When the temperature rises and the sun shines relentlessly, nothing beats the refreshing indulgence of a cool and tasty summer dessert. While it’s easy to reach for sugary and calorie-laden treats, why not opt for healthier alternatives that satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your insulin levels?

Dark Chocolate Frozen Banana Bites

If you’re in the mood for a frozen treat that resembles ice cream but without guilt, frozen banana bites are the way to go. Start by slicing ripe bananas into bite-sized pieces, then dip each slice in melted dark chocolate for a delectable coating. Optionally, you can roll them in chopped nuts or shredded coconut for added texture. Place the banana bites on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until solid. These frozen delights are rich in potassium, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a healthy and fun summer dessert option.

Watermelon Sorbet

Watermelon is a quintessential summer fruit, and it serves as the perfect base for a light and refreshing sorbet. To make this healthy dessert, blend fresh watermelon chunks until smooth, then add a splash of lime juice for a tangy kick. You can also experiment with adding fresh mint leaves or a hint of honey for extra flavor. Freeze the mixture in an airtight container until firm, and voila! You have a guilt-free, hydrating dessert that’s bursting with natural sweetness.

Yogurt Parfait with Fresh Berries

Cool down with a delightful yogurt parfait layered with fresh berries. Start by alternating layers of Greek yogurt and various colorful berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries in a tall glass or mason jar. Top it off with granola or crushed nuts and sprinkle for added crunch and texture. The creamy yogurt provides a good dose of probiotics and protein, while the vibrant berries deliver essential antioxidants and vitamins.

Grilled Fruit Skewers

Take advantage of the summer barbecue season by adding a healthy twist to your dessert selection. Create these delicious grilled fruit skewers by threading chunks of pineapple, peaches, and bananas onto wooden skewers. Grill them until they caramelize and develop a slightly smoky flavor. The heat enhances the natural sweetness of the fruits, making them a perfect standalone treat or an accompaniment to a scoop of frozen yogurt. Try something new this summer and surprise your loved ones with this unorthodox dessert!

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is a versatile and nutritious dessert that can be enjoyed year-round. During the summer, it becomes even more refreshing when chilled. To prepare this delightful treat, mix chia seeds with your choice of milk and a touch of natural sweeteners like Vermont maple syrup or honey. Let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, allowing the chia seeds to absorb the liquid and form a pudding-like consistency. Serve it with a medley of fresh fruits, such as mangoes or kiwis, for an added burst of flavor and nutrients.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and check out some more of my articles below:

• Here is a Super Fun Hobby that can Reduce Your Anxiety and Stress
• The Top 3 Restaurants in Boston’s Historic Italian North End
• 13 Signs You’re Dating a Stage Five Clinger
• 3 Tips to Get Any Indoor Cat to Like You

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Controllers

When I was growing up, video games were the ultimate thrill-seeking experience. I remember getting my first console (a Nintendo 64) and falling in love with classic games like WWE No Mercy, MVP Baseball, NFL 2K, and James Bond 007. My friends and I would always use video games as a temporary escape from the stressors of strenuous homework assignments. As years passed, my time playing video games dwindled and I noticed my anxiety and stress had skyrocketed. I recently purchased a PlayStation 5 and soon realized that my stress and anxiety levels dropped significantly, even from playing just a couple of days a week; Coincidence..? I think not.

In recent years, video games have gained increasing recognition for their positive impact on mental health. While some critics argue that video games promote violence or addiction, there is growing evidence that video games can actually be an effective tool for reducing anxiety. You don’t need to be a professional gamer or have fancy equipment to enjoy playing video games! This article explores the ways in which video games can help alleviate anxiety and promote overall emotional well-being.

1.) They’re Distracting

One of the primary reasons video games can help reduce anxiety is their ability to provide an escape from real life. Engaging in a captivating game world can divert attention away from anxious thoughts and worries, allowing individuals to focus on the virtual world instead. Being drawn into another realm can serve as a welcome break from the stressors of everyday life by offering a sense of relief and comfort.

2.) Stress Release

Video games can provide an outlet for emotional release, allowing players to vent their frustrations and stressors in a safe and controlled virtual environment. Engaging in intense gameplay or action sequences can trigger a release of endorphins in the brain, which can reduce one’s stress and anxiety. The interactive nature of video games can also enable individuals to channel their focus into problem-solving or strategic thinking, providing a sense of achievement and self-gratification.

