Whether or not you’re into open relationships, they’ve become increasingly common as people explore new ways to be in love. However, like any other type of relationship, it’s not without its ups and downs. The good news is that you can make open relationships work for you if you’re willing to follow the right rules. The first thing to remember is that you should feel comfortable with your partner being around other people. This is essential to any successful relationship, and it’s even more important in open ones.
Setting physical and emotional boundaries is a crucial step in any open relationship, and it’s something you should always work on as your partnership evolves. “Having clear, communicated boundaries helps set your relationship up for success,” says Lauren Consul, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in infidelity and consensual non-monogamy. It’s also important to talk about your expectations of one another and to reassess them as necessary.
Jealousy is a normal and natural part of any relationship, including open ones. Having an open conversation about it can help you address it as soon as it’s present, which can prevent it from getting out of control.
You should also agree on how much information you want to know about your partner’s encounters, and this can change over time. For example, at first, you may want to know very little about their adventures, but as the relationship progresses, you might find that you’d like to hear more details. Open Relationship Rules for Success