Coleen Rooney Urges Couple to Talk Before Their Three-Year Relationship Stalls

Coleen Rooney has advised a reader who feels their relationship has lost its spark after just three years together. The reader, who says they moved in with their partner a year ago, described a shift from regular dates and outings to a routine of coming home, eating dinner, watching television and going to bed. The reader also said intimacy had become less frequent and felt like an occasional event. Although both partners are in their early thirties and still love each other, the writer worries that they have started to feel like an old married couple and does not know how to bring up the need for change. In her Dear Coleen response, Rooney said an honest conversation was the necessary first step. She suggested beginning with what is working in the relationship, then explaining the importance of continuing to make an effort now that they live together. Rooney noted that couples who feel secure with each other can begin taking one another for granted, while maintaining a relationship takes work at every stage. She encouraged the reader to remember what dating felt like at the beginning and to follow that reflection with practical plans. Making time for each other and arranging activities together, she said, could help rebuild closeness. Rooney also advised the reader not to wait for their partner to create romance: booking dinner or a night away, or sending a playful message, could help get things moving. Rooney recommended discussing hopes for the future, including where the couple would like to be in two or five years. Her advice was that the everyday routine need not define their life together, and that they can take steps to bring back anticipation and enjoyment.