If you could let go of all the conflict, confusion and rebuild – would you?
No one gets into a relationship imagining it will end, but sometimes, things don’t go the way we planned.
Whether you’ve been together for weeks, months or years, a relationship breakdown can be devastating.
However, it doesn’t always have to be this way. If you’re going through a rough patch but you’re determined to stay together, you may need a break to take some time to yourselves and reflect.
A relationship break can give you both the time you need to get your priorities straight, work on yourselves, miss each other, and rekindle your love.
There’s no surefire way to do it, but we think these tips may help. Here are a few ways you can try reconnecting with your ex after a relationship break.
1.Be Honest
You’re going to have some frank, and often uncomfortable, conversations after your break. But it’s important to keep it real.
When you’re trying to reconnect, you need to have honest conversations and lay all your cards on the table.
Be honest with each other. How did you feel when you were apart? What did you miss, and what did you enjoy about your alone time?
What do you see your future looking like, and what do you need from your partner to move forward? Be true to yourself, and let them share their side, too.
Just don’t force them to share anything they don’t want to, and avoid picking fights. Communication is key.
2.Take Responsibility
Even the most loving partners make mistakes. If you’re trying to reconnect after a break, you’ll need to accept that you’ve probably both done things to hurt each other.
You’ll need to take accountability for your actions before the break and give them a genuine apology.
Apologies should never be followed with ‘buts’ or accusations. If you want to move forward, you need to take responsibility and step up, and so should they.
3.Respect Their Boundaries
Respect is at the heart of any successful relationship. If your partner has needed to put up some boundaries, be respectful and don’t overstep your mark.
Respecting your partner’s boundaries will show them that they can trust you and that you love them.
If reconnecting is a priority for you, you’ll respect whatever boundaries they put in place, as long as they’re reasonable.
If you’ve been the one to cheat in the past, your partner may ask you to prove you’ve stopped interacting with the other party to save the relationship and cease communication with them completely.
If you’re not prepared to do this, the relationship won’t work.
4.Create A Game Plan
You probably took a break from each other because things weren’t working, right? What wasn’t working, and how can you change it?
If you go back into your relationship without making any effort to make a change, things probably aren’t going to work out for the best.
You’ll need to figure out what things were making you both unhappy and see what you can do to do things differently.
When you’re having this conversation with your partner, you’ll probably realize that you both want and need different things, so figure out solutions to your problems, and be committed to making the changes moving forward.
This will prevent you from repeating the same mistakes and falling into the same spiral.
5.Make More Effort With Each Other
Life is busy – we get it. But if you’re reconnecting after a relationship break, your connection will be fragile.
It will require consistently more effort from both parties to make you feel secure, so you’ll both need to make more of an effort with each other.
Whether it’s planning more date nights, giving them a helping hand with daily activities, being more physically affectionate or complimentary, make the effort to help you rekindle your love and bring the spark back to your relationship.
If you’re unsure what would work, have an honest conversation with your partner about what they need from you. They’ll appreciate it!
6.Rebuild Trust
If your trust in each other was damaged before the break, rebuilding it is essential.
It’s impossible to have a long-term relationship with someone you can’t trust, so you’ll both need to stay true to your commitments and show each other the trust.
No matter how big or small your promises are, you’ll need to stick to them.
Whether you promised to do the laundry while they were at work, or pick them up at 7 pm on Friday for date night, stick to your plans and don’t make excuses.
If you can do this for each other, you’ll build trust and show each other how much you care. Showing how serious you are will help your relationship blossom.
7.Seek Professional Help
Although some couples can successfully rebuild their relationship after a break without professional intervention, others need a helping hand.
If you think you need some expert guidance, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Talking to a professional can help you determine what things need to change and how you can go about reconnecting in the healthiest way.
This is the best way to get an unbiased, neutral opinion on your situation without the interference of friends and family, who may end up confusing the situation even more.
Final Thoughts
Taking a break from your partner doesn’t have to spell the end of your relationship – in fact, it can do just the opposite.
With commitment, time, love, and respect, you can rebuild your relationship and make it even stronger than before.
It’s not always easy and there’s no guaranteed way to do it, but we hope these tips and tricks can help you lay the foundations for a stronger relationship in the future.