4 Reasons Not To Ever Abandon Your Friends For A Significant Other

A resounding trend among the Millennial generation is its members uncanny obsession with their significant others.

Strangely enough, it is becoming the norm for Millennials to completely abandon their normal lives after entering a romantic relationship.

I've heard so many stories from close friends and acquaintances about how they never see their best friends, roommates, teammates or classmates, who seemingly overnight became surgically attached to their significant others' hips.

Whatever happened to balance? Pre-relationship, they would have never ditched brunch with their gal pals to stay in bed all day.

While it’s tempting to block the outside world and revel in their blissful new union, this trend has damaging repercussions, as friends and family begin to feel neglected and left out.

Here are four reasons why striking a balance in relationships is so imperative for Millennials to practice:

1. Your Friends Will Inevitably Get Frustrated And Annoyed

As humans, we innately want to feel desired and paid attention to. It’s practically animalistic and most definitely instinctual.

For instance, babies (safely categorized as instinctive creatures) will occasionally cry for attention.

Your Millennial friends will not be as explicit in their cries, but their frustrations will be evident in their attitudes toward you.

Naturally, people will start to give up on the prospects of hanging out with you because every time they try to initiate plans, you’ll be off doing something else with your significant other.

Neglecting a healthy balance in your friendships and relationships is a recipe for a serious case of no friends.

Nobody likes to feel like a second option and people will eventually stop attempting to forge friendships with you.

2. What If You Break Up?

However selfish and vacuous this reason may seem, it is nothing short of the truth.

The consequences of completely isolating yourself in your relationship are grave.

If you and your significant other break up, who will you have to console you?

Who will you have to go out with to forget your break-up woes?

Studies revealed women who rapidly begin spending more time with their significant others quickly decrease the amount of time they spends with their close friends.

Consistency throughout friendship is key; make sure to not let your plans fall by the wayside after entering a new relationship.

3. You Enter A Relationship Of Complacency And Laziness

Spending all your time with your romantic partner can be detrimental to the overall relationship.

Too much of anything is never a good thing. When you're with someone for ample amounts of time, it's easy to get annoyed with him or her.

You'll fight about insignificant matters and begin exerting your energy toward negativity.

In this situation, it’s almost too easy to take your partner for granted.

After a while, you'll stop being explicit because you'll assume your intentions and feelings are implicit.

Make sure the time you spend together is meaningful and special.

4. What Happened To Miss Independent?

Clearly, if you are prioritizing your boyfriend or girlfriend over your friends and family, other elements of your life will fall through the cracks as well.

Are you maintaining your independence and pursuing things that interest you? Are you still open to change in your professional and social life?

If the answer is no to either of those questions, change what you’re doing and spend more time with people other than your partner. According to Theresa DiDonato, Ph.D.,

“Time spent alone can also be important for individuals in new relationships, though, and this alone time is just as valid as other needs. People benefit from time to reflect on their new relationship and time engaged in activities they love to do by themselves. In walking the tight rope between the demands of one’s work, family, and friends, and what the new relationship needs, engaging in self-care is equally important."