Being in a committed relationship is completely different from falling in love. While the latter is easy, the former one requires efforts and responsibilities. One of the most usual questions couples ask is, “How to make a relationship work?” The answers are complicated, varied, and after a while, start to sound like muddled platitudes. But these conventional sayings are often repeated because they actually work.
Here are a few tips to have a healthy and lasting relationship.
1. COMMUNICATE
A key to a healthy relationship is effective communication. If you have a problem, say it. Keeping your grievances to yourself will only pile it up making it worse for the both of you. Discuss your issues, keep a calm mind and come up with solutions. Remember, the both of you are in the same team and it will only get better if you share everything with your partner.
2. SET ASIDE TIME FOR EACH OTHER
Your partner and you are busy individuals doing plenty of tasks throughout the whole day. There’s a lot to look into to – managing work, friends, family and a relationship can get really difficult sometimes. What you need to learn is balance. One of the main reasons couple break-up is because either of them doesn’t have enough time for the other person. Set aside a particular time for each other and make sure you follow that.
3. LISTEN
Being a good listener is very important in a relationship. Make sure it’s not only you who is doing all the talking. Sometimes give your partner a chance to talk without any interruption and try to understand his/her point of views. Try to step into the other’s shoes and see things from the his/her perspective. It will only make your relationship healthier.
4. BRING IN CHANGE
Variety is the spice of life. Studies have shown that monotony can lead to dissatisfaction with a relationship. Break free from your usual ‘movie and dinner’ routine and try something new. It can be as simple as visiting an unfamiliar restaurant and trying an exotic dish or as grand as a backpacking trip through the mountains. Discoveries you make together will keep your feelings close.
5. FIGHT RIGHT
Don’t fight without a purpose. Make your arguments constructive and come to a mutual solution at the end of it. Let the other person complete his/her statements. Don’t ever let the argument transform into a physical fight. Couples do have discrepancies but that doesn’t mean you turn it into a raging war. Keep your egos aside and apologize if you have made a mistake. If your disagreement seems to be escalating, call a mutually agreed upon time-out, and make a plan to continue the discussion after a cooling-off period.
6. GIVE SPACE
This is certainly very essential to keep a relationship healthy and going. Give enough space to each other in a relationship. Being committed doesn’t mean you cling onto each other all the time. Don’t forget to have a life of your own while being with your significant other. Go out with your girlfriends, spend some alone time at a café, give the other opportunities to miss you. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
7. HAVE FUN
Having fun with your partner in a relationship can keep the both of you close. Couples who engage in exciting and enjoyable activities together have greater relationship satisfaction from before to after the shared activity. Go out on crazy dates, visit an amusement park, learn a skill together, cook at home, participate in adventure sports; there’s a lot that can be done to keep the spark alive.
8. DON’T TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED
No matter how old your relationship gets, never take the other for granted. Express gratitude to your partner. Feeling appreciated by your partner is proportional to how much you appreciate him/her in return—which positively affects how much you feel committed to the relationship and want to do things to meet your partner’s needs. Don’t lose the patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding and the general effort you once made toward your partner. It’s always important for your partner to know you love and appreciate him/her.
9. GET IT ON
Sexual contact and touching are vital components of a romantic relationship. The frequency up to you and it’s imperative that you discuss your ideas about it in order to prevent resentment. Think about your partner as someone you desire and someone you want to induce to fall in love with you over and over again. Pay attention to your grooming, be romantic, and don’t take your partner for granted.
10. HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF
The relationship you have with yourself is arguably the foundation on which your other relationships are built. People with high self-esteem respond more positively during a conflict. Don’t lose your self-worth in the process of loving another person. Value your strengths, work on your weakness, never forget to love yourself.
Now you’re well armored to get that relationship going. Keep it romantic. Make it eternal 🙂
– SHRAMONA PODDAR
