Being in a relationship is great, especially when you're dating your best friend. When you take it to the next level -- living together -- it makes or break the relationship. You can go on adventures or enjoy a cozy night in, making dinner and watching a movie. It might be hard to spend so much time together, and there are things that only couples who live together experience.
There is a vast difference between dating someone and living with the person you're dating. Maybe you've been seeing your partner for a couple of weeks, or maybe you've been seeing them for a few years, but you never really know someone until it comes time to live with them.
1. You know to think before you speak
Living with someone means learning to live with their habits. You'll start to recognize the signals that your partner is overloaded and needs time alone. You might not want to confront your partner right away or risk saying something that you'll regret later.
In situations where you disagree, give yourself or your partner some time to cool off before talking in order to avoid a fight.
2. You talk about everything
Now more than ever, you'll notice the little things your significant other does that bother you. While it's important not to fight over inconsequential things, communicating is very important when it comes to relationships in general. If there's something that truly bothers you, talk to your partner about it. Try to resolve issues before heading to bed to strengthen your communication skills as well as strengthen your relationship.
3. You know when to give each other space
Now that you live together, spending every moment with each other is not healthy. If you didn't know this prior to moving in with each other, you know it now. Giving each other space and allowing for some time with friends (or even time for yourself) is important and will diminish the number of fights you and your partner get into. Controlling when and how often the both of you can do things separately is bound to cause issues in your relationship.
4. You share responsibility around the house
Housework shouldn't fall on one person in the household. You both live under the same roof, so you share the responsibility of cleaning, paying bills and cooking. Letting all the responsibility fall on one person will cause a rift in the relationship. Whether you need to work out a schedule or designate a day to clean the apartment together, make sure you communicate and get the job done as a team.
5. Romance is not dead if you work at it
Living together is a big step for any relationship. While you get to know your partner on a deeper level, you also discover things that you may not have wanted to know. Don't let this kill the romantic portion of your relationship. Whether it be once a week or once a month, have a date night outside of your apartment to keep your relationship strong and exciting.
Living with your significant other is an adventure in and of itself, but make sure your relationship is strong enough to withstand the test. It will challenge you both together and separately.