The habit of surfing social media at night could be fatal – at least for your love life. According to experts, this practice of spending the evening with your eyes on your phone while lying next to your partner could be a death sentence for your relationship, reports the NY Post.
Experts recommend setting limits on phone use. Photo: Archive
“You're basically diminishing the chances of intimacy and affection or generally getting involved in your relationship with your partnerTracy Ross, a couples and family therapist in New York, told HuffPost.
“Connection is essential to a strong relationship – and it needs to be there regularly, without exception, for a couple to thrive”added the therapist.
Bedtime can be a time to connect with your partner—something Ross says many couples lack. Her clients often complain that the other person is “constantly on the phone” or it seems “distracted”which makes it difficult to maintain their attention and, in turn, can lead to “more distance”.
“While the need to unwind at the end of the day is completely understandable, it's hard to ignore the damage it can do to a relationshipshe said.
However, psychotherapist Aimee Hartstein told the publication that it is unrealistic for partners to stay away from their phones all evening.
“Like it or not, our phones are here to stay and it's unusual for a couple to put them away for the whole night“, she explained.
“It's a way for people to get information, talk to friends and have fun. If a couple is happy in their relationship, it's probably not a problem.”
“Ask yourself if you're using your phone to avoid your partner – and if so, what might that be?” Ross added, noting that screens are sometimes used as an avoidance tactic.
However, if you suspect your cell phone might be getting in the way of quality time with your partner, experts recommend setting limits, such as no phones at dinner.
