Stereotypes about living together

Living together brings joy and comfort to the everyday lives of many couples. But the many stereotypes surrounding cohabitation (is it just me, or does that word sound stranger the more you say it?) can sometimes shape how we see it and what we expect. Let’s unpack a few stereotypes about living together:

"Living together is all smooth sailing, with little unicorns and elves spreading love and joy along the way"

As with everything in life, things aren’t always perfect. Living together means sharing a lot and creating a cosy little world for two. There may be days when one of you, or even both of you, is in a bad mood, and that’s perfectly OK! When that happens, we suggest taking some time to focus on yourself so you can feel better with your partner.

"Living together means falling into a routine, and routine kills relationships"

We won't tell you otherwise: there's no life as a couple without routine. But there's no life at all without routine, Jeannine! Stop treating routine like the enemy and accept that life doesn't have to be full-on all the time to be enjoyable. You'll see, it'll take some of the pressure off your shoulders when everyday life is weighing you down. And if you feel the spark in your relationship is about to go out, you can always rekindle it (our tips here)!

"Living together means losing your independence"

The only time living together can affect your independence is if you lose yourself in your partner. Remember that you’re a person in your own right, with your own identity, tastes and desires. It may be true that a couple is an entity in its own right. But you’re still two different people.

In the end, it's all about balance. Embrace the happy moments, the arguments and even the routine. Find a balance between personal growth and growing together as a couple. Once you let go of these stereotypes about life as a couple, you'll see there's nothing more rewarding than facing life together, with a good old Netflix and Chill night!