Don’t you wish you had the recipe for a healthy relationship?
Building a better relationship is easier than you think. Often in relationships, people forget the basics of how to treat their partner.
The first step in improving your relationship is to truly want to improve. Once you have the will to build a better relationship, things can change. The next thing you have to take action.
Some couples fail to realize that there are small things that can be done to make their partner feel valued. In this article, we’ll go over 7 tips to building a better relationship.
1. Listen More
When was the last time you really listened to your spouse? After being together for a while, you may begin to unintentionally “tune out” your partner.
If your partner vents after a long day at work, take the time to actively engage with them.
More importantly, you should listen to your partner’s concerns that involve you. If your partner opens up to you about something you do that bothers them or makes them feel bad, listen to them.
Even if you think that it’s not a big deal, you should consider your partner’s concerns as valid.
These small issues can add up later on and create a serious problem in your relationship. If your spouse is voicing a concern, you should work together to find a solution.
2. Spend More Time Together
The most important thing you can give your partner is quality time together. You don’t have to be glued to your partner’s hip in order to be happy. But finding a balance between time to yourself and time with your partner is crucial.
Think back to when you two first started dating, you probably spent a lot of time getting to know each other. There is no reason why that should stop once you’re in a committed or long-term relationship.
As a matter of fact, spending time together is even more important in this case.
Spending time together can be as simple as watching a show together with a bowl of popcorn. No matter how busy life gets, you should always prioritize time with your spouse.
If necessary, turn your phone on Do Not Disturb to give your partner your undivided attention. The time you spend with your spouse is precious; you should treat it as such.
3. Gain Trust
Did you know that the number one predictor of a successful relationship is trust? By being dependable, you can increase your chances of having a successful relationship.
In order to build that trust, you have to be open and honest with your partner at all times. Being honest is deeper than simply telling the truth. You must also learn to be transparent when addressing issues and concerns.
Secretly holding on to an issue with your partner is worse than simply telling them about it. This can boil up and fester until it becomes a larger issue later.
Let your partner know that it’s okay to be open and vulnerable with you. Additionally, work towards being open with them as well.
Building trust will be the building blocks of a stronger relationship.
4. Meet in the Middle
If you are the kind of person who always has to be right, this is the wrong way to nurture a relationship.
Compromising in a relationship is essential to prevent unnecessary arguments. You and your partner will probably not agree on everything. This does not mean that you are not compatible or that you cannot have a successful relationship.
The key is to know when to make a compromise.
Don’t look at arguments as a game that you have to “win”. You and your spouse are teammates, not opponents.
Let go of things that aren’t worth fighting over, and be okay with telling your partner when they are right. Sometimes you have to agree to disagree and meet your partner in the middle.
When you both set aside your needs for the sake of improving your relationship, you will both end up winners.
5. Take Responsibility
Creating a better relationship starts with identifying ways that you can improve. If you often place the blame on your spouse, redirect your attention to ways that you could be better.
Avoid accusing or insulting your partner. Sure, they may have faults, but you might too. Next time you and your partner are in an argument, try starting more statements with the word “I”.
By starting a sentence with “I”, you can start to express how you feel or what you are taking responsibility for. This is the start to promoting more productive and positive conversations.
If you focus on too many “you” statements, you and your partner might start playing “the blame game”. This is a hurtful scenario where you take turns blaming each other for things.
Arguments aren’t unhealthy but how you react to them can be. Learn how to fight fair with your partner and take responsibility for your actions.
6. Never Yell
If you are ever in an argument with your partner, you may have realized how quickly it can become a yelling match. Yelling can be very damaging to relationships.
Whatever you do, do not yell or speak down to your partner. Yelling at your spouse can make your partner feel afraid of you or damage their self-esteem. This can put a harmful strain on your relationship that is hard to fix.
If you start to feel heated when speaking to your partner, take a few breaths to calm down. It’s important that you speak to your partner with care and affection.
Excuse yourself from the conversation and resume when you’re both calmer.
7. Never Stop Romancing
One important tip to keeping your relationship healthy is to keep it fresh! Whether you’ve been together for a few months or a few decades, you should keep romancing your partner.
Don’t get stuck doing the same routine with your partner. Step outside of your typical schedule to surprise your spouse. Go on dates, take a romantic vacation together or simply take a long walk together.
Keep your relationship happy by doing things that excite and entertain you both.
Building A Better Relationship
These tips aren’t the only things you can do to improve your relationship. The key is to never want to stop improving yourself and the way you interact with your spouse.
Start moving in the right direction by applying these tips to your daily life. Over time, you should begin to notice an improvement in your relationship.
You have to truly want to build a better relationship and work at it each day to constantly improve it. Remember to listen to your partner and showcase your love for them each day.
Learn more about tips about improving your life on our blog.