Have you been called clingy before by your partner or your friends? Do you crave attention and control in your relationship? Are you bothered by the whereabouts of your partner all the time? If you answered yes to any of those, you are most probably a clingy significant other.
Being clingy is one of the worse mistakes you can make in the dating world. Many people tend to exhibit very clingy behavior when they start caring for someone. But don’t let yourself fall into that trap! You’ll actually drive your partner away instead of drawing them closer to you. However strongly you feel for someone, it is always important to remind yourself that you can’t own or control them completely.
There are always aspects of your partner (their likes, dislikes, habits, quirks) that are beyond your control and being clingy doesn’t help the situation. That being said, let’s take a look at how to stop being a clingy partner. Although many people know that clinginess isn’t healthy for their relationships, very few know how to stop their behavior. Here are 5 effective tips to stop being a clingy:
Maintain a Well-Balanced Life
Even though it may be difficult, you shouldn’t pressure someone that you like (or love) to feel that they are your only source of happiness. You will create negative feelings, like resentment, instead of enhancing your partners feeling towards you. Don’t forget the person you were before you met your partner. This is the best way to follow to ensure you maintain a well-balanced life and avoid clingy behavior.
Don’t Give Up Your Friends and Hobbies
This is another effective tip that has been proven to help individuals in relationships stop clingy behavior. As you try to maintain a balanced life, it is important to leave room for the activities you like and the people you cherish outside your relationship. Hobbies and friends keep you occupied with other things apart from your relationship, which will reduce your overly-intense attachment to your partner.
Spend Time Apart
This is an obvious yet effective tip for stopping clingy behavior. As cliché as it sounds, you need to give your partner space. Avoid acting jealous at all costs when your partner wants healthy space to spend time with family or friends. You should also make time to do things without your partner. This will help you avoid codependence.
Don’t Over-Communicate
One obvious sign that you are a clingy partner is over-communicating. You should avoid non-stop emailing, Facebook-ing, texting and tweeting your significant other because it makes you look needy and desperate. Communicate when necessary to keep your partner in suspense. Clinginess which is portrayed by desperation and neediness kills attraction.
No Stalking
If you end up breaking up with someone (especially if you guys are going to get back together by tomorrow), avoid stalking your (ex-)partner at all costs. Simple things qualify as stalking, like checking their social media activity or skulking around their favorite hangout spots. Stalking magnifies over-dependence. Work on letting your old relationships go.
Eliminating clingy behavior is one of the best ways to build strong and long-lasting relationship. These tips should help you stop acting clingy and regain control of your life and emotions to enjoy the fruits of a healthy relationship.
Photo Credit: Flickr/Satish Krishnamurthy
