No matter how it happens, one or both of you are left feeling pretty crappy when you call it quits. But one of the hardest ways a relationship or dating situation can end is not with a huge blowout or a lot of tears, it’s when your partner doesn’t really have an explanation, when they just sort of… lose interest in the relationship.

Sometimes it’s not your fault — sometimes it’s just how time passes or how people change. Sometimes it may be down to something you do, distancing yourself, or hurting the other person, which leads them to zone out of the relationship. But unless they give you a reason why, the important thing is to not be too rash if your partner looses interest. “Regardless of the reason, what’s important is that the person ‘left behind’ because their partner lost interest does not try and change themselves as a result,” relationship coach and founder of Maze of Love, Chris Armstrong, tells Bustle. “I once told a client ‘if parts of you drew your partner away, maybe it’s time to look within but don’t make sudden changes over one person losing interest’.”

So if you feel like there’s a pattern of people you’re dating losing interest, maybe it’s time to look inward, but remember that there are so many reasons things can happen.

1. It Was Lust, Not Love, After All

Oops. You know how sometimes people warn you not to rush into anything because you can feel so intensely about someone but it wears off? Yup. That happens. Sometimes if they loose interest because, unfortunately, it was never really there in the first place. The lust fades and there’s no foundation to back it up. It sucks, but it’s true. “The initial excitement and energy that their partner brought no longer exists. It can be common for people to put their best foot forward upfront, only to fall back to their natural self as the relationship progresses,” Armstrong says.

2. They Can’t Get Over Something

Sometimes if you’ve hurt someone, they can’t get over it no matter how much they try. Although it might seem like water under the bridge, they internalize it and can grow distant until they completely shut down to you or the relationship. Some things are hard to get over.

3. They’ve Just Changed

It’s not always that complicated. We all change, but sometimes those shifts are seismic enough that they’re just not interested in— or looking for— the same things any more. “The person that loses interest has changed or has discovered some things about themselves,” Armstrong says. “It can be very common for two people to start dating and break up for seemingly no reason. They didn’t fight a lot and communication was good, but perhaps someone found themselves evolving and realizing that the person they have evolved into wants different things in a partner.”

4. Something Else Is Taking Priority

Not everyone makes their relationship a priority. If their job, or even their hobbies, take over then their relationship will hold less and less interest for them. Maybe it’s one big passion, maybe it’s just being a bit scattered and their attention jumping around, but it’s hard to go through.

5. They Meet Someone Else

Sometimes, especially during the early stages of a relationship, they just meet someone else. It’s definitely a gut-wrenching, sh*tty feeling, but at least you have a definite “why”.

6. Commitment-Phobia Sets In

Not everyone is great at settling down. They get pulled into the rush of an early relationship, but then they just get restless. Do they really want to be with just one person — this person? Commitment-phobes are constantly looking for greener grass, so it’s easy to lose interest in what’s right in front of them.

7. You’ve Changed

Maybe you’ve grown and evolved into a new person, one that you’re happier with — it just doesn’t necessarily mean that your partner will be too. That’s OK. When their interest wanes, don’t be afraid to go and find someone who’s interested in the new you. They’re out there.

Images: Fotolia; Giphy (7)

Cupid is drawing up his bow and arrow and department store shelves are lined with heart-shaped versions of everything — so you know Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. This romance-oriented holiday inherently brings lovey-dovey vibes for couples and singles alike, but the astrology of Valentine’s Day 2025 adds some additional layers of nuance that give the energy of Feb. 14 a unique twist.

One consistent element of Valentine’s Day astrology is that it always falls during Aquarius season. Astrologically speaking, it’s an interesting time of year for such a stereotypically sappy and sentimental holiday, as Aquarius is an air sign known for being relatively aloof and non-traditional. Normally, with the sun shining through Aquarius’ more detached and counterculture lens, you might find yourself leaning toward objective logic rather than letting emotions color your perspective. However, this quirky zodiacal vibe can help inspire some fun and innovative date ideas that feel more creative than your everyday couples’ outings, making Valentine’s Day celebrations feel extra special and one-of-a-kind.

The vibes of Aquarius season aren’t known for being very amorous, but there are a ton of other astrological factors that can contribute to the unique cosmic flavor of each Valentine’s Day. This year, the holiday arrives on the heels of February’s passionate full moon, so emotions are likely still high. Additionally, Feb. 14 sees a dreamy sign-switch for the communication planet and a surprise-filled lunar connection that’ll give Valentine’s Day evening an electric buzz of unpredictability.

Whether you’re celebrating a long-term love, going out with a hot new date, or gathering with friends for a Galentine’s-themed hang, knowing the cosmic vibes setting the stage this Valentine’s Day can help you make the most of it. Read on for the full scoop.

Lingering Heat From The Moon

On Feb. 12, a powerful full moon will rise in the skies in the fiery and passionate sign of Leo. In contrast to the cool and detached vibes of Aquarius season that have been dominating over the past weeks, this lunation brings all zodiac signs a red-hot burst of confidence, courage, and vivacity that can be channeled into relationships, dating, and romance of all sorts.

Leo is the sign that rules the heart, so the days leading up to Valentine’s Day are a fabulous time to express what’s in your heart openly, authentically, and creatively. You’ll likely be experiencing some lingering effects of this full moon’s energetic swells come Feb. 14, so keep that in mind if you’re still feeling the emotional charge during your romantic celebrations.

Valentine’s Day’s Lunar Magic

While the full moon energy will still be potent once Valentine’s Day rolls around, this emotionally-driven celestial body will have already shifted into the earthy sign of Virgo by the time Feb. 14 officially hits. With the moon in down-to-earth Virgo, practical vibes reign supreme, so giving a useful gift or doing helpful favors for your lovers will be especially appreciated this year. Acts of service are definitely the Virgoan love language, and classic simplicity is often favored over flashy decadence, so keep this in mind if you’re planning something special with someone you care about.

Your conversations will probably come from a more tender, vulnerable, and soft-hearted place.

Virgo may be pragmatic, but there’s some playfulness in the air once dinnertime rolls around too. Just after 5:30 p.m. EST, the moon in Virgo will blow a big kiss to wild-child planet Uranus in the sensual and luxury-loving sign of Taurus, giving everyone’s evening plans a thrilling and unexpected flair of excitement. Some happy surprises are in store, so be willing to try something new and go with the flow if fate decides to add a titillating twist to your plans.

Dreamy Vibes With Mercury In Pisces

The planet Mercury in astrology rules communication, intellect, and planning — and on Feb. 14, it’ll leave forward-thinking Aquarius and enter the imaginative and dreamy realm of Pisces, where it’ll be for the rest of the month. Mercury is a logical cosmic force by nature, but in the ethereal and formless waters of Pisces, concrete plans can easily become nebulous and details can get a little fuzzy. This means that if you’ve got some tight or complicated plans in mind for your Valentine’s Day celebrations, it’ll behoove you to set things in stone ahead of time. Pulling together solid last-minute plans on Valentine’s Day could be difficult, so leaving a little wiggle room in your itinerary is a good thing either way.

On the bright side, having Mercury in Pisces means you’re more likely to look at things from a more rose-colored perspective starting on Valentine’s Day, so your conversations will probably come from a more tender, vulnerable, and soft-hearted place. Instead of thinking objectively, your thoughts might be more influenced by your feelings, daydreams, or intuitive senses — so let yourself get lost in a lavender haze and flirt your way through a Valentine’s Day fantasy.