Ever heard of a "relationship sabbatical"? It's when long-time couples take a break from each other. It's when they agree to temporarily separate with the intent of revitalizing their relationship or marriage.
A relationship sabbatical helps put the spark back as long-term couples tend to get too comfortable with what's familiar. The idea of going on a break is to keep the marriage intact, which might sound counterproductive but experts say otherwise.
Ruby Warrington took a relationship sabbatical with her husband Simon for eight months without any regret. Warrington said she and her husband made the choice together. The sabbatical meant they would also refrain from calling or messaging each other, which worried friends and family, as she wrote in the Daily Mail.
Warrington said it crossed her mind this relationship sabbatical would become a permanent break up. In being away from her husband, however, Warrington realized and reaffirmed all the reasons why she married Simon years ago and they resumed their relationship in a better place.
My 'marriage sabbatical' saved my relationship - New York Post https://t.co/cAuqfTiSzz
— Relationships (@Relationships36) April 10, 2017
A relationship sabbatical gives individuals a chance to rediscover themselves outside of a partnership. Couples, after all, do not always share the love and interest for the same things. Doing and experiencing things solo for once, perhaps after a long time of coupling enriches the soul and brings personal growth and enlightenment.
Relationship expert and New York psychologist Kristin Davin says relationship sabbaticals could be productive, as per Huffington Post. It is important, however, for couples considering this to discuss some ground rules before going on a break. They also need to talk about the realities of the situation, including the possibility of permanently saying goodbye to each other.
In some cases, a relationship sabbatical saves a marriage from divorce or at least encourages couples to finalize their marriage without tension. "Having a break to consider what you should do can either lead to a proper reconciliation, or to a more sensible and dignified divorce," lawyer Hayley Trovato said, as per Telegraph.
