(PhatzNewsRoom / BlackDoctor.org) — The funny thing about bad habits is that you don’t even realize they’re a big deal until someone else says something.
Many times, that someone is your tee’d off significant other.
So…here are a few common habits that relationship experts have identified as potentially disasterous to your happy union.
You’re on your phone too much…
You’re always glued to your iPhone. You send emails at the dinner table. You tweet at the movies. You talk to your partner while simultaneously playing a game or downloading more apps.
Behave yourself: Try to get through an entire evening without your PDA, and focus on giving your present company some TLC.
You watch TV too much…
Every night it’s all about you, your partner and that good ‘ole TV. True, there’s something special (and comfortable) about catching up on your shows or movies in your pj’s together, but interacting with the outside world, or finding some other interesting activities to do at home, can be a lot of fun (and healthy), too.
Behave yourself: Try to go at least one or two days a week without TV.
You text/call too much…
9:05 a.m. text: “Morning! Get to work okay?” 10:10 a.m.: “Soooo bored at work. You?” 10:11 a.m.: “Is it 5 o’clock yet?” 10:45 a.m. phone call: “Hey, what are you up to?” And it’s not even lunchtime yet.
Behave yourself: Try to go for one whole hour without contact (unless there’s an emergency, of course). If that’s too aggressive, try 10 minutes and work your way up. It’s fine to want to be in constant contact, but give yourselves some time to miss each other.
You tease them too much…
It’s all meant in good fun, right? She teases you about your haircut and your clothes, he teases you about your sunglasses and your spending habits. But guess what? After a while, it’s not funny – it’s annoying and hurtful.
Behave yourself: Try to trim down the teasing by at least 20 percent.
You spend time with your significant other too much…
When was the last time you actually even saw your friends? When you do hang out with them, do you bring your significant other, and pretty much just talk to them the whole time?
Behave yourself: Schedule some time to spend with your friends – without your partner, so you can better nurture the other important relationships in your life.
You analyze too much…
You spend more time talking about the relationship than you do actually experiencing the relationship. Open communication is one thing, but when you take it to the extreme, questioning and rationalizing and hashing out every little thing, that could actually sabotage a normally-healthy relationship.
Behave yourself: It’s not always easy, but try harder to actually appreciate the relationship, instead of obsessing about it.
You’re un-romantic too much…
You’ve finally found that someone special. Yay! So now there’s no need to go on dates, right? Wrong.
Behave yourself: At least once or twice a month, make reservations, dress nicely, dine by candlelight, toast some wine, and be more romantic.
