Romantic relationships require a lot of effort, time and love. I’ve been in a long-term relationship with my boyfriend for over three years and trust me, I’ve learned a lot about myself and what goes into making relationships work. Last year we got our first apartment together and it has definitely been a learning and growing process. Cohabitating is a major adventure in relationships because it’s two different people with two different lifestyles coming together in one tiny place called home. By cohabitating with my boyfriend, we get to wake up next to each other every day and experience life together. Now, after a year of cohabitating, here are five points that I’ve gained that I want to share.
1. Things get dirty, fast.
Things get dirty, and I’m not talking about in the bedroom — I’m talking about those dishes. Those smelly, dirty dishes! Seriously, sometimes I look at my kitchen floors and wonder how I let the world get so busy that I ignored my precious wooden floors. Don’t even get me started about the clothes on my floor or the countless loads of laundry. At first, I used to separate my boyfriend’s clothes from mine, but now they all go in as one load. So, if you’re getting ready to move in with your S/O, remember to discuss cleaning tactics, and set rules, too. Things might get messy, but just remember to work together and clean up those messes together.
2. You get to “adult” together.
Adulting together is such a unique adventure. I’m not talking about paying bills together. I’m talking about looking at meals together on Delish and figuring out how long to cook chicken for. Maybe it’s learning how to pick out insurance or even getting excited to buy new stuff to clean with. Yep, we get excited for Lysol wipes and Swiffer Wetjet mop pads. My personal favorite is trying to figure out how to get the smoke detector in our place to stop going off! It’s the little adventures like these that you get to look back on with your S/O and see how far you have come, together.
3. You grow as a person and couple.
Going through everyday hand in hand with the person you love is a great experience. What’s great is that you get to learn so much about this person, but you also learn a lot about yourself through the process. Understanding and reflection are key concepts to remember when living with your S/O. One day, when you look back on these memories of cooking or cleaning or trying new things together, your heart will get warm and you will remember how far you’ve come.
4. Things get stressful.
Let me tell you, living with your S/O will test your patience every day. Whether it’s the TV being too loud or someone not cleaning up after themselves. But getting to wake up next to them every single morning? That’s rewarding. When things get difficult, remember it comes down to communication, listening and understanding. It’s also completely okay to step away to have your alone time and relax! But, be sure to communicate and discuss issues directly and listen to understand rather than listen to reply.
5. You’ll have a lot of fun.
Even when things get stressful, you’ll have a lot of fun. Imagine this: it’s 3 AM and your S/O is making chocolate chip pancakes just because you were just craving them. It smells great, although there’s batter all over the place, you could care less because you’re dancing and having fun! It’s moments like these that make my heart warm. Moving in with your significant other is a journey, but you’ll enjoy every single moment and every little adventure on the way.
Cohabitating is never easy and it’s an important step in any relationship. Always make sure to prepare yourself and your relationship. Before picking out adorable furniture, make sure to have those important conversations about expectations and lifestyles to ensure a smoother transition! Two people coming together and living under one roof can get stressful, but the growth, rewards and memories are beautiful.
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