3.) Relaxation and Mindfulness

Not all video games are fast-paced or action-packed. Some games, such as exploration, trivia, or simulation titles, offer a more zen-like experience. These games can promote mindfulness by having players partake in tranquil environments. This can help individuals enter a state of relaxation, and reduce their stress levels, all of which are beneficial for quelling anxiety.

4.) Cognitive Distraction and Skill Development

Many video games require a high level of cognitive engagement, players to focus on the game mechanics, solve puzzles, make strategic decisions, and react quickly to changing situations (sports games are a great example of this). This concentration level can redirect attention away from anxious thoughts, breaking the cycle of negative thinking. Additionally, video games can enhance cognitive skills such as problem-solving, memory, and attention, which can have long-term benefits in managing anxiety and improving overall mental acuity.

5.) Social Connection and Support

Online multiplayer games and gaming communities can foster a sense of social connection, which plays a vital role in reducing one’s anxiety. Engaging in cooperative or competitive gameplay with friends, strangers, or even the computer can provide a platform for social interaction, teamwork, and camaraderie. One of my best friends plays video games online almost every night with a group of people he has never physically met or seen before. He throws on a headset and talks to them like they’ve been connecting for years and has an absolute blast in his interactions with them. The shared experiences and common goals in video games can create a sense of belonging, helping individuals combat feelings of loneliness or isolation that often fuel anxiety itself.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and check out some more of my articles below:

• 13 Signs You’re Dating a Stage Five Clinger
• 5 Secrets That Make It Easier to Wake Up in the Morning
• 9 Unusual Things That Cats Love

A Super Fun Hobby That Can Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress was originally published in An Idea (by Ingenious Piece) on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Do you ever notice that people think being tired all the time is just a part of life or something that comes with the natural aging process? The thing is, this doesn’t have to be the case! Many don’t realize the massive impact that their specific lifestyle is having on their sleep quality and energy levels.

Here are Four Reasons why you may feel like you “Never Have Enough Energy” or “Always Need More Sleep”…and What to do Instead:

1.) Poor Sleep Habits

Most of us know we should be getting between 7–9 hours of sleep a night, but what you do before going to bed could actually have the biggest impact on your sleep quality. Avoid blue light at all costs! Blue light is the light emitted from our phones, computers, TVs, and other electronic devices. Blue light has been shown to have a significant negative impact on sleep quality and melatonin production. The body produces melatonin to help us sleep — and allow us to get good quality sleep.

If the brain is picking up on light from our electronic devices, it thinks that it’s still daytime and will not send the proper signals out to start producing melatonin. If you’re browsing on your computer or phone right up until you lay down to go to sleep, your brain still thinks it’s the middle of the day, and your sleep will be affected whether you get your 8 hours or not. Sleep quality is just as important as the amount you get.

If your melatonin production is suffering because of blue-light exposure, then so is the quality of your sleep, and this might be the PRIMARY REASON why you’re still:

- Getting a full night of sleep, but still waking up exhausted

- Unable to function in the morning without that cup of coffee

- Crashing in the afternoon/evening right when you need that extra energy the most

Better yet, lack of QUALITY sleep over time, or not consistently getting 7–9 hours will be compounded and could lead to many other health problems down the line. It has been linked to the development of many health conditions and an increased risk of developing cancer.

When melatonin production gets thrown off, so can a lot of other hormones, as well as your immune system. If you think taking a melatonin supplement is going to fix this, I would certainly not advise doing this long-term, for many reasons that I will save for another day.

Here’s what you can do instead:

• Avoid cell phone, computer, TV, and electronic usage within 30 minutes to an hour before going to bed
• If you use these devices near bedtime, wear a pair of blue light-blocking glasses to offset the effects. Blue light in general is not good for the body in high exposures and some even wear these glasses regularly when using their phones or computers.
• Work towards having a consistent sleep schedule — even on the weekends! This will allow your body to get into a routine and help regulate your sleep cycles to improve the quality of your sleep and leave you feeling rested when you wake up, instead of groggy.

A quick way to tell if you’re getting good quality sleep is simply testing to see if you’re dreaming. You should be dreaming (almost lucidly), and be able to remember at least part of your dreams when you wake up. Frequent dreaming with vivid dreams is a good indicator that melatonin is being produced at a reasonable level.

2.) Poor Diet & Nutrition

If you eat crap, you feel like crap. Think of your body like a Ferrari…it’s advised that you fuel the Ferrari with premium fuel to keep it running optimally, but if you fill it with regular gas it’s not going to run well.

