Six Reasons To Try Role Reversal In Your Relationship

Role reversal is a fun and exciting trend that couples are trying. Just as it sounds, role reversal is when you and your spouse swap your traditional roles and routines in your relationship. Role reversal doesn't have anything to do with gender stereotypes. It has to do with swapping whatever roles you find in your relationship.

• If he usually takes care of the kids, now it's her turn.
• If she heads to the gym every day after dinner, he tries it out.
• If he makes breakfast in the morning, she's got control over the frying pan.
• If she always goes to the kid's after-school activities, now he goes (or better yet, both parents attend!)

Set Ground Rules

Healthy role reversal requires a bit of planning and may alter your routines quite a bit, so it's essential to establish some ground rules before you start.

Talk about things like how long you want to do a role reversal and perhaps set a time limit. It's also important to schedule a regular check-in session to communicate how you're feeling, if you're uncomfortable, or if you love what you're experiencing.

When done right, role reversal can spice up your relationship, strengthen emotional bonds, and generate some much-needed empathy in your marriage.

Are you ready to try role reversal? Here are 6 benefits to swapping spots with your spouse.

Banish Relationship Boredom

One of the first and perhaps one of the shallowest reasons it's great to try role reversal is to banish any relationship boredom you're feeling.

When you first met your spouse, you probably couldn't get enough of each other. Maybe you still can't! But one thing that always changes over time is how comfortable you feel together.

Being comfortable in a relationship is great because it makes you feel safe and allows for open, honest communication. But there's something about those first-date butterflies and the thrill of being a new relationship that we all miss after a while.

With role reversal, you embrace new sides of your personality and start exploring new hobbies and desires. This can make your relationship feel new and exciting, which will banish any monogamy blues you may be feeling in a long-term relationship.

Embrace Your Masculine and Feminine Sides

Everyone has a masculine and feminine side, but that doesn't mean we don't favour one more than the other. Exploring role reversal will help you tap into the side you use the least and show you something new about yourself.

For women, being the big spoon or making the first move to kiss or cuddle has a novelty that will make your relationship feel new again. Plus, taking the initiative will boost your confidence and make you feel empowered in other areas of your life.

For men, reversing your physical roles in the relationship can be a relaxing break. You get to be catered to, have your partner express their affection openly, and can even use it to be more open and vulnerable.

Role Reversal Breeds Appreciation and Empathy

Being on the other side of the fence, so to speak, is an excellent eye-opener for spouses and can even boost empathy and understanding.

Having first-hand knowledge of what your partner does on a day to day basis makes you more empathetic to their trials and boosts intimacy and emotional support.

This is great, as research suggests that emotional support is a core aspect of a healthy marriage and can strengthen partners to weather various storms of marriage.

If Anything Should Happen to You...

Have you ever wondered how your spouse would fare if you had to be out of the city for a few weeks? Or perhaps even whether they'd be able to take care of themselves if something were to happen to you?

Many wives worry that their husbands would live in a dirty house and eat take out every day if she were gone. Husbands may worry about a wife not being able to fix appliances around the house or care for some of the more labour-intensive jobs on the property.

One of the cooler parts of trying role reversal is that you put these fears to rest.

A husband who takes on what were once thought to be traditional female roles (cleaning the house, caring for the kids, doing the washing and the cooking) will be fully capable of managing the home front if he has to be away from his wife.

Similarly, a wife who gets a tool kit and learns how to be Mrs Fix-It will be ready for any home repair that comes her way.

These are just examples, but there are many ways that you can expand your abilities and your thoughts by trying a role reversal with your spouse.

Explore a Different Side of Parenting

While you would never want to confuse your kids regarding your parenting styles, it is interesting for couples to put the shoe on the other foot once in a while. For example, one parent is often considered the lenient parent, while the other is the disciplinarian.

Instead of being the one who always says no, pass the buck to your spouse and bask in the 'fun parent' vibes every so often.

Gives You the Best of Both Worlds

Goal setting is a great way to ensure that you are always growing as a person - and so is trying role reversal! By continually growing in new directions, you're giving yourself the best of both worlds. You now know how to tap into both your masculine and feminine sides and choose which qualities you want to embrace and employ the most in your life.

Not only does this make you a better partner and parent, but it also makes you a better person.

Role reversal is a great way to spice up a relationship. Plus, it promotes healthy competition and boosts empathy between partners. Don't hum and haw over whether role reversal is for you - give it a shot and be the big spoon tonight.

The views expressed are the author's own and not that of SheThePeople.