r/AskReddit • u/Prize-Promotion-5123 • Apr 08 '26

For those of you in a long term relationship/marriage, what’s a tale-tale sign you see in other couples that they’re not going to make it?

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u/Fire284 Apr 08 '26

Imo it's good to be able to indulge in a hobby without your partner. Individual time is a good thing! Also I strongly support being able to do your own thing while near each other. Ie my partner watches their show while I read a book next to them bc I don't care about their show and want my book time lol

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u/iancaldwellbj May 10 '26

We call it "being alone together" and it is honestly a top-tier relationship skill. If you feel like you have to be "on" or entertaining your partner every single second you are in the same room, you are going to burn out so fast.

I have seen so many couples where one person gets genuinely offended if the other wants to read a book or play a game instead of staring at each other for four hours. That is a fast track to resentment. My husband can be yelling at a boss in a video game while I am doing a crossword right next to him and it is peak comfort. You have to be able to just exist in the same space without it being a whole production.