Can Time-Outs Help Relationships?

Do relationships need time-outs? Do time-outs in relationships do more harm than good? When is the right time to give your relationship a time-out? Time outs can be beneficial to a relationship, when done for the right reasons at the right time. If your relationship has reached a point where you can’t be in the same room without arguing with one another, the time might be right for a time-out.

 

Giving each other space, by leaving for a few days or a week, could be just the thing your relationship needs. It breaks the daily cycle of fighting and can give both parties time to clear their heads and give you each time alone to think about what is really important. It also shows both parties what it will be like without their partner. It can be a wake up call of what life will be like without their partner. Sometimes people begin to focus on the more positive things about their loved one rather than all the negative like they were used to. In some cases, time-outs can be a great help to relationships that are in crisis. But, like everything else, time-outs need to be done right.

 

Do Time-Outs Help Relationships?

Do Time-Outs Help Relationships?

When someone just leaves without saying anything about where they are going or when they are coming back, the other person usually stays pissed off until they hear from them. That is not really productive. As adults we should behave like an adult. Even if you leave in a huff, you can send a text or email when you calm down letting them know you are just going to be staying with a family member or friend for a few days and will be back. If the other person replies in a nasty way, that is on them.

 

If you decide to have a conversation with the one you love about a time-out, make a few details clear  and keep the conversation short and sweet. Let them know you need some time to yourself and feel they do as well. Let them know you are doing this to help the relationship, not end it. Let them know when you will be back and stick to that time frame. If you want them to leave, because it is your house, give them some time to make arrangements to do so. Agree to not speak unless it is dire emergency, not just because you can’t find your socks. Agree to use that time apart wisely.

 

Don’t just think time apart or the passage of time will correct what is wrong in your relationship. It won’t. You two screwed it up, you two are going to have to fix it. Look at yourself and what you have done wrong. Even if it is just how you have been handling their bad behavior. Realize you too will need to do things differently going forward. It is common sense that if you both stay the same your relationship will remain troublesome.

 

Too many time-outs in a relationship don’t do any good. Then your relationship becomes an on/off relationship, which is a completely dysfunctional relationship. On/off relationships are not helpful. They are overly dramatic and hurtful. No good comes from an on/off relationship, only trouble. You can’t use time-outs as the solution to every little problem that comes up. You also can’t use time-outs because you are a drama king or queen. If used like an adult, in an effort to make the relationship better, time-outs can really help some very dysfunctional relationships

 

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