Moving in with a significant other is exciting, but it’s not easy, especially if you’re detail-oriented like me. It’s definitely worth the time and effort, though! Moving in together means you’ve decided that staying physically close makes sense and feels right. This is a really special realization to have.
For me, the most difficult part of moving in together was merging two very different styles into one small apartment. I also noticed the many ways that a move could go wrong. If my partner and I hadn’t enforced open communication, emphasizing finances, schedules, and sharing opinions, we could have overthought our living situation.
Here are a few tips and tricks that my partner and I learned from our move. These are effective, practical ways to handle potentially sticky situations.
1. Spend quality time together.
While you are basically spending time together 24/7 now that you live together, you aren’t really deepening your connection as much as you’d think. Packing up boxes and deciding what to bring, donate, or sell can actually end up distancing you from your partner. It can be difficult to schedule dates and allot special time while you’re making a major life change. However, doing activities together, like shopping for furniture or picking out decor, will allow you to discuss your interests. These activities also allow you to go on small adventures to supplement your new home. My partner and I mainly got our decor from Amazon, so we sat on the couch and watched a movie while taking turns adding items to the cart.
If you are in a time crunch, try something as simple as planning a coffee date in the morning. Try to avoid talking about moving logistics during these away-from-home times. Use this time to reconnect, chat about what’s happening at work, and share how you’ve been feeling.
2. Spend time apart.
Believe it or not, it’s also important to give yourself some alone time during this busy life transition. You’re doing everything from packing to making big financial decisions, which can really be taxing on your mental health. Although my partner serves as my support system in times of stress, I really didn’t want to bother him with the move if anything was going negatively. When my head started to feel a little cloudy, I would hit the gym for a half-hour, or call a friend to escape the stress.
I’ve found some other great ways to de-stress (including puppies and chocolate), especially after a long day at work or after the big move! If there was a day where my partner and I were moving items together for a majority of the day, we would take separate moments to shower, put pajamas on, and do other bedtime routines by ourselves. Spending an entire day with someone, then proceeding with normal life can get a bit cumbersome. There isn’t always a good way to transition, so we found that taking a moment to each get ready on our own helped us refresh and bring us back to reality.
3. Treat yourself.
This was our biggest realization after the move: Don’t forget to treat yo’self! We spent so much time worrying about money that we neglected to pick out items that were going to last a long time help us transition from living in individual apartments to living together. While you may want to shoot for cost efficiency, really consider investing in furniture that is both durable and comfortable. Investing in pieces that provide lasting comfort will save you money in the long run – you don’t want that cheap couch to fall apart!
I also noticed how much fun it can be to merge styles with a significant other if you are open to learning about their decor preferences, and negotiate on furniture items that are worth a splurge. Going back to spending time together, shopping for quality items like durable dishware will make you proud of your new home and give it the luxury feel you and your partner deserve.
Obviously, when you make the life-changing decision to move in with your significant other, you may have numerous concerns. If you don’t have ways to cope, the move can quickly become an overwhelming situation that starts many disagreements. If you use these suggestions, though, you will find the move to be a fun, harmonious experience. Happy moving, and best of luck!
Featured Photo by SARAH X SHARP on Unsplash.
