Advantages and Disadvantages of Being in a Relationship: No matter your relationship status, there are up and down sides for whichever profile you may want to keep. While many have extolled the numerous advantages of being by yourself like being free of all the drama and heartache that are concomitant of relationships, it is not to say that there are no disadvantages of being single such as loneliness and not having an intimate experience or a close support system.
In the same way, there are some advantages and disadvantages to being in a relationship. However, no feeling or situation is eternal and you are likely to have a different experience about being in a relationship from what other people may go through.
The pros and cons of being in a relationship are only conventional phenomena that are experienced in other spheres of life, be it in our interaction with friends, family, or colleagues at work.
Before getting into a relationship, it is important that you evaluate the various sides to the situation so as to get a good idea of what you’re going in for.
If you are already in a relationship but you are not so sure of your standing in it, it’ll do you good to check out these different advantages and disadvantages that you may have gone through or might soon experience in your relationship. Here are some merits and demerits of being in a relationship.
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Advantage: You Have a Steady Companion
Being in a relationship means that you always have someone who will be there for you and that’s a big deal. As long as you are in a good relationship with a reasonable partner, they’ll always show up for you when they can.
From chatting with you online and giving you the maximum support you need for the project you’re working on to listening to you ramble on and on about how good or bad your day went, your boyfriend or girlfriend is a continuous source of companionship and comfort. Having a steady companion is, indeed, a big flex.
Disadvantage: You Won’t be so Comfortable with Going Out With Your Single Friends Anymore
Being in a relationship means that you won’t be free to do all the crazy things that single people do like flirting or making out with strangers at night clubs.
Relationships can be demanding and there are certain behaviors that you must leave behind when you get into a relationship in order not to disrespect or bring about a misunderstanding between you and your significant other. You owe your partner the duty to respect him/her and refrain from doing things that will hurt their feelings. You are most likely going to feel less enthusiastic about going out with your single friends because you are busy spending time with your partner whose company you prefer.
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Advantage: Relationships Provide an Opportunity to Discover Yourself
How will you know if you’d make a good husband or wife or even friend if you don’t get in a relationship. Relationships are an avenue to find oneself and discover the parts of you that are untapped. By the time you spend time with someone else who you pour out yourself to so much so that they know nearly if not everything about you, you get an idea of exactly who you are. Your partner is wont to let you know the kind of person you are and call you out on your inadequacies with love.
You also get to find out what your love language is. Do you prefer getting lots of assurance and being in constant correspondence with your partner or you would rather have your space and a little more privacy? What are the tiny things or big things that matter to you in a relationship? You may never know what you’re worth if someone doesn’t show you. If you never try, you’ll never know what a relationship is like.
Disadvantage: Relationship Requires that You Include the Other Person in Your Plans
As a caring and responsible partner, you need to make your plans in such a way that you can have time for your significant other. This may cause disruptions to your usual schedule but it is one of the sacrifices you need to make in a relationship. You may have to be more social if you’re usually introverted and be willing to let the other person into your space even if you would rather be by yourself.
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Advantage: You are Constantly Reminded of How Beautiful and Adorable You Are
Being in a relationship is an affirmation that you are special to someone and thus worthy of love. People in great relationships continuously reassure each other and compliment their excellent features. Yes, we all have faith in ourselves and are conscious of our beauty but worthy compliments from the one you love can lift your spirits.
Disadvantage: You Have to Watch Your Steps
Literally! When you’re in a relationship, you have to be extra careful how you behave and always be cautious about hurting the feeling of your significant other. You don’t want to do anything that will upset your relationship or make your partner unhappy. It is a totally different situation from when you were single and carefree. Your partner probably feels this same way too.
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Advantage: You are Free of Random Dates and the Stress of Shooting Shots
When you’re in a relationship, you have passed the stage of flirting and sexting. You both know each other to a reasonable extent and are over the mundane issues that plague new lovers.
Gone are the days of ‘single and searching’, you are now hooked and committed to someone you love and who loves you too, isn’t that wild?
Disadvantage: Relationships Require Strict Commitment and Devotion
No matter how many other fine people you meet while you are in a relationship, you are bound to stick to your partner and not try to get mushy with any of those other people.
When you have made up your mind to be with someone, you are expected to be faithful, loyal and not frolicking around with other people. That is why it is important to be sure that you really love someone before you get into a relationship with them especially if you are very young and likely to have feelings for too many people at the same time.
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Advantage: Relationships Make You Feel Comfortable and Loved
When you are in a good relationship, you feel accepted, happy and beloved. This is an awesome feeling. You are not lonely or unsettled rather, you feel calm and comfortable knowing that you’re someone’s loved one and that they’ve got you. Spending time with your partner and engaging in the lovely things that people in relationships do. These interactions help to boost your self esteem and make you feel at peace with yourself.
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Disadvantage: Relationship Related Stress can Have Adverse Effects on Other Areas of Your Life
Relationships can be time- tasking and emotionally draining. The demands of being in a relationship such as being there all the time for your partner, going out regularly with them, helping them in times of difficulty, being in constant communication with them can interfere with your usual schedule and the effects can be damning. From lagging behind on office or school work to shouldering unprecedented financial burdens and barely having time for yourself, the stress of being in a relationship is colossal. If you are not well prepared, you may find yourself falling short before you even got started.
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Conclusion
Relationships are not as rosy as most couples make it seem. Overtime, relationships have become a questionable and complicated concept to understand. Yet, a lot of people are getting into relationships or are eager to get into one everyday.
All the same, a lot of others are enjoying their relationships too and some have graduated to married couples and serious partners.
All parties in a relationship have the duty to put in their best to see that the union thrives and that everyone gets the best from it.
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.