When you start a relationship with someone new, everything can feel all perfect and magical in the beginning. This initial phase of a romantic relationship is known as the honeymoon phase, lasting anywhere between 6 months to 2 years. However, once it’s gone, all the spark and glitter suddenly disappear, leaving you wondering where all that perfection went. So what happened, after all? What may have caused it to eventually fade away? Here is everything you should know.
3 Common Reasons Why Honeymoon Phase Fades Away
1. The Effect of Hormones Wear Off
At the initial stage of love, you are flooded by all kinds of hormones, such as noradrenaline, which is responsible for adrenaline production and causes sweaty palms and a racing heart.
Dopamine, otherwise known as a feel-good chemical, getting released every time you are doing something pleasurable.
Phenylethylamine, which is released when you are around your crush, making you feel butterflies in your stomach.
Eventually, all these hormones start to experience a sudden spike, followed by elevated levels of the nerve growth factor that increases feelings of connection and bonding.
Amid all these, you tend to focus only on the good things your partner does or the positive traits they possess, failing to notice their flaws. In other words, they are already perfect in your eyes.
Unfortunately, sooner or later, this effect wears off, and that’s exactly when you begin focusing on your partner’s imperfections or annoying things they do. You may still consider them wonderful, but now you are also aware they are not as flawless as you initially thought they were.
2. You Already Uncovered Everything About Them
Another aspect that makes the honeymoon phase so dreamy is the exploration process. You want to learn everything about your loved one so you can have a solid understanding of who they are as an individual.
This can include their life story, likes, and dislikes, as well as different aspects of their personality.
However, at some point, you will run out of all these little exciting discoveries, making your partner like an open book to you.
3. The Sense of Thrill is Gone
A new romance is usually filled with a lot of excitement and happiness. However, the longer you are in a relationship, the less intense these sensations become.
So eventually, all the initial thrill is gone, leaving you to face the reality and the difficult aspects of it.
How to Bring the Honeymoon Phase Back
1. Plan Activities That Cause Dopamine Release
You already know that dopamine plays an important role in the initial stage of a relationship, making you feel satisfied.
Since fresh experiences cause dopamine release, it can be a good idea to start doing something new and enjoyable with your partner.
For example, you can start exploring a new hobby together, take a class about a topic both of you are curious about, or do something outside of your comfort zone.
2. Express Your Love Daily
Whether it’s with words or actions, expressing your love daily can do wonders for your relationship and reignite the spark.
Try showing your partner how much you love them by hugging, kissing, and/or with warm words of affection.
Doing these small things consistently can help you strengthen your relationship and create a romantic atmosphere all around.
3. Spend Time Apart From Each Other
It can be very exciting to see someone you have not seen for days or weeks, right? Particularly, when that person is an important part of your life.
Think of the excitement you feel when you finally get to hang out with friends you have not seen for days. How about the happiness you feel when you visit your family after an exhausting week?
Spending time apart from your partner can have the same effect, filling you with thrill and joy after reuniting with them.
So if you feel like your relationship has become unbearably boring recently, you can use it as an opportunity to give each other some space.
Then you can start doing things separately from each other, like going on a trip alone or with friends, spending time with your families, or mastering a hobby.
While your time apart, you can regularly text or call each other to share details from your day or you can simply wait and talk to them only after you are reunited.
4. Focus on Small Gestures
There are many little things you can do to make your partner feel loved and cherished, such as cooking something for them, especially if it’s their favorite food, setting up a romantic dinner, or making a bucket list of things you want to do together.
Whatever you decide to do, it can certainly make your partner’s heart flutter, seeing the sincerity and dedication you put into it.
5. Reminisce Your Special Moments Together
Memories are an important aspect of a person’s life, especially when it’s shared with those they love and admire. After all, they help you travel back in time and recapture favorite moments of your life.
As a result, reminiscing your memories can help you bring the honeymoon phase. All you need to do is to choose a memory you hold close to your heart.
Whether it’s your first meeting, confessing your love to each other, or your first kiss, looking back at your shared memories can help you emotionally reconnect and look at each other with those same eyes you did at the beginning of your relationship.
6. Go Old School
Why not show your partner how much you love them by writing them a love letter? Even if you regularly tell your loved one how much they mean to you, you can make them even happier with this little romantic gesture.
So craft a beautiful letter for them and hide it somewhere they can easily find or give it directly to them and witness the magical effect it will have on them.
Final Thoughts
The end of the honeymoon phase does not necessarily mean that you have to spend the rest of your relationship days being bored in each other’s company.
You can easily bring the thrill and passion back by doing these little things regularly or at least as often as you can.
