Ah, those early days of dating! The honeymoon phase feels like a fairytale, doesn't it? You're learning everything about each other, falling deeper in love by the day, and every little message or call just lights up your whole face.
Thing is, when you start with someone new, it's like you're putting on your best self, and so are they. Naturally, you're overflowing with happiness and it's easy to be kind, sweet, and all those lovely things we sometimes forget in long-term relationships.
During that honeymoon phase, you're probably treating your new love with so much kindness and warmth. You're overlooking any flaws because you're caught up in that whirlwind of excitement. But as time passes, things do change.
Once you settle into the relationship, that initial excitement might mellow. You both get comfy and that's when you start noticing things a bit differently. It's not a bad thing at all, just the journey of growing together!
# You get annoyed by the little thingsIn the first throes of love, you appear to be blind to any faults and flaws that your partner might have. When the honeymoon period is over, however, suddenly you realize they have all these pretty irritating habits.
They play with their phone at the dining table instead of talking to you, they leave the toilet seat up, the never wear matching socks. Even things you used to think were cute like that little snort they do at the end of a laugh suddenly start to get on your nerves and grates on you – they just aren’t as adorable as they used to be.
# You fancy them a little bit lessYou used to think they were super gorgeous and every single time you met up with them, your heart would do a little flutter at how attracted you were to them. Now you think those trainers look really dumb, or their haircut makes them look a bit weird.
# Y
ou don’t mind telling them off
Before, if they chucked their clothes on the floor instead of putting them away, or would always leave washing the dishes until the morning, you didn’t want to say anything. Now you are more than happy to tell them when they are doing or saying things that you don’t like.
# You let yourself go a little
Can’t quite get the top button of your jeans done up? Shirt straining a little around the middle? Can’t really be bothered to put on any makeup for your date? Caring less about looking your best all the time is totally normal, but probably does mean the honeymoon period has come to an end.
# You start to like having spaceYou used to be joined at the hip, but now if you spend too much time together, you get on each other’s nerves, or simply run out of things to say. You realize that all those friends you’ve been neglecting as of late are far better company. You just hope they’re still talking to you after you abandoned them to slobber all over your new squeeze.
# You don’t have to fall asleep cuddlingYou now feel perfectly okay telling him or her that it’s really kind of hot and uncomfortable trying to fall asleep in someone else’s arms. You have a quick cuddle before lights out, but then shuffle as far away from one another as possible. Cue the best night’s sleep you’ve had in six months.
# You know exactly where you stand
The beginning of relationships, while very exciting, can also feel pretty unstable and nerve-wracking. You really like them, but by putting yourself out there you feel a little vulnerable, and never 100% certain they feel the same.
The end of the honeymoon period is the start of a more settled phase where you aren’t worried if they don’t call or text you back right away, if they cancel a date, or are too tired for sex.