nights once a month, even with your single friends. You both deserve time to let loose and don’t forget that.
Don’t stop the sex
It will most likely be tempting to fall asleep most nights without taking the effort to get intimate. After a long day of work, class, cooking and cleaning, it can be exhausting to initiate sex. Make sure to keep the lust alive and don’t forget to make time to seduce your babe on regular occasions just because you love them.
Vocalize your appreciation
When you get into a habitual routine where you cook every other night, and he or she does the laundry every weekend, it is easy to take the effort for granted. You can grow to expect these little things that actually take a lot of time and effort to do. Tell them often how much you appreciate what they do for you. Being grateful for each other will keep you both feeling happy and loved.
Don’t take this big life step lightly, but don’t be afraid to take the plunge either. Moving in and creating a new life with someone is one of the most adult things you can do, and if you can master it and make it work, you could create a strong and meaningful relationship.
Haley Dake is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. How do you live with your significant other? Let Haley know by emailing her at @hd883312@ohio.edu.
