Many people dream of having an open relationship with their partner, but few of the courage to do it. The concept of an open relationship sounds exciting because it gives you and your partner a license to have sex with other people without any consequences. In other words, you both agree that it is okay to cheat on each other just as long as there are no real feelings associated with these affairs. Sometimes a couple will even participate in the affair together by having a threesome. There is no limit to the amount of fun you can have here.
If you are thinking about getting into an open relationship with your partner, there are some things you should consider first. The whole idea might sound thrilling and exciting, but you need to be prepared for the realities of an open relationship. If you are not prepared to have the right mindset about it, then it could be a nightmare instead of a thrill.
Below are 8 tips for maintaining your open relationship.
1) Try Not to Be Jealous
If you are the jealous type, then you are going to have real problems handling an open relationship. Can you tolerate the idea of another person having sex with your partner? Even if you are not watching it up close, it can still be difficult knowing about it. Just because you can have sex with other people, it won’t necessarily make it easy to know that your partner is doing that too. So, make sure you have your jealousy figured out.
2) Plan the Terms
Open relationships are not always 100% open. In other words, some couples like to set certain boundaries regarding how open the relationship should be. For instance, you and your partner might decide that you can each have sex with just one other person only. Perhaps the openness you two want is for a threesome encounter that you both can share together. Whatever the terms are, plan them out together before proceeding.
3) Keep the Communication Active
You and your partner need to actively communicate with each other about your open relationship. Don’t get to a point where you two don’t talk anymore because you need to make sure your partner is still happy with the arrangement. Sometimes a couple will agree to an open relationship but then one partner will begin feeling uneasy about it. If this happens, the other partner must know about it. Otherwise, it will ruin the relationship.
4) No Other “Relationships”
Open relationships are not about starting serious relationships with multiple people. You are only having an open relationship to enhance your sex life and make it more interesting. If you start developing real feelings for any of these people that you’re having sex with, then it will affect the current relationship that you have with your partner.
5) Love Your Partner
Don’t forget how much you love your partner. Even though you’re both having sex with other people, the only love that exists is between the two of you. Make sure you keep telling your partner that you love them. If they return that love, then it reaffirms the strength of the relationship.
6) No Bragging to Friends
You may have a great sex life when you’re in an open relationship. However, this does not mean that you should brag to all your friends as if you’re still in high school or something. An open relationship is a very personal thing and it doesn’t need to be anyone else’s business other than those who are participating in it. But if you tell too many people, it might affect your reputation around normal social circles or at work.
7) This Won’t Fix a Broken Relationship
If you’re having relationship issues with your partner, do not assume that upgrading to an open relationship is going to fix those issues. Most people start an open relationship because they want to enhance their sex lives. But if you’re using this openness to make up for other problems in the relationship, then it is never going to work. You’ll wind up dropping your partner and forming a real bond with someone else that you’re having sex with.
8) Your Partner Comes First
Always remember to think about the needs of your partner first. The other people that you two get involved with are not the bosses of either one of you. If they want you to do something that you don’t want to do, then don’t do it. Ask your partner what they want to do and support their needs. If someone is pressuring your partner to go against their wishes, then tell that person to take a hike. Only hook-up with people who support the terms that you and your partner have set for each other.
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