I’m hearing more and more couples talk about needing more time alone or just more time doing things away from their spouses. That is not a bad thing. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your spouse enough or are wrong for needing your own space outside of the relationship. Stepping away to take care of yourself is an excellent thing for the health of your relationship. Day in and day out with your spouse can get monotonous, even in the best relationships. There should be a balance in a marriage where each takes their time away to care for their own needs.

Remember when you had little kids, and you dreamed of just having some time alone?  That was hard to come by and often was accompanied by feelings of guilt. At least it was for me. That happens in marriages too. Especially if one spouse needs less time alone than the other, let me say this certainly if you need time alone, you need to convey it to your spouse and give up these feelings of I might hurt their feelings, or I shouldn’t take time away if my spouse doesn’t need the same. It is about your needs. When you deny them, you’ll feel more and more overwhelmed and discontent. If this happens, chances are you won’t be your best in the relationship. 

Not everyone is comfortable with just saying, “I need some time alone.” The worry is that it might be offensive or sound like a threat to the relationship. So, how do you ask for this without being offensive or cause your spouse to feel like something is wrong in your relationship?

In this episode, I'll be giving you 4 ways to express to your spouse that you need more time alone, especially if you have a spouse who doesn't have the same need.