Does it seem it’s high time to learn to balance your friendships and romantic relationships? You are not alone, a lot of individuals find this challenging as it is easy to be carried away in the wings of a romantic relationship and forget friends. It does not have to be a conscious thing but in the euphoria of happiness and excitement, people tend to live outside their circle of friends until when the butterflies in the belly are released or the love tides fade out.
But friends are real!
They are often our backbone in times of despair, uncertainty, or pain.
The friendships we have sometimes are rewards of our goodness to others in their downtime seasons.
Looking at both: friendship relationships and romantic relationships, there is a big difference. Everywhere in the world, the two are not the same. Romantic relationships are characterized by emotional, physical, and often sexual attraction between two people, friendships are based on mutual respect, shared interests, and emotional connection.
In Nigeria and like any other place, balancing friendships and romantic relationships is possible when individuals can define their relationships and know when to engage both at different levels.
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What Does it Mean to Balance Friendships and Romantic Relationships?
A typical Nigerian girl may get married today and lose all her female friends in a short time, Why? Did she stop picking up their calls, canceling outings, never attending their occasions, or forgetting their birthdays?
All of these can make friends want to forget each other and just move on with their lives.
But finding love shouldn’t make us lose friends, at least true friends. This is why it is important to strike a balance between our friends and our significant other. As much as a love partner means so much, they cannot replace friends in the journey of life. Meanwhile, there are exceptions to these.
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5 Ways to Balance Your Friendships and Romantic Relationships
1. Prioritize Communication
It begins with who your friends are. If all the while your friends are negative and will serve as toxic to your romantic relationship, you don’t have to keep them. The nature of the romantic relationship you are in is another important factor that will determine if a balance will be possible. However, open and honest communication is key. Talk to your partner and friends about your desire to maintain both types of relationships and your commitment to balancing them. Encourage them to share their feelings and expectations as well.
2. Set Boundaries
Establish clear boundaries for your time and energy. This will help determine when you’ll spend quality time with your partner and when you’ll nurture your friendships. Setting boundaries helps prevent overextending yourself on any of the two.
3. Schedule Quality Time
If your romantic relationship is a marriage union, you may need to allocate time for friends. Plan to attend their occasions and special events. You might not be able to hang out like before but you can schedule calls and chat time with friends, engage them, and when necessary invite them or plan a visit to their place. By making time for friends, you ensure they don’t feel neglected.
4. Combine Social Activities
Whenever possible, involve your partner in social activities with your friends, and vice versa. This can help integrate these important aspects of your life and foster connections.
5. Prioritize Self-Care
Prioritize self-care to maintain your emotional well-being. When you take care of yourself, you’re in a better position to nurture your relationships. Self-care can include alone time, hobbies, and activities that rejuvenate you.
Friendships play a significant role in shaping our lives, providing social connections, emotional support, and opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment. So whether or not you get involved in a romantic relationship, it should not overwhelm your friendships indefinitely.
Final Words
Always seek to balance your relationships and remember that balance is dynamic and can evolve. It’s also important to be mindful of your own needs and emotions and to regularly reassess your priorities to ensure that you are nurturing both your friendships and your romantic relationship in a way that is fulfilling for everyone involved.
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