The honeymoon phase is one of the early stages of a relationship where all the FUN begins. This is my personal definition of the honeymoon period, and I bet you agree with me, too.
It’s when you can’t get enough of each other no matter how much time you spend together. Your brain absorbs everything you hear from your new partner like a sponge.
You can’t wait to hug them, kiss them, and share with them the joys and sorrows of the world.
You don’t notice each other’s flaws even if they slap you in the face. In your eyes, they couldn’t be more perfect for you (and vice versa).
Yes, the honeymoon phase is FANTASTIC, but you can’t honeymoon forever. Or, can you?
Here’s all you need to know about the joys of the honeymoon phase, its duration, and how (IF) you can make it last. We’ll also go through signs you’re in this phase, and what happens after it (I’m really excited about the last one).
So, let’s see!
What Is The Honeymoon Phase?
The honeymoon phase is a stage that every couple goes through when beginning a new relationship.
Basically, it’s the stage when you can’t get enough of one another and everything seems idyllic. I strongly believe that this sentence is the essence of the honeymoon phase meaning.
If you’re interested in the origin of this term, at the turn of the 16th century, ‘the honeymoon phase’ was exclusively applied to the beginnings of marriages. It represented the idea of the first month after marriage being the sweetest.
Well, the same thing can be applied to relationships nowadays. At this phase, you’re convinced that you’ve hit the jackpot boyfriend or the jackpot girlfriend.
You don’t bother about keeping them interested in you forever because you’re convinced that this feeling of mutual euphoria WILL last forever, which brings us to the following question:
How Long Does The Honeymoon Phase Last?
When does the honeymoon phase end? This phase usually lasts around 2.5 years. So, no, it doesn’t last forever, BUT in a way, it does. It can last forever, but with a changed intensity.
In other words, you will not be crazy about each other the same way you were at the initial stages of the relationship, aka, the first few months.
But, you can still maintain the honeymoon stage by creating adventure and spicing things up in your relationship later on. It’s all about finding joy in ordinary moments and the little things!
How Do You Know If You’re In The Honeymoon Phase?
The honeymoon stage is all about getting high on the newness that comes with a new relationship. There are no difficult relationship moods (yet), and everything seems perfect.
The anticipation of waiting for them to text back is really intense, and the urge to spend all the time in the world with them is stronger than ever.
There are lots of other signs that indicate you’re in this stage of a relationship, and this is how you’ll know for sure:
6 Signs You’re In The Honeymoon Phase Of A Relationship
The attraction is INTENSE
The attraction and affection you feel for each other are out of this world. Their presence is like a drug to you and it brings you immense happiness.
A single touch of their hand can ignite the most intense fires within you. The sound of their voice is the sweetest melody you can’t stop listening to.
Everything you experience with them feels like the first time ever because now, you’re in a completely different mental state – you’re in the honeymoon phase where everything feels ten times more intense.
The amount of time you spent together is never enough
In the early stages of romantic love, you become insatiable for one another no matter how much time you spent together.
Brilliantly spontaneous things to do with your partner and creative date nights are probably the most Googled terms on your devices.
For all that, you can thank the cocktail of hormones (oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins) that trigger this state of infatuation. This euphoric mental health makes you feel like you can do anything you want in the world.
Increased levels of nerve growth factor, which make your connection stronger, are also “responsible” for feeling euphoric in your new love.
Increased energy
You can’t remember the last time you felt so energetic in every aspect of your life, and especially when you’re with them. You can talk all night long with your partner without getting tired at all.
No, you haven’t become a superhuman, but you’re experiencing the shots of adrenaline which are connected with the brain’s chemical changes when we fall in love.
So, you don’t even have to try to keep your relationship alive because everything happens naturally. You have enough energy to do anything you want together without ever getting tired (of one another).
You can’t stop smiling around each other even if your life depended on it
I really don’t know what’s about all that smiling at this stage, but I have TOTALLY noticed that I’m doing it, too. Whenever I see the guy I’m dating at the moment, I can’t help myself but smile like a four-year-old girl who just got ice cream.
When we look each other in the eye, I smile with my heart, soul, and eyes. We just can’t stop smiling around each other even if nothing’s really funny.
If you feel the same way, then you know you’re at this stage. You see the world from a different perspective, and with every hangout, your optimism levels grow exponentially. And yes, you never want this to end.
Makeout sessions are frequent
Makeout sessions are frequent, hot, and simply inevitable. When you see each other, all you want to do is touch them, hug them, hold them, and kiss them.
When you’re with them, you feel like a teddy bear who demands lots of cuddling. The same things are happening to me and the guy I’m dating. Basically, we spend the entire time being close to each other.
There’s no way I could sit next to him (and vice versa) without feeling the intense urge to touch him with my hands or my lips. If you’re experiencing this at the moment, then you know it’s the best feeling in the world.
The sole focus is on THEM
When you’re with them, you simply don’t notice anything around you except THEM.
