With the definition of ‘love’ spreading above and beyond gender, color, or creed, it’d be safe to say that relationships have become more fluid! Today, unconventional, polyamory or open relationships are the perfect opportunities for you to unwind and avoid the struggles of unnecessary misunderstanding and pain.
While open relationships might seem unmanageable at first, they’re not! But similar to traditional relationships, better rules and practices allow you to navigate them successfully.
So, if you’ve begun your journey, are interested in exploring, or simply want to educate yourself about open relationships, this is the blog for you! In this blog below, we’ve discussed the vocabulary, rules for an open relationship, and some tips to navigate through. Let’s get started!
Open Relationship: The Rules & Overview!
Open or unconventional relationships are a notion toward change that challenges the general image that humans are naturally monogamous. To enter into an open relationship is to acknowledge the fact that a single partner won’t be able to fulfill your sexual, emotional, logistical, and psychological needs.
However, such relationships shouldn’t be confused with polyamory since both connections are fluid. In most cases, open relationships are more about having a single romantic connection than multiple sexual partners. On the other hand, a polyamorous relationship is about being mentally and emotionally engaged with multiple persons simultaneously.
Rules Involved In Open Relationship
Setting ground rules for any open relationship is healthy and beneficial for every partner involved. However, when discussing the regulations in an open relationship, there’s only one; you must stay protective of your partner(s) and yourself.
However, you don’t need to enforce it right from the start; take your time, nurture it with strength and try getting your partner involved in creating the rules. But if you’re confused with the tips for navigating them, here are some tips you must follow.
8 Tips To Navigate Open Relationship
#1 Limit how you communicate or contact
Be aware of how you communicate with your partners or hookups. If you weren't previously messaging, phoning, sexting, or hanging out with each other regularly, you could be entering ‘relationship mode’ before you know it!
Besides, limit yourself if you are stalking them over different social media accounts or becoming frustrated because you don't see each other or chat with them "enough." These are some early signs that your partner has unintentionally become your "peace dealer!"
#2 Limit the sex!
Falling in love or staying in love can be more challenging if you guys only have sex once every 28–30 days! While we also don’t suggest doing it daily, sex twice a month is adequate for most people, particularly if your partner aligns with the ‘protocols.’
Besides, what’s stopping you from having some heated sex sessions with her? You could even buy some sex toys for her to enjoy passionate lovemaking.
#3 Don’t do sleepovers; stay away from morning sex!
Unintentionally staying over (having sex late until the night, only to realize it's just more convenient to collapse in the same bed) Or falling asleep on each other only to wake up in the morning.
Well, this is where you might want to limit yourself! The reason is simple, avoiding morning sex only invokes a romantic feeling for your partner, increasing your chances of falling for them.
#4 Do it only for the right reasons
Open relationships might be the perfect option for those who think they need more or something different from their monogamous relationship. For example, some people want more than one person's physical or emotional closeness to feel complete since they are not completely happy in their relationships.
If your situation is anything like the above, opening up for a relationship might provide satisfaction to both your sexual and emotional advances. But, don’t start an open relationship as a means to escape from the problems of your current relationship.
Remember, there’s always a chance to work on your relationship rather than find a way out. So if you love getting cozy in the bed and the regular sex isn’t working out, try bringing the Perfect Fit sex toys into the picture!
#5 Don’t cross the emotional boundaries
It can be tricky for many people to distinguish between emotional and physical closeness. So make sure you also talk about the emotional limits you need to create when discussing sexual boundaries.
Are you okay with your spouse spending much time in bed with the same person? Do you feel at ease with your partner dating other people? Are you okay with your spouse having relationships with your friends and acquaintances? Ensure you ask yourself all these questions to get an accurate idea of your emotional and physical needs.
#6 Be careful while practicing sex
Before you hit the bed together, ensure that you have your safer sex chat before it! Besides, here are some other tips you might want to follow:
- Only engage in penetrating sex using condoms.
- Rely only on the best sex toys for your pleasure
- Submit to testing at least twice a year.
- Have intercourse with those who follow the rules listed above, as they will let you know if they test positive for anything.
#7 Make a gameplan to talk about your relationship
A sensitive and crucial component of the arrangement is coming up with a game plan for how you might want to discuss this aspect of your relationship with your partner. For example, do you plan to implement a "don't ask, don't tell" policy?
Some people feel perfectly at ease when the specifics are withheld. Others would want to be fully informed to avoid paranoia or to have their imaginations go amok. Therefore, it is essential to consider how much information to share with your partner if you discuss your hookups.
#8 Don’t give in to jealousy!
It's crucial to regularly assess your sentiments of jealousy whether you’ve been in an open relationship since the beginning or are transitioning to one. Since open partnerships can reveal fears and possessiveness that they might have no idea of at first, jealousy is a common factor in the early stages of any open relationship.
Therefore, it's crucial to assess these emotions over time. The long-lasting sentiments of envy will outweigh any possible advantages of an open relationship. Beware!
Can An Open Relationship Save A Relationship?
Now that you know what open relationships are don’t get confused with the ones you might already have! Lack of communication and physical and psychological incompatibility lead relationships to deteriorate, and the cracks become apparent.
The opposite of what will happen is likely to occur if a couple believes that they may rescue their relationship by being open with one another.
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