17 Simple Signs it’s Time to End the Relationship

Signs it’s time to end that relationship. True, you’re the only one who knows all the sordid details and nuances of your relationship. However, sometimes, other people can tell when you’re holding on to something that’s not right for you. 

So, how do you tell it’s time to move on? How do you know that it’s not all in your mind that your partner isn’t right for you? In this article, we will help you uncover some obvious and not-so-obvious signs that tell you it’s time to move on to greener pastures. See if you agree with our findings.

1. You’re spending more time with your friends and family than with your partner

One of the most prominent signs that you’re done with a relationship or that you or your partner are ready to check out is that you no longer spend time with each other. Have you noticed that you currently prefer to spend more time with your family and friends than with your partner? 

Is your partner doing the same and putting more effort towards other relationships they’re a part of? If this is happening, it could be that you and your partner aren’t as connected as you were at the beginning of the relationship.

 It could also mean that you’ve already disconnected from your partner and the relationship.

2. There’s no more negotiation and fighting

While you may think that not arguing with your partner or being agreeable to everything they say and do is okay, it’s not. When negotiations are absent in any relationship, it may mean you or your partner, or even both of you, don’t care anymore.

You may have both concluded that you don’t want to be part of the relationship, so your feelings may come off as both of you being agreeable with one another. Remember, couples must have discussions in a relationship, and if you aren’t, you both have no fight to keep working on the relationship.

3. People outside your relationship can tell that you’re bored

According to psychotherapist Denise Limongello, based in New York, one of the tell-tale signs that a relationship is on the rocks is boredom. This boredom doesn’t only feature in the relationship but outside of it as well. You may feel bored with life, your partner, and even activities that you enjoyed doing. 

When your friends and family meet you and ask how things are going, you may not have anything to say to them. Your silence speaks about your general feeling of how your life is. If you find yourself in this situation often, your relationship could be boring. 

4. Your partner isn’t the first person you run to when you’ve got news

When your partner is no longer your main confidant, they stop being the person you run to first to tell anything significant. Whether it’s winning the lottery, getting a promotion, or receiving a medical diagnosis, they’re no longer your best friend. 

Over time, you will notice that as your relationship with your partner weakens, other relationships with other people get stronger.

5. You and your partner are no longer interested in “team activities”

It’s normal for couples to develop habits or activities that they take part in together. The relationship could be coming to an end if one person or both prefer to do things with other people or abandon an activity which, according to the partners, was their “thing”.

6. Couples therapy isn’t a priority for one or both of you

Professional Matchmaker and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Dr Christie Kederian, based in Pasadena, CA, says a significant indicator that a relationship will not work out is when one or both partners won’t commit to therapy. 

If there are issues in the relationship and your partner doesn’t want to put in effort to sort through them, there’s a chance your relationship could be over. 

When there’s dissatisfaction in the relationship, it stops being healthy, and this could be a warning sign pointing to the end of the relationship. 

7. You don’t feel connected with your partner when you’re together

It’s possible to live in the same home with your partner and not feel even the slightest connection to them. When you feel like you’re more or less emotionally on your own, it’s one of those subtle signs that your relationship is coming to a halt. 

8. You’re thinking about different options that may be available to you

Not only do people grow, but they change, too. While you may have been the perfect match at the start of your relationship, you and your partner aren’t growing at the same pace, and one of you could be in their comfort zone. 

When you begin to question where your relationship is going or whether you would be more suited outside your relationship, it could be time to let go. 

9. You don’t want to go home to your partner

When there’s trouble brewing at home, you’re not likely to want to go there or spend your time with your partner.

If you live with your partner and you always find excuses to stay out late or avoid them altogether, it could mean that you know your relationship isn’t working and you don’t know how to face reality. 

10. You and your partner don’t kiss like you mean it

You or your partner may give each other quick pecks or fail miserably at attempting to kiss each other in the presence of mutual friends or family. Even when this happens, it could be a result of habit and not the passion that was once present in the relationship. There’s no more spark in the relationship, and the romance is gone.

11. You’d rather spend time with your kids rather than your partner

You could be looking for a way out of your relationship if you prefer spending more time with your children than with your partner. You could be doing this because of an unavailable partner or because you’re trying to figure out how life could be if you became a single parent.

12. You’re constantly reminding your partner of what you said

If you or your significant other find that you have to repeat what you say to each other constantly, it’s a sign that you have no passion or interest in each other. Neither of you pays attention to the other and ultimately doesn’t care about what you have to say to each other. 

Whether you’re the one in this situation or your partner who has to repeat themselves, it could be a sign that your relationship is over and you have to move on.

13. Your sex life has taken a hit and is almost non-existent

A decline in physical intimacy may not always spell doom for your relationship. However, if there are other underlying issues in your relationship, it could mean that you’re dealing with something more significant. 

You may not want to think about having sex with your partner, or neither of you is interested in being intimate with the other.

There’s a whole lot more to sex than having intercourse. Initiating sex with your partner requires a certain degree of openness, vulnerability, and being emotionally connected. 

14. You see your partner’s flaws more clearly than you recognize their strengths

When things are okay in the relationship, you’re bound to see more of your partner’s good qualities than bad ones. One of the most prominent signs that your relationship is heading to the rocks is when all you see in your partner are their bad traits. 

You may show this by shouting at your partner or speaking to your friends and family negatively about your partner. If you find yourself acting this way, it could be a sign it’s time to end the relationship.

15. There’s no talk about the future with your partner

When couples are still in love, they try to make plans for the future because they can see it. They discuss stuff like career growth, children, plans for travel, or education with each other. However, when the relationship is almost at an end, there’s little to no talk about the future.

16. Deep down, you know the end has come

Sometimes, your sixth sense is all you need to tell you that the relationship has come to an end.

Even if your partner is shy and won’t discuss the issue, you can probably see it from their body language or mood even when they haven’t mentioned that there’s something wrong. Listen to your inner voice and take the leap.

17. You’re in a relationship “just because”

If you’re hanging on to a relationship because it’s the only thing you know, there could be trouble ahead. It doesn’t matter whether you and your partner are still going through the motions of a normal relationship like having sex or going out on dates. At some point, you will realize that you’re doing it only because that’s the only thing you know how to do. 

Conclusion

Signs it’s Time to End the Relationship

You now know how to tell whether a relationship has come to an end. Some of the signs include: not spending time together, thinking about available options, lack of connection, and no negotiation in the relationship. 

Have you been in any of these situations before? Do you think your relationship is about to end? Tell us about the signs you saw in a past relationship that told you it was time to end it.