The same thing goes for your body; caffeine may temporarily get you back on track or wake you up, but it’s not doing anything to fix the reason why your energy is so low in the first place. Over time, you’ll end up crashing and getting burnt out if you keep relying on caffeine to keep you running. Not to mention, over-consumption of caffeine could actually be the main reason you’re so tired in the first place!

Every time you consume something unhealthy or eat a very large portion, it requires more of your body’s energy to digest and process it through your system. If you’re using more energy stores to process your food, it will take it right from everywhere else that needs it, and may leave you feeling drained. For example, you may feel like you’re in a “food coma” when this is happening. This isn’t necessarily your body saying it needs a nap, it’s saying, “stop feeding me crap”.

Eating too close to bedtime is not a good idea for a number of reasons, but one of the lesser-known ones is what it can do to the quality of your sleep. When you sleep, the body is supposed to be replenishing its energy, but if it’s trying to digest food at the same time, this is actually using energy! Furthermore, if you’re eating a bunch of crap before bed, the body could become overwhelmed with processing the toxins in the food, and this commonly results in insomnia or tossing and turning. If you’re waking up and still feeling tired, try and re-evaluate how close you’re eating to bedtime.

3.) A Sedentary Lifestyle

To simply put it, what you get out of life is what you put into it. Even small changes to your daily habits can have a significant impact on how energized you feel. Aim to get 10–15 minutes of AM sunlight, as early as possible after waking up. There are many benefits to getting morning sunlight that may include:

• Improved hormone regulation
• Improvements in sleep & restfulness of sleep
• Improved healing ability
• Decreased stress
• Increased vitamin D levels
• Better mood and more energy throughout the day

Lack of vitamin D in particular is a common underlying cause of fatigue that goes undiagnosed for many! When the warm weather dies down, and we stop spending as much time outside, many people feel a drop in their energy, a lack of desire to “go out and do things”, or may even get seasonal depression. All of this can be due to a lack of sunlight or vitamin D, and these feelings are just the symptoms. Consider making sure you’re still getting outside daily and/or supplementing with vitamin D during these upcoming fall and winter months to keep this from happening.

We all know the importance of exercise for our overall health and energy levels, but what if exercising is making you feel tired instead of energized? Well, it could be that you’re doing too much exercise at one time when your energy stores are already depleted, burning more energy than you have fuel for, or even that you’re mental energy is being drained from doing a form of exercise that you don’t enjoy! To combat this, consider exercising at a time when you feel like you have the most energy so that you’ll have plenty of energy to expend on exercise. Be sure to do a form of exercise that you enjoy and make it fun! :)

The human body is meant to be moving. Sitting or laying down for hours at a time can significantly decrease our circulation over time. It’s no coincidence, that a lot of people are most tired first thing in the morning after spending hours stagnant in bed — making it harder for us to get the blood flowing to our brains, muscles, and vital organs. If you’re feeling this morning fatigue, or if you’ve been experiencing brain fog, you may need to think about moving or exercising more both in the morning and possibly even throughout the day.

If you have a desk job or are sitting for long periods throughout the day, your lack of movement could be draining you of the energy you need to be more productive. If you’re in this situation, try to get up and move at least once per hour, even if it’s a walk to the bathroom. If possible, also consider doing some sort of movement (yoga, dynamic stretching, etc…) or exercise-based routine during your lunch hour to keep the blood flowing to your brain! Especially if you work remotely… get moving!!

4.) Too Much Stress

Try to keep your stress levels low so your body can heal better, and your energy stores stay higher! The higher your stress levels, the lower your immune system's functional ability. If you have a problem going on with your body (i.e. pain or fatigue) and your immune system isn’t working very well, the body will have to devote more of its energy stores toward trying to heal that ailment. This will almost certainly leave you feeling drained and “foggy-headed” even after getting a full night's sleep!

Keeping stress levels low is extremely challenging in today’s relentlessly demanding and fast-paced world. Allocating some time to breathe, decompress, and meditate is a good place to start. After a long day at work, I like to just close my eyes and sit in silence for 10–15 minutes to “turn off the outside noise” so to say. Try practicing different relaxation techniques and see what works best for you!

Start with making one simple change today for each of the four reasons outlined, and it will have you feeling more energized from the second you wake up, to the time you go to bed. Not only will you feel refreshed, but you will feel ready to conquer the day ahead.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and check out some more of my articles below.