There could be a zombie apocalypse in front of you and you wouldn’t even know it because you’re too busy locking your eyes and connecting in the most passionate ways.
The sole focus is on them, and there’s no way you can deny it. Doing your chores or focusing on your job has become mission impossible.
Whenever something happens to you, they are the first person you need to tell! You want to experience everything with them, including good and bad (wait, are we talking about getting married)?
Well, you’ve probably thought about that, too, because at this stage, you want to spend the rest of your life with them. However, once the honeymoon stage ends, this might change.
When Does The Honeymoon Phase End?
The honeymoon phase ends once you become officially a couple. This stage is known as the Enlightenment stage. Your connection becomes deeper and stronger, your hormones are calming down, and reality kicks in.
Couples act more naturally, and they are totally relaxed around each other.
Weaknesses, differences, and flaws become visible and sometimes irritating. It’s important to go slowly through this stage so that you can allow yourself to completely adjust.
What Happens After The Honeymoon Phase?
Some people believe that partners change after the honeymoon phase, but this is not necessarily the truth. The fact is, people don’t really change after that phase, but it’s the setting that changes.
You no longer experience things so intensely as you used to before, and reality kicks in. After the honeymoon phase, you begin to see your partner more clearly.
You’re no longer blinded by your subconscious need to idealize them, but you start seeing things as they are. You start noticing their flaws and thinking about how their lifestyle fits yours.
Don’t worry, the end of the honeymoon phase is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a transitional phase when real life with this person settles in. Here’s how you know that you’re out of this phase:
6 Signs You’re Out Of The Honeymoon Phase
Their quirks and other little things start to annoy you
You suddenly notice that they have lots of quirks, which you didn’t mind at the very beginning. Now, you see things differently.
Those little things that you used to find cute now annoy you. Their quirks have become something that you would want to change about them, even though you still like each other a lot.
Nagging is totally allowed
Before, you wouldn’t even dare to nag or contradict each other because you didn’t want to disrupt the feeling of euphoria. Well, now you’re in the stage when nagging about the unmet expectations is totally allowed.
When something doesn’t feel right, when they forget to do something, and similar, you say it to them, and vice versa.
We’re not talking about the toxic type of nagging, but the type that people use on a daily basis when they become too comfy with one another.
Looking your best 24/7 is no longer a priority
Once the honeymoon phase is over, the tendency to always look flawless fades into thin air. You no longer worry about unshaved body parts or beards (if you’re a guy) because looking your best 24/7 is no longer something you bother with.
You’ve seen each other in all types of editions (including limited ones, which are my favorite) and nothing can surprise you. Seeing each other in the most casual outfits has become a routine, and you secretly enjoy the beauty of this stage.
You no longer spend all of your free time together
You two were inseparable, and now your social life is balanced. You no longer spend all of your free time with your partner, but you also spend it with your friends, family, and doing other things.
Of course, you still miss each other when you’re not together, but this feeling is no longer as intense as it was in the beginning.
You are (too) comfy with each other
Farting, burping, and doing other “gross” things is no longer something you’re ashamed of. You do it on a regular basis without the need to apologize for it.
Truth be told, I know some people who said that they have never farted in front of their partner, even though they’ve been together for years.
I’m starting to think that they skipped the after-honeymoon phase or else this is their way of prolonging the honeymoon stage by force.
Entering the comfy zone happens naturally, and all you need to do is allow your relationship to unfold at its own pace (including farting and all those comfy things that come with it).
Lack of affection ruins relationships; farting doesn’t.
You’re confident in your relationship status
One of the best things about the end of the honeymoon phase is the fact that now, you’re officially confident in your relationship status.
You know you’re not in an almost relationship or any other ship that causes anxious feelings. You two are a legit couple who “survived” the honeymoon stage and have become even more connected with one another.
How Do You Make The Honeymoon Phase Last Throughout Your Relationship?
I’ll be honest with you. The honeymoon stage can last throughout your romantic relationship, but not with the same intensity from the beginning.
Every relationship takes work. When you’re in a long-term relationship, it’s easy to fall in a rut at one point and let the fiery passion extinguish. That’s when an immature relationship (constant fights, jealousy) starts taking its toll.
What you need to do is revive the love that brought you together in the first place.
Pay attention to your partner’s love language, and be on the lookout for new activities and things to make each other special.
The only way to make the honeymoon phase last throughout your relationship is by being willing to make each other happy and keeping your relationship exciting.
Only watching movies is out of the question. Think about the new ways in which you can connect with one another and bring your relationship to the next level.
Be children at heart, do something spontaneous, annoy each other, but also hug so tight like you’re hugging for the first time.
Enjoy Each Stage Of Your Relationship!
Just like the honeymoon phase, every phase is special and it helps your relationship evolve. If you want to grow, then change is necessary (along with following relationship advice).
That means staying forever in the initial stages of the honeymoon stage is not that good of an idea. But, you can always maintain some elements of this stage throughout your relationship.
As long as the both of you are happy, you know you’re doing it right!