Can going on a trip save your relationship?

If communication and intimacy between the couple fail, a change of scenery could help; but it is not always enough. Discover what a trip needs to help a relationship in crisis.

Written and verified by the psychologist Elena Sanz.

Last update: March 31, 2023

All relationships go through difficult times.. There are times when communication does not flow, emotional intimacy has been progressively lost and doubts about the bond assail both members. In these cases, getting out of the routine and planning a getaway away from everyday obligations seems like the solution to the problems. But can going on a trip really save your relationship?

This is an option that many people resort to and of which several claim that it offers good results. However, sometimes may be nothing more than a flight forward, which serves as a temporary patch to difficulties or directly worsens your situation. All of this depends on a series of variables that we analyze below.

Going on a trip can save your relationship

The idea that a getaway as a couple is beneficial is neither far-fetched nor naive. In fact, some studies support this hypothesis. Specifically, it has been found that Ridesharing increases satisfaction, reduces the likelihood of divorce or separation, improves communication, and helps expand the space for intimacy.. This occurs due to factors such as the following:

• Shared leisure as a couple correlates with well-being and satisfaction of its members. And, without a doubt, a getaway offers the option to dedicate more time to this joint entertainment.
• In daily life, the time dedicated to family and couple bonding is increasingly reduced, due to work and personal obligations. So during a trip It is possible to enjoy more time together that allows you to regenerate that emotional intimacy.
• Furthermore, it has been seen that traveling It is a source of positive emotions. Planning a trip and carrying it out generates excitement, joy, enthusiasm and well-being; and this, of course, has an impact on the way we relate to others. By being more relaxed, we are also more tolerant and kind and are more willing to collaborate and negotiate.
• Going on a trip is also an excellent opportunity to improve communication, especially in those couples in which this normally fails. And by leaving home and changing routines we give rise to the transformation of daily dynamics in which we are so immersed and which are not always the most positive. In a new destination, communication may flow and positive exchanges may be more frequent.

Need for other measures

Despite the previous benefits, going on a trip cannot always get a couple out of a critical moment. It must be taken into account that These advantages may be temporary and, upon returning home, communication problems, stress and lack of commitment would still be present.

In addition, a shared getaway serves to strengthen ties in those couples that already work or who have superficial, specific or minor problems. Instead, If you go through a deep crisis, the difficulties will not be resolved On their own, they may even increase.

On the one hand, the trip can be a fantasy parenthesis that seems to have magically evaporated the couple’s problems; But upon returning to everyday life it will be necessary to negotiate, dialogue, make decisions and move forward with the common project again, and the difficulties in this regard will remain intact. Furthermore, if the couple has serious conflicts, being confined together in a new destination, without the possibility of distancing themselves, perhaps it triggers reproaches, resentment and dissatisfaction.

A trip can save your relationship if it meets some requirements

In general, a relationship crisis does not disappear with a blind and temporary flight to new places, but it is necessary that a deep and shared review be associated with this type of measures. So, We leave some proposals that can guide this reflection.

• What difficulties are there in the relationship? What is happening that didn’t happen before? This can vary in each case and range from constant conflicts to a certain indifference, absence of enthusiasm or lack of some basic component. Following Sternberg’s triangular theory, depending on whether passion, intimacy or commitment is lacking, there are different types of relationships with their own characteristics.
• How I feel? What do I need from the relationship? A good starting point is to start analyzing from the Self, instead of focusing on looking for the partner’s defects or failures. Knowing ourselves, exploring ourselves and identifying our emotions and needs is crucial to then be able to communicate them.
• What can I do to improve? What can I contribute to the link? It is key to take responsibility in this regard, accept our own mistakes or areas of improvement and commit to working on them. Maybe you detect that you need to be more assertive, more patient or more empathetic with your partner, and learning to do so would make a difference.

Joint solutions

Only when both members analyze their own internal situation will they be able to share it and seek joint solutions. These range from implementing some simple changes, such as having a monthly appointment, to making the decision to seek professional help. In any case, This prior reflection is essential and, why not? A trip may be the right time to carry it out.

Now, it is pertinent to keep in mind that this is the purpose of the trip and thus find individual spaces for introspection. The change of scenery and the lack of obligations can help us focus our minds on the needs of the relationship. However, it can also be positive to travel separately or even carry out this process from home. Finally, a trip can’t save your relationship if you don’t do the extra work it requires.