• 4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Spice Up Your Relationship
• 3 Tips to Get Any Indoor Cat to Like You
• 13 Signs You’re Dating a Stage Five Clinger
• 3 Causes of Back Pain That You May Not Know About Until Now

Despite being a traditional, mainstream Italian dish, few meals get me more excited than spaghetti and meatballs. The insatiable combination of the two makes my mouth water any time I think about it. A good thing about meatballs is that you can have it with pasta, in a sub, sandwich, or even just as a fancy appetizer.

Growing up, my Italian grandmother hands down made the best meatballs ever. Nothing my parents did ever came close to her meatball recipe, so I recently decided to think outside the box and try something bold; after that, the rest was history. I had finally found a meatball recipe that was in the same class as my grandmothers’ ones.

I purchased a block of Vermont sharp white cheddar cheese, cut it up into mini squares, and stuffed them inside each meatball. Not only do stuffed meatballs taste amazing, but forming the meatballs is actually a lot easier with the cheese in the middle. It takes significantly less time to prepare, has triple the flavor, and shows off your creativity to whoever eats them!

Everyone who has tried my stuffed meatballs always asks for seconds. My parents do not eat red meat often, but they are always asking me to make a batch for them every time I visit. My friends think I am so creative for putting cheese inside my meatballs and can’t get enough of them. I know it’s not completely unheard-of to stuff a meatball, but most people simply don’t do so when making their meatballs from scratch.

I promise you that if you stuff your meatballs (and season them well), everyone will be begging you for more. Throw them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 21 minutes. Give it a try and let me know how they come out!

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and check out some more of my articles below.

• I Finally Started Investing in the Stock Market
• How Foreign Spies Could Have Entered the Capitol With the Trump Mob
• 9 Unusual Things That Cats Love
• 4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Spice Up Your Relationship

Do This the Next Time You Make Meatballs was originally published in An Idea (by Ingenious Piece) on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

My best friend’s wealthy mom once told me that “the best time to invest your money in the stock market is yesterday.” I had always been fascinated by the idea of investing, but I did not understand how to put my desires into action. My parents were not heavily involved in the stock market and my siblings aren’t very keen on it either. I always thought that you had to pay a stockbroker in order to invest, so I figured it just wasn’t worth my time. Now, I wish I had started investing years ago.

Starting Out

Two months ago, a friend introduced me to the popular Robinhood App and it was a gamechanger. With Robinhood, you can invest on your own without having to go through a stockbroker, and they give you one stock for free just for signing up, which is pretty cool. There is also no monthly fee or obligation to buy a specific number of stocks; you can invest as much or as little money as you’d like. I began to fall in love with the stock market and made it a priority to educate myself as much as possible before investing a dime.

If you struggle to understand the stock market as I did, YouTube is an excellent resource that I strongly recommend. I spent two days watching videos of highly intelligent stockbrokers educating me on the ins and outs of the market. I quickly gained confidence and began to map out a blueprint of how I was going to invest. I also spent time reading articles on financial websites like Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and Yahoo Finance to look for their recommendations on which stocks to invest my money in.

The Beginning

When you finally understand how the stock market operates, you’ll realize it is a beautiful thing. Investing in Wall Street is a science and it's thrilling to see how much money can be made by simply just watching it. The money is working for you, not the other way around, and that my friends is an amazing feeling; truly capitalism at its finest. In just two months, I went from not even having the Robinhood app on my phone to opening it at least 20 times a day during trading hours.

Since I started using Robinhood, I’ve made over $200 after investing just $400 of my own money. I know this isn’t a massive profit margin (I’m no Warren Buffett), but I consider it an accomplishment since I knew nothing about investing two months ago. All of the stocks I invested in are continuing to make gains every week with the hopes that they will continue to grow and grow as the weeks go on.

I tend to target numerous stocks that are less than one dollar per share because they are cheap and have a high rate of potential return. For example, I recently bought 31 shares of a stock that was listed at $0.40 per share. Over the span of just one week, that stock increased to $2.00 per share, netting me a nice profit of around $50. As the stock keeps rising to $3.00 and $4.00, I keep making more and more money! Also, if you think a stock has peaked and will drop back down in price, then you can choose to sell the stock at its highest point and pocket the cash! Beware the risks of selling a stock too early though as it is painful to watch a recently sold stock go on to increase substantially.

Why Invest?

I invest to have an alternate stream of income and to accumulate money for my future. My goal is to retire before I am age 50 and I’m counting on the stock market to help me make this a reality. Certainly investing has its financial risks, but if you properly educate yourself, follow the right trends and keep a consistent eye on the market, you can be a successful investor and it will change your life! Plus, we can all agree that making money is fun!!

