I Need a Break: 8 Scenarios Where You Need to Pause Your Relationship (3 of 5)

#4 There’s someone else

This might mean cheating, but not necessarily. If you come across a friend or co-worker who gives you butterflies and you feel like you’re falling for them, that’s problematic even if nothing has happened. Rather than ignoring or denying these feelings, taking time apart will allow you to clear your mind and heart. We aren’t suggesting that you test this out by sleeping with this new crush, but at the very least you’ll have a chance to contemplate your feelings without being deceitful or feeling super guilty about it.

#5 You’ve lost touch with who you are

Sometimes relationships change who we are. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. It’s possible that you’ve become a more tidy person because your partner expects a clean home. On the other hand, perhaps there are certain bad habits you’ve acquired and now you feel like you’ve changed for the worse. Taking time away to reflect on who you are is healthy and might even make the relationship stronger if you decide to continue it.

There is nothing wrong with an occasional disagreement. In fact, no relationship is ever perfect, especially since it involves two complex individuals with their own distinct personalities, wants, and needs. But if you are finding yourself yelling at each other constantly, crying all the time, and never finding a resolution to the conflict — especially when it involves something petty — it’s time to take a breather.