Taking a Break from a Relationship: Rules and Guidelines

John and Samantha were going through a bad patch in their relationship. They had been together for five years. After much consideration, they mutually decided to take a relationship break for a few weeks. They ended up getting married and they have been happily married for over twelve years now.

Sometimes taking a break in a relationship can end up "making" the relationship as opposed to "breaking" the relationship.

Should I take a break from my relationship?

This is a decision that you will need to make as a couple. It is important to take a break for the right reasons. For example, while you apart you should use the time for self-reflection as opposed to downloading every single dating app and resorting to dating online.

It is important to know that taking a break does not mean breaking up. They are two completely different things. Experts recommend when you look at how to take a break from relationships, you acknowledge that a break is not a breakup.

What does taking a break mean in a relationship?

Taking a break from a relationship can mean a couple of things. The truth is that taking a break can mean different things to different couples. It all depends on the dynamics of your individual relationship. The nature of each relationship is unique, which means that taking time apart in a relationship may be different for each couple.

Taking a break from a relationship to find yourself

Losing your sense of self in a relationship is extremely common. It is very easy to get caught up in the identity of the other person. People often report losing their friends, family and even their entire identity. One of the biggest reasons people choose to take a mini-break is to find themselves again. Hopefully, you have a good mature partner who understands. This should not be seen as an opportunity for him to meet women online.

Take a relationship break to focus on your career

Paying bills, being grown and maintaining a successful romantic relationship can become overwhelming. There may be times when your career needs, your full attention. This is not to say that your career is more important than your relationship.

It rather means that focusing on your career for a while may end up benefiting your relationship more in the long run. You can be a better partner if you are settled in a good career that is stable and which will afford a good life for the two of you.

Taking a break from a relationship to reconnect with your family and friends

It is often unintentional, but before you know it, you haven't seen your friends in ages. Your friends that you had prior to your relationship may start moaning that you are not making them a priority. If you take a step back and truly reflect on what they are saying, you may realize that they are right.

For the sake of your friendships and for the sake of your relationship with your family, it may be best to take a small break to reconnect with those you love.

Taking a break to strengthen the relationship

Sometimes we take each other for granted and this is quite normal. After being together for a certain period of time, it is quite easy to become comfortable.

It is really useful to take some time out to gain perspective on exactly what your partner means to you. You may re-enter the relationship with a new sense of clarity. You may become a much better partner as a result of this.

How to take a break in a relationship?

The best way to go about this is to establish a set of rules. It is important to sit down together and make sure that you are both on the same page. The set of rules that you could make are things like no seeing other people while you are apart.

Even if you have been together for a long time, it may be useful to write down a set of rules. Some of these things may be obvious, but for the sake of clarity, it would be good to stipulate every single point. Think about what this break means to you and what rules you think are best.

Should I take a break from my relationship?

Taking a break is not always the answer. In some cases, a break can cause more harm than good. You will need to accurately determine where your relationship is at. You will need to look at the circumstances surrounding the relationship. It is also important to take your maturity levels into consideration. Your partner should not see this as a personal attack or you not wanting to be with them.

Can taking a break from a relationship help?

It certainly can help, however, it depends on the uniqueness of your relationship and the situation. If you have been fighting and you are in a toxic place, then it certainly could do wonders for your relationship. However, if are a couple who only see each other on weekends and you have just started dating, then a break may not be the best idea.

Is taking a break from a relationship good?

Once again the answer to this question depends on your unique situation. The dynamics of each relationship are very different. If you are thinking of taking some time apart, you will need to determine if it will result in more good or worse. If you are both mature individuals who are fully committed and devoted to one another, then some time apart may actually help.

Do it for the right reasons

It is important to do everything for the right reasons. Nothing should be done out of spite or to get back at your partner. Any form of immaturity is certainly not a reason to take some time apart. Does taking a break from a relationship help? In some cases it does, but it has to be for the right reasons this is key.

The saying “it takes two to tango" couldn’t prove to be more true, than in this regard. You should only take a break if it will help, improve and strengthen your relationship. It should be done for positive reasons only like bring you closer together.

What are some of the signs that indicate you should take a break?

If you want to make the relationship work for the long term, you should take a look at some of the signs that may be a strong indicator that you guys do need time apart from one another.

You are fighting constantly

If you are fighting constantly, this may just be a sign that some time apart may help you. Remember that life gets stressful and it is normal to argue. Unfortunately, if arguing goes to a level where it is becoming disruptive to both of your lives then it may be useful to see this as a sign that a break can do you both the world of good. Sometimes all that you need is some time out and some fresh air. If you are going through a particularly stressful period, then a break may actually be useful to both of you.

You are taking your frustrations out on each other

When you become comfortable with one another, you may start to take your frustrations out on each other. If you have had a bad day at the office, then the natural person to take your anger out on is the person you are closest to you. You know subconsciously that your partner will be there no matter how nasty you become. Instead of taking your frustrations out on one another, rather opt to take a break. At the end of the day, none of you deserve to be treated badly because of stress coming from other places.

External influences are meddling in your relationship

Maintaining a relationship in modern-day life is particularly difficult. If your family and friends are starting to meddle, then this can actually break up the relationship for good. Instead of having to deal with all the outside influences, take some time apart away from the stress.

You have become co-dependent

It is very easy to become co-dependent on each other, to the point where you are fully reliant on one another. If you have come too comfortable with your partner to the point where you fear living without them, then you should take some time out.

While helping each other is a really good thing, depending on each other too much can have the opposite effect. It is important to be your own person and to be able to be independent away from your partner. When taking time out, you can use the time to focus on your own dreams, aspirations, and hobbies.

You are becoming physically ill from stress

If you have work stress, relationship stress, financial stress and all sorts of stressors then it is time to take a step back. The truth is that too much mental stress can cause a person to become physically ill. If you are literally becoming ill from stress, even if it only work stress, taking time apart to work on your mental state is always a good idea.

Deciding to spend time apart can often be the best decision for both of you. However, it is a decision that needs to be made together. If you prefer taking a break, with the help of a therapist or counsellor, then this may be a good idea too. At the end of the day, the saying goes: “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and this applies to your relationship too.