You may have read about the concept of “quiet quitting” when it comes to jobs, but this is an approach some people may take to their marriage as well. One or both spouses in a California relationship might disengage from the relationship when they begin to feel it is no longer worthwhile to continue trying to improve it.
Giving up
Many people may know of relationships in which the end came as a big surprise to one of the two people in it. The person might report that they were not fighting any longer and that they assumed their conflicts had been smoothed over. In fact, this can be one of the signs of “quiet quitting” in a marriage. The other person might have concluded that it was futile to try to resolve problems any longer and may have moved on to thinking about how to proceed to divorce.
Distance
On the other hand, some people may start to think something is wrong when they feel a sense of distance from their spouse. The other person may have begun to avoid even casual physical contact. This can be another sign that the person is withdrawing. A “quiet quitter” may also begin to do more things on their own, without including their spouse. They may be already thinking about what single life would be like.
Prevention
There are steps individuals can take to prevent this happening in their own marriage or to reverse a trend in this direction. It can be easy to take one another for granted, and it is important to show respect and appreciation for the other person. It is also possible that one or both people have unrealistic expectations about what the relationship can provide. Keeping the lines of communication open can help prevent these issues from arising.
Whether or not this kind of “quiet quitting” appears to be an issue, couples who feel that they have reached an impasse might want to consider counseling. Even if they decide they do not want to continue the marriage, counseling can help them untangle their affairs more cooperatively.