Should I Give Him Space? 10 Signs Backing Off Could Do Wonders For Your Relationship

You might think that everything is better when you and your partner are together, however, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. If you feel like your partner hasn’t been acting like himself and something might be off in your relationship, there might be a quick and easy fix! Here are some signs that giving your partner a little bit of space could be the ticket back to your relationship paradise.

  1. He doesn’t seem excited about dates. Normally the two of you have a blast together and you look forward to those fun weekend adventures all week long. However, if you feel like you’ve been the one making all the plans for fun dates lately and your partner doesn’t seem particularly excited to hang out with you, it may be a sign that you’ve been spending a little too much time together and he needs some space.
  2. He’s not as physically affectionate as he used to be. If you’re used to your partner constantly wanting to cuddle, hold hands, hug, kiss, and show you all the physical affection he can but then it suddenly stops, it can be a strange and upsetting feeling. If you feel like he doesn’t want to be physical with you anymore, it could be because he’s been feeling a little overwhelmed with your relationship and need some physical space between the two of you to remember why he normally can’t keep his hands off you!
  3. He’s been leaving you on read. A big sign that your partner is in need of a little space is that he hasn’t exactly been rushing to answer your messages lately. It can be one of the most frustrating things ever when you text your boyfriend and you’ve seen that he’s read the message but he just doesn’t respond! It can make you angry and confused. However, if you can take a deep breath and look at it rationally, consider that your partner might feel a little smothered right now. Don’t text him for a little bit, longer than you usually go, and whether it’s hours or even a few days, I promise you, he’ll reach out.
  4. His contact with you has been minimal. It’s not just about the texting but if your partner has been pretty verbally distant in general, it’s another big sign that he needs some space and it would be best to back off. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and if you give him a little bit of physical and verbal distance, he’ll start to miss hearing your voice and he’ll be the one initiating contact again soon.
  5. He’s been acting emotionally distant. Has your partner seemed a little apathetic lately? Are you noticing that he hasn’t been showing much emotion and seemed a little numb towards you lately? Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed or suffocated by a person, our first reaction is to tune them out and that might be what’s happening with your partner. If you feel like he hasn’t been open with their feelings lately or hasn’t even seemed to care much about yours, back off for a day or two and let him remember that his life is better with you in it!
  6. He’s been making plans without you. Another sign that your partner needs some space from you is if you find out he’s been making plans with friends and family and not including you. It can be very hurtful to find out that your partner has gone out and had fun with people but didn’t call you to ask if you wanted to come too. It seems messed up but instead of turning it into a fight, try just acting like it doesn’t bother you. Let it roll off of your back and I promise you, your partner will start to miss you and won’t make plans without inviting you along.
  7. He cancels on you last minute. If you’ve made plans with your partner or he’s agreed to come out with friends or family and he’s been randomly canceling on you last minute, it could be a sign that he’s seen a little too much of you lately. It doesn’t mean that you should just stop inviting him or making plans but when you do, try taking the pressure off. Tell him that they can come over to your place if he wants to. Let him know that you’re having dinner with your parents and he’s welcome to join in if he feels up to it. Once you feel like the outing is hsi choice instead of an obligation, he’ll be much happier to attend.
  8. He’s been irritable or easily annoyed. If you feel like your partner has been snapping at you a lot lately or he seems to be annoyed or impatient, it could be because he’s felt suffocated by your relationship lately. There’s a reason so many couples say they fought more during the beginning stages of quarantine. When you don’t have time apart from someone, it’s a lot more difficult to tolerate them for long periods of time. Space could do so much good for your relationship.
  9. He’s been avoiding deep conversations. If you’ve realized that your partner has been acting differently and you try to have a discussion with him about it, he might seem hesitant to talk about it. If you feel like you’re not able to get a straight answer out of him or even get him to admit he’s been acting differently, a confrontation might not be the best solution. Give him time and space to think and I promise that if he really cares about you, he won’t leave you hanging for long. He’ll want to talk about it with you.
  10. He’s hinted at wanting some time alone. If your partner has gone as far as to hint that he needs some time to himself like suggesting they spend the night at his own place or cutting a date night short, don’t ignore his cues. It’s okay to each have a night alone or to skip a date and do your own thing for an evening. Not only will your partner thank you for it and your relationship will grow stronger, but you will most likely realize that you appreciate that time to yourself as well and it’ll be a win-win for you both.
Shelby is a journalist and fiction writer raised in the South but built for the big city. She's a book nerd (well, an overall nerd, honestly) and coffee addict and obsessed with all things leather and lacy.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Sam Houston State University and worked for her university newspaper, The Houstonian, as well as serving as a producer and part-time entertainment anchor for Cable 7 Huntsville. You can follow her on Twitter @shelby777.
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