It doesn't matter what stage your relationship is in, you and your partner have probably butted heads a time or two. (And if you haven't, it's most likely going to happen at some point.) Arguments between couples are nothing new, and they can't always be avoided, but they do have to be settled. There's just no healthy way to continue a relationship if your arguing escalates without any kind of end. So how do you do it? Do you have to spend hours talking it out until you're both blue in the face, does somebody just give up, is there one thing a couple can do to end an argument?
Yep. There is. And it's called "pausing."
If the phrase is making you think of a specific fictional couple on a hit TV show, I applaud your pop culture knowledge. But "pausing" to end an argument has been around before Marshall and Lily made it famous on How I Met Your Mother. It sounds too easy, but it's incredibly effective and beneficial for both you and your partner.
The way it works is simple. In the middle of an argument, when things are getting heated and the two of you have reached your limits with no other alternative, one of you says "Pause." And that's it. The argument is paused. Take that time to use the bathroom, grab something to eat, or even go to sleep. (I don't believe the whole "don't go to bed angry" thing. It's exhausting and everything looks worse in the middle of the night.) Pausing an argument doesn't mean you've forgotten about it or that it wasn't important, it means you've both realized that there is no good way to finish up what you're doing at that moment.
Think about it. When an argument gets too heated, what happens? People start doling out low blows. You call your partner names. You hurt their feelings. They hurt yours. You both become stubborn, exhausted, and fried from your argument. Eventually, you forget what started the damn thing and start talking in circles. Or worse, your argument branches out into a million other directions. By pausing the argument, you get a break. The two of you get to act like you weren't just in the middle of a shitty argument. And this act does a few things for the two of you.
1You Realize What You Were Fighting About Wasn't Important
By pausing to have dinner, run to the store, or watch a TV show, you're agreeing that you'll pick up the argument when your "pause" is up. But when the time comes, you probably won't feel like arguing anymore. And that's when you'll realize that the two of you weren't even arguing over something important.
2It Gives You Time To Think About How You Feel
Arguments can escalate quickly and it's always in retrospect that we realize we were either acting irrational, not conveying our feelings appropriately, or we were really hurt by our partner and reacted in a bad way. Pausing gives you a chance to examine how you feel without yelling, fighting, or thinking of your next rebuttal. When the pause is up, you'll feel more in control of your emotions and can adequately describe them to your partner without anger blinding your vision.
3It Cools Everyone Down
Some arguments, even after being paused, still need to be had. Totally understood, but pausing can cool you down and put you back in a place of good communication. As arguments get heated, we can get mean, loud, and extra emotional. A pause cools you all down and puts everyone back to a level head to continue.
So next time you and your SO are at a standstill in an argument, shout pause. Let your partner know the rules of the pause, like it only lasts for dinner or a shower, and explain why you need one. Keep it as a way to end arguments, however, not to avoid them. Some arguments have to be had, but when there's no way to end it without someone "winning" or getting their feelings hurt, your imaginary pause button can do the trick.
Images: 20th Century Fox Television; Giphy (4)
