Moving in with a partner for the first time is a big deal. The ultimate way to combine your lives without saying “I do”, moving in together is often seen as a test run for the real deal, showing you and your partner just what a life together might look like. While the thought of living with your loved one might seem like the best idea in the world, the reality of the situation can often be a whole lot different and while it can still be an incredible process, it pays to be aware of just what you’re getting yourself into. Cohabiting is entirely different from seeing each other a few times during the week and before you settle in for the long haul, it’s worth taking your time to really think about the scenario.
- Learn How To Share
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Unless you’re moving into a place that your partner already owns, you’re probably going to want to discuss apartment specifications with your loved one and the types of spaces that you have in mind. Living together means taking two opinions into account at all times and sometimes, you just have to compromise to make the best out the situation. Before you begin the apartment hunt, sit down with your partner and discuss everything from your budget, to furniture choices, to cleaning duties and location. Making sure you’re on the same page about everything before you take the plunge will save you a great deal of hassle down the line.
- Learn How To Compromise
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Living together means sharing an identity for a large part of the time and while you are still very much yourself in a relationship, there are moments when you and your partner will have to come together. In the early weeks, you will likely come across disagreements in regards to things like cleaning duties and food shopping, but these are things that you can work out by talking together. You need to figure out how you are going to function as a couple living together, not two single people inhabiting the same space. Compromise will become your best friend in the early stages, helping you to reach a level of harmony.
- Keep Things Apart
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Spending every second of every day with one other person is never a good idea and even if you’re living with your partner, it doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to have your own identity outside of the relationship. Make sure you keep committing yourself to the same social functions that you used to and nourishing your social circle outside of your relationship. Inside your living space, try to find an area in which you can completely be alone when you need to be; you don’t have to cut yourself off, but spending a little time in your own space can help you to maintain your own individuality.
- Talk Together
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Every couple encounters problems at some point in their relationship and in some cases, they can prove to be make or break moments. If you have something on your mind, it can be tempting to sweep it under the rug and leave it for another time but it is in your best interests to work through it in the here and now. Sitting down and talking with your partner should be something that you do regularly, whether you have a problem or not. Keeping the doors to communication wide open can only nourish your relationships, helping you to overcome any hurdles before they grow out of control.
- Keep It Balanced
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Living with any person is all about balance. You’re never going to want to spend every second with another person but when you are together, you should try and make your time as harmonious as possible. Cohabiting doesn’t mean that you have to throw your former life out of the window; it simply means welcoming someone new into your inner circle. Life together is about sharing, communicating and bringing others into your world. You don’t have to stop being you; you can simply become a better version of yourself.