Thank you for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and check out some more of my articles below.

• 9 Unusual Things That Cats Love
• 4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Spice Up Your Relationship
• How Foreign Spies Could Have Entered the Capitol With the Trump Mob
• Why the 2021 NFL Draft Quarterback Class is Already One of The Best of All Time

Cats are playful creatures who want love and attention just like us humans! However, they are also fiercely loyal to their owner and don’t always enjoy it when an “outsider” wants to pet or hold them. My cat will let me pet her anytime and give her a belly rub, but when any of my friends or family try to do the same, they are usually met with a swift paw swipe or a demonstrative hiss to back off.

I decided to lead a little two-month behavioral experiment between two of my close friends (Darrell and William) who both regularly see my cat for roughly the same amount of time every week. She treats them both the exact same and doesn’t let them enter her personal space without either walking away or brandishing her claws. I selected Darrell as the one who will change the way he acts around my cat (the experimental group) while having William change nothing about his behavior (the control group). I wanted to see if there was going to be any shift in the way my cat would behave toward Darrell, compared to William.

Hypothesis

I expected my cat to soften up to Darrell and noticeably like him more than William after these two months concluded.

I instructed Darrell to follow these 3 TIPS BELOW for the next 2 months:

1. Give Her Cat Treats Every Time You Visit

Gradually begin petting her slowly as she inevitably accepts them. There is nothing a cat likes more than treats!

2. Be Patient and Give Her Space

Let her walk over to you first and sniff you each time you enter the home. Earn her trust by showing restraint and not running over to pick her up and pet her as you’d do with a dog.

3. Show Her Love in a Way She Will Understand

Make an effort to play with her each time you visit. Throw a toy mouse, grab some catnip and crinkle up some foil into a ball to make her run wild.

9 Unusual Things That Cats Love

Conclusion

Darrell and William both spent a few hours each week in my home over the past two months with me and my cat. In fact, I actually logged 5 more total hours spent with us for William than Darrell. Despite the extra time, it is clear my hypothesis was correct; there is now a noticeable difference between my cat’s behavior towards Darrell.

After showing her two months of consistent love and attention “the right way”, I can certainly say that my cat has warmed up to Darrell. She now lets him gently pet her and brushes up against his legs every time he comes over. She still does not allow him to pick her up and hold her, but this still is a significant shift in her behavior. She still does not want William to even attempt to pet her and now he has decided to follow my instructions to see if she will warm up to him as well.

Bottom Line: Cats can be confusing and difficult when it comes to guests wanting to show them affection, but if you consistently follow the 3 tips like Darrell, don’t be surprised if your friend or loved ones’ cat starts to suddenly enjoy your presence!

Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments and please check out some more of my articles below.

• How I Went From Being a Dog Person to a Cat Person
• The Most Popular Time of the Year for Break-ups is Approaching
• Why Drinking More Water Can Help Relieve Back Pain
• This One Purchase Can Help You Control Your Anger

3 Tips to Get Any Indoor Cat to Like You was originally published in An Idea (by Ingenious Piece) on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

With COVID-19 cases once again spiking to an all-time high in America, numerous states have reimposed strict social distancing orders for the public to follow. Fun date ideas are once again extremely scarce and many of us have had no choice but to become full-time homebodies during this widespread pandemic. If your relationship has lost some of its lust due to quarantine restrictions, I have some fun ideas for you and your partner that doesn’t involve Netflix or Hulu.

#1: Prepare a Romantic Date Night Dinner at Home

If you haven’t done this yet for your partner, then I suggest you get after it. Cook your partner’s favorite dish, grab a couple bottles of wine, light a few candles, and decorate the dining room a bit to make it look like a romantic night on the town! Bonus points if you create an invitation and a menu to give to your partner to add that authentic restaurant VIP feel to it. Your partner will certainly love this and who knows, they might just return the favor ;).

#2: Adopt a Pet

When the first wave of COVID-19 hit back in March, my girlfriend and I were stuck in the same rut every single day. We couldn’t go anywhere or do anything fun outside of our home and we quickly found ourselves being bored out of our minds. We decided to get a cat to add some positivity to our lives and literally the second we brought her home, the whole energy in our place changed. Our new cat was our little furry bundle of joy, and the two of us quickly found ourselves more stimulated and happy to spend time quarantined at home with her. If you’re allergic or just don’t like cats, consider getting another animal to share your love with; whether it’s a dog, fish, bird, hamster, or guinea pig.

