13 Feb Don’t forget… There’s a “U" in Us

This blog post was written by Recovery Help Now’s, Cindy Nigro, MFTi.

Falling in love is exciting and getting involved in a relationship can be wonderful!   You may want to spend all of your time with your significant other.  You may think that having a healthy relationship means doing everything together and rarely spending time apart.  You put all your focus and energy into building and maintaining a happy relationship and you forget about yourself.

Some people spend so much time with their partner that they feel lost when they’re left alone for any period of time. Here are some tips to keep in mind so that you don’t lose yourself in your relationship:

1. Spend time with family and friends:  It’s important to spend time with other people who are important to you.  If your partner exhibits jealousy to an extreme level, then you may want to reconsider whether it’s a healthy bond.

2. Hobbies: Continue to engage in your hobbies and don’t lose sight of your interests.  If you enjoy playing sports, dancing, or drawing but your partner doesn’t share the same hobbies – its ok.  Keep dancing!

3. Goals:  Don’t forget about your long-term career goals just because you are swept away in the moment.   Remember the things that were important to you before you met your mate.

4. Alone time: Schedule time to do things alone.  Go for a long walk, meditate, or read a good book.

The more we have that fulfills us personally, the less we feel we lose if a relationship falls apart.  A healthy relationship requires as much “me” time as it does “we” time. Be sure to create a healthy balance in your relationship!