"When comfort turns to complacency, it's easy to assume the magic has gone for good. But experts say desire doesn't disappear in long-term relationships - it just needs space to breathe. In an era of hybrid working, relentless notifications and lives lived largely at home, many couples are spending more time together than ever. The upside? Stability and deep connection. The downside? Predictability on repeat. So how do you reignite desire without blowing up a perfectly good partnership?"
"'Embracing each other's separateness is what sparks desire in the early stages of a relationship,' says relationship expert Sarah Louise Ryan. 'When we have an air of mystery and strong independence or separateness, desire shines brightly, but when we attach and that separateness dwindles over years, it can start to dim.' Happily, you don't need to take drastic action to bring back a sense of mystique and reignite the spark."
Desire in long-term relationships often diminishes not because it disappears but because comfort and constant togetherness create predictability that reduces eroticism. Blurred boundaries between work and home increase time together and reinforce routines, which can make relationships feel stagnant. Maintaining individuality and a small sense of separateness around interests and daily activities restores mystery, fuels mental eroticism, and increases attraction. Rekindling desire requires modest, sustainable changes—pursuing separate hobbies, retaining independence, and allowing occasional distance—rather than dramatic gestures or prolonged absences. Small consistent steps preserve partnership stability while renewing romantic interest.
Read at Psychologies
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