The Biggest Must Have in a Relationship? Common Interests (Here's Why!)
The phrase “opposites attract” is thrown around a lot, and while it may be true to an extent, common interests are the key to a successful relationship! You don’t have to think exactly alike, but sharing common interests, values, and hobbies can significantly increase relationship satisfaction and bring you closer together.
Of course, every couple has their differences, and that’s okay! But it helps to have certain things in common, especially when it comes to personal morals and values, future plans, and views on commitment. Simply put, couples who have common interests just get along better!
Let’s take a more detailed look at why common interests lead to happy, healthy relationships:
They Allow You to Have Fun Together
A study published in The Journal of Happiness Studies found that couples are happier when they’re best friends. Additionally, marital satisfaction was twice as high when the couples considered each other best friends. Since any pair of best friends have things in common, this reinforces the importance of shared interests!
When you both enjoy the same hobbies, entertainment, food, etc., you get to enjoy them together. It’s fun doing things with your best friend, and the experience is even better when you’re in a romantic relationship.
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Shared Interests = Shared Bond
It’s no secret that couples who spend time together are happier and more satisfied in the relationship. When you’re able to create memories based on shared interests, it helps develop a deep, strong bond.
Without anything in common, your relationship maintains a surface-level romance. You can’t truly connect and bond with each other based on physical attraction or sex — there needs to be something else there! Common interests give you something to bond over, which leads to a stronger relationship.
They Help Create Relationship Rituals
When you both enjoy the same things, you start to create rituals in your relationship that help keep it thriving. For example, if you’re both wine connoisseurs, you might try a wine tasting once a month. If you both enjoy exercising, maybe you go for a jog each morning. If you’re foodies, you might have a date night twice a month to try new restaurants.
Creating relationship rituals is a great way to strengthen your relationship. Most importantly, sticking to them can help you reconnect during a rough patch or when life simply gets in the way.
They Provide a Support System
When you bond over shared interests, you build a solid foundation of trust, intimacy, and communication. Once those are in place, you start being able to turn to each other for support for things not only related to your common interests, but to other areas of your life as well.
Since common interests help you form a deep bond with each other, you’re able to be more vulnerable and open up to each other whenever you need to. You also become a team! When you share the same passions, you can help each other work toward goals and provide support along the way.
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They Give You Insight Into Each Other’s Personalities
You can learn a lot about your partner just by knowing what their interests and hobbies are, especially if they are similar to yours! If you are both into music and acting, then you know that they also have an appreciation for the arts. If you both love kayaking, then it’s clear that you’re both the outdoorsy type.
A person’s interests speak volumes about their personality, and the more you have in common, the more compatible you will be!
Common Interests Make Life Easier
Couples who have similar interests and passions love the same types of adventure, often agree on how to spend their time, and maintain interest in each other. Life is just easier when you’re on the same page!
Moreover, when you both share the same exciting hobbies, it helps keep the spark alive. When things get tough or there’s a strain on the relationship, you have your common interests to fall back on to get things back on track.
Differences Are Important Too
Having common interests is important, but it doesn’t mean differences are a bad thing! No two people are going to be exactly alike, and that’s okay. Instead of dismissing each other’s differences, embrace them! They can actually help you balance each other out. If you’re an introvert, maybe your extroverted partner helps bring you out of your shell. If you’re more of a planner, maybe your partner can help you learn to live in the moment.
Unless your differences are so polar opposite that you can’t get along, the best thing you can do is learn to appreciate them. No matter how different you are, the key is to have a shared vision of your future together. As long as you’re on the same page about your expectations, needs, and commitment, you can make it work! When you make an effort to compromise, stay open-minded, and take interest in each other’s hobbies, you’ll build a strong, healthy relationship, regardless of differences.
At the end of the day, common interests are one of the best ways to create a happy, long-lasting relationship. When the honeymoon phase wears off and you settle into a more comfortable phase of your relationship, you’ll need to have things in common to stay connected. There’s a reason being best friends with your significant other makes for the best kind of relationship!
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