How I Went From Being a Dog Person to a Cat Person

#3: Find a Book to Read Together

I know this may seem “old school” and boring to some, but there are plenty of awesome books out there that can be fun to read together. Take a break from television or social media and discover a book that you both find intriguing, no matter what genre! Both of you may soon realize that you discovered a new hobby in reading without ever expecting it to happen; not to mention you and your partner may learn some new things as well depending on the genre that is selected.

#4: Create a Scavenger Hunt

It’s the little things in life that can end up unexpectedly blossoming into the brightest memories. Purchase some candy or small gifts that your partner would like and construct a scavenger hunt for them in your home. Type up a sheet with hints on where they can find the surprise items and see how they do! I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy being surprised with a random scavenger hunt after a long day?! Get creative and have fun with it!

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments and check out some more of my articles below.

• 9 Unusual Things That Cats Love
• The Most Popular Time of the Year for Break-ups is Approaching
• 13 Signs You’re Dating a Stage Five Clinger

4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Spice Up Your Relationship was originally published in An Idea (by Ingenious Piece) on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Just like everyday life, relationships have plenty of highs and lows. Have you been experiencing second thoughts about your relationship lately? Do you feel like a certain spark has been missing between you two? Maybe things just haven’t felt right for a while but you’re hesitant to confront the truth. It can be difficult to determine whether a relationship is headed toward its conclusion, but here are four signs that usually point strongly towards an inevitable break-up.

#1: Every Little Disagreement Turns into an Argument

Have you noticed that you and your partner have been arguing more frequently than in the past? I bet a lot of the arguments are over silly stuff like what to have for dinner, whose turn is it to take out the trash, who gets to take a shower first, etc. If so, this is a major indication that the bond you two have is deteriorating and becoming toxic. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of healthy relationships include their fair share of arguments and serious discussions, but if you find yourselves constantly clashing over small things like what to watch on tv, then let’s face it, the root problems between you two have nothing to do with the tv.

Being in a relationship means working together to find common ground on a variety of subjects. If you and your partner struggle to compromise on the little things, then there’s zero foundation set for any agreement when it comes to major topics of discussion. Maybe you’re not as compatible together as you both originally thought?

#2: You Can No Longer Fully Rely on Them

It should not have to be like pulling teeth to have your partner keep their word about making plans to spend time together. If the person you’ve been dating has become increasingly unreliable, then this is a major red flag. No matter how busy people are, they always make time for the ones they prioritize most. We all have busy, demanding careers and other issues that drain our energy and have us on a time crunch, but that’s still no excuse for failing to make the one you love a top priority.

I have a close family member who once dated this person who I would not trust to put the mail in my mailbox because he is just THAT unreliable. He always had some feeble excuse for why he canceled plans at the last minute or why he couldn’t come to see her when she would ask to hang out. I see it two ways: either the person doesn't love and prioritize you because you aren’t that important to them (and they are playing games), or they’re cheating on you (or both). Don’t waste energy with unreliable people in any aspect of life, let alone your love life; they will disappoint you every single time.

#3: The Sex is Disappointing or Nonexistent

This kind of speaks for itself, but it never fails to always be true. If you and your partner rarely have sex or engage in any intimate activities anymore, then it may be a sign that you two are drifting apart or need to spice things up a bit between the sheets. Sex and intimacy are important parts of a healthy relationship and they have been shown to strengthen the bond between partners who genuinely love each other. If the sex just isn’t up to par with your expectations, it’s important to discuss this with your partner about how to improve things.

I know it may seem like an awkward conversation to have at first, but you’d be surprised at just how a little communication can go a long way in the bedroom. One should never have to “fake it” in a relationship; there’s always room for improvement. If your partner isn’t willing to hear you out about making some sexual adaptations, then life is too short to be carnally unsatisfied and they don’t deserve you. Not being open to satisfying your partner the way he/she wishes is selfish. On another note, if your partner constantly refuses to be intimate at all, then it might be time to realize that they probably are not the one for you.

Thank you very much for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments, and check out more of my articles below!

• The Most Popular Time of the Year for Break-ups is Approaching
• 5 Things I Took For Granted About The Corporate World
• 13 Signs You’re Dating a Stage Five Clinger
• 9 Unusual Things That Cats Love

3 Signs Your Relationship is in Trouble was originally published in An Idea (by Ingenious Piece) on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.