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| Rules If You're In An Open Relationship |
Whether it includes swinging,
polyamory, or relationship anarchy, ethical non-monogamy is becoming
both considerably more common and less stigmatized than in the past. Because of
this, the cultural understanding around healthy non-monogamous dynamics is
shifting as well — especially when it comes to boundaries. Not unlike in
traditionally monogamous relationships, people in non-monogamous partnerships
should figure out what rules to set in an open relationship.
Have A Monthly Relationship Check-In
Especially in an open relationship,
consistent communication about where your partnership is at is crucial, as well
as getting a temperature check on how comfortable each of you is with the
current boundaries you have set. “[A monthly check-in] allows the couple to air
out concerns or set new expectations they may have learned throughout the
month,” says researcher and sex and relationship expert Dr. Tara
Suwinyattichaiporn.
Within these conversations, you and your
partner may realize that you need tighter boundaries in order to feel secure
for the time being. Or, on the other hand, they also may help you recognize
when you’ve outgrown certain rules and can loosen them up.
Establish A Proximity Boundary
For some
couples, like Dan and Lacy, a consensually non-monogamous couple in their
30s and hosts of The Swing Nation podcast, having sex with
close friends or people in their community is acceptable within their
non-monogamous relationship. But others prefer to have a separation between the
sexual aspect of their open relationship and their social life or home.
Suwinyattichaiporn recommends figuring out which works best for your
relationship.
“Check
proximity boundaries because some people prefer that you only sleep with others, not in the same circle, town, city, or even country,” she tells Bustle. As an
example, some couples only have sexual relations with others when they’re out
of town. For the sake of avoiding conflict or hurt feelings down the line, talk
with your partner about deciding on a boundary for how “close” the outside
partners you choose to sleep with can be.
Decide On A Sleepover Rule
If you are a couple who lives
together, you might want to consider rules specific to your shared space
and sleeping arrangements. Do you want to allow outside partners to sleep over
at your shared home? Are external sleepovers OK?
Suwinyattichaiporn suggests discussing the
sleepover rule in order to avoid relationship anxiety. “I know some open
couples that have this rule where you can have sex with other sexual partners,
but always come home every night,” she shares. Especially if you’re new to the
open lifestyle, agreeing that you’ll always share a bed every night can help
ease some initial discomfort or feelings of insecurity.
Set Limits For Non-Sexual Intimacy
Even if both you and your partner are
equally as enthusiastic and ready to start having sex or playing with other
people, setting rules and boundaries for intimacy outside of intercourse before
you begin is a great way to safeguard against immediate chaos. If you haven’t
established that one or both of you isn’t comfortable with the other kissing
someone else, for example, and it happens unexpectedly, you’ll more than likely
come across hurt feelings.
“It’s super common for new couples to have
a laundry list of rules,” Lacy says. While it’s impossible to define what rules
newly open couples should set — because every partnership is vastly different —
Dan says that some common ideas they have come across are no kissing others (at
first), no hand holding, and no climaxing with outside sexual partners.
Require Group Communication
Whether you and your partner play together
in a group sex environment or keep things totally separate, one rule to
consider might be to keep open lines of communication between
everyone involved — sexually or otherwise. For Dan and Lacy, this looks like
putting themselves and other play partners in a group text in order to both
coordinate and talk about boundaries, for the comfort and understanding of everyone
involved. Even if you prefer to keep things mostly separate, allowing your
partner and the people you engage with sexually to communicate as needed might
foster a sense of trust and an extra layer of comfortability.
Keep Things Dynamic
After some time and experience with
consensual non-monogamy, it’s possible that you and your partner will feel
comfortable scaling back on your list of specific rules and boundaries.
“In most cases, couples who communicate with each other openly become wide open
to all the things after a few months,” says Dan.
If and when this happens, Lacy suggests
that pushing your initial boundaries may lead to even more fulfillment and
exploration together. “People think they have to jump all the way into this
lifestyle like it’s all or nothing, and that’s not the case at all,” she tells
Bustle. Her tip? Taking it slow and communicating as you go can make a healthy non-monogamous
relationship possible.
One rule Suwinyattichaiporn doesn’t recommend? The time strict rule. “Some couples will start by committing to opening up their relationship for a month,” she says. “They make it a rule to strictly follow even though someone may not be into it after a week.” By forcing yourselves to stick to something that isn’t working, you’re setting yourselves up for resentment and even a possible end to the relationship once someone reaches their breaking point, Suwinyattichaiporn notes. “Being dynamic and open for communication and renegotiation is super important in the success and longevity of open romantic relationships,” she adds.
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