Relationships
Being in a relationship has its own highs and lows, but as an overthinker you may have specific questions or concerns. In the blog articles listed below, you'll read my best advice on relationships for overthinkers.
How do you recognise you’re in a situationship?
It’s a familiar situation for many: You’ve met a great person, you have fun together, and you can’t stop talking or texting them… but you are unsure about the relationship. In this article, I will explain how you can recognise you’re in a situationship and what you can do about it if you want that to change. Sign 1: You haven’t met anyone important in their lives One obvious sign is that you’ve been seeing someone for a while, you have seen where they live, know what they do for work, and in their free time, you’ve hit the early milestones and then… nothing. You go on dates, have fun,…
What’s the difference between loving someone and being in love?
You’ve been together with your partner for a while now, and you start to wonder if it’s actually love or not. Maybe you don’t feel fireworks every time you meet, and it’s not like a ray of sunshine hits their face whenever you look at them. How do you know you’ve transitioned from being in love to loving someone? How do you know the difference? In this article, I will explain the signs to look out for if you want to know if you’re in love, or loving them. 1: You no longer get nervous when you two meet One clear sign that you’re still in the “in love” stage…
How to divide your time when you’re in a relationship
When you’re in a relationship, it can often feel like you’re juggling too many things at once. Dedicating time to your partner and your relationship is important, but how do you balance your schedule when you also have other obligations such as work and school, friends, family, your own household, hobbies, sports and sleeping enough? In this article, I will give advice on how to divide your time specifically when you’re in a relationship. Tip 1: Make a To-do-list for the week Making a to-do list may sound daunting or completely overdone, but it really helped me keep track of my appointments, what I wanted to do that week and…
What to do when you’re afraid of falling out of love?
Falling in love can be one of your life’s most exhilarating, exciting and terrifying experiences. Countless love songs have been written about the rollercoaster ride of emotions, worries and daydreams you go through when you’re falling in love. Not just crushing, but, irrevocably, falling for someone can feel the most vulnerable and naked ever. When you end up together with that person, sail smoothly through the early stages of dating and finally make the relationship official, everything should be perfect. But why doesn’t it feel like that? Why do you still feel afraid now that you have everything you ever wanted? In this article, I will tell you how to…
How to balance your energy as an introvert in a relationship
Being an introvert in a relationship, especially when your partner isn’t an introvert, can be difficult to preserve and balance your energy. For introverts, social interactions cost energy. Although my energy runs out faster when talking to people I’m not close to (colleagues, acquaintances), it still costs me energy to talk to loved ones. In this article, I will advise on how to balance your energy as an introvert in a relationship. Let your partner know you’re an introvert — and what it means to you First of all, it’s important that your partner knows that you’re an introvert. Maybe you have already discussed this on dates, but even then it’s important…
How to meet your partner’s family for the first time
Meeting your partner’s family is usually a significant step in your relationship. Maybe you’re nervous about how you should act or how you should give them the best impression of you. In this blog, I will advise you on how you can make meeting your partner’s family as easy and comfortable as possible, so you can be the best version of yourself. Tip 1: Keep it small the first time If your partner happens to have a large family with many siblings, you can also choose not to meet everyone at once. You can discuss with your partner that you both only meet each other’s parents the first time, or…
How to deal with unwanted advances when you’re in a relationship in 5 steps
When you’re in a happy relationship, the last thing you want is unwanted attention from others. Sometimes, people still hit on you, despite knowing that you’re not interested because you already have a partner. In this article, you will read advice on how to best avoid awkward situations and if they arise, how to deal with them. Step 1: Be clear that you have a partner The most straightforward way to avoid any misunderstandings, it’s best to mention that you’re in a relationship as soon as possible. Try to incorporate this statement as a natural part of the conversation, most people find it offensive or pretentious if you mention…
How to set boundaries with your partner
Boundaries in a relationship, what are they, when are they reasonable and how do you discuss them with your partner? What do you do if you both disagree about a certain boundary, for example concerning planning a vacation together? In this article, I will give practical advice on how to deal with these questions regarding boundaries in a relationship. What are boundaries? A boundary is commonly described as “the limit of what someone considers to be acceptable behaviour” (source). Important features of boundaries are: So, why are boundaries important in relationships? First of all, everyone has boundaries. There are common boundaries, such as a no-cheating rule in monogamous relationships (although,…
How to plan your first vacation with your partner
A first vacation with a new partner is often exciting, but can also cause you stress and worry. Especially if you both have different vacation preferences, and activity levels and if both of your past vacations differed much. In this article, I will give you the best advice on how to plan your first vacation with your partner. This article answers the following questions: Don’t wait too long to plan ahead Before you even start planning the first vacation, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t wait too long with this. Say, you both have a week off in February. My advice would be to start discussing possible vacation plans as…
