An Expert Guide On How To Keep A Healthy Relationship

How To Keep A Healthy Relationship

Relationships do not come in one size fits all. There are numerous qualities and factors that contribute to the emotions and actions that constitute healthy relationships. However, no matter who you love, how you met, or how long you've been together, healthy relationships share certain characteristics. You will feel valued, trusted, and appreciated in a healthy relationship.

Every romantic relationship has its ups and downs, and they all require effort, dedication, and the ability to change and adapt with your partner. However, whether your relationship is new or has been going on for a while, there are steps you can take to build a healthy relationship. You can remain linked, find satisfaction, and achieve real happiness even if you've had a lot of terrible relationships in the past or have previously struggled to revive the sparks of passion in your romantic life. Examine the relationship to see if it exhibits any of these traits. 

What makes a healthy relationship?

Every relationship is different, and people get together for a variety of reasons. A mutual idea of what you want your relationship to be and where you want it to go is part of what makes a healthy relationship. And you'll only know that if you talk deeply and honestly with your partner.

However, there are some characteristics shared by the majority of healthy relationships. Knowing these fundamental principles can help keep your relationship meaningful, fulfilling, and exciting regardless of the goals or challenges you face together.

1. Spend Quality Time Together

Many couples discover that the face-to-face contact they had in their early dating days has gradually been replaced by hurried texts, emails, and instant messages. While digital communication is useful for some things, it does not have the same positive impact on your brain and nervous system as face-to-face communication. Sending a text or voice message to your partner that says "I love you" is wonderful, but if you rarely look at them or have the time to sit down together, they will still believe you don't understand or appreciate them. And as a couple, you'll become more estranged or disconnected. The emotional cues you both require to feel loved can only be conveyed in person, so no matter how hectic life becomes, it is critical to schedule time to spend together.

Find something you can do together that you both enjoy, whether it's a team sport, a dance class, a daily walk, or just settling down for a cup of coffee in the morning.

Concentrate on having fun together. In the early stages of a relationship, couples are often more fun and playful. This playful attitude, however, can sometimes be forgotten as life challenges arise or old resentments resurface. Keeping a sense of humor can help you get through difficult times, reduce stress, and work through problems more easily. Consider creative ways to delight your partner, such as bringing flowers home or unexpectedly booking a table at their favorite restaurant. Playing with pets or small children can also assist you in reconnecting with your childlike side.

  

2. Establish Effective Communication.

A healthy relationship is built on effective communication. You feel safe and happy when you have a positive emotional connection with your partner. When people stop communicating effectively, they stop connecting, and cycles of change or stress can intensify the disconnect. It may appear simplistic, but as long as you communicate, you can usually work through whatever problems you are experiencing.

Don't leave it up to your partner to figure out what you require. Communication of your needs isn't always simple. For one thing, many of us do not devote enough time to contemplating what is truly important to us in a relationship. Even if you are aware of what you require, discussing it can make you feel vulnerable, embarrassed, or even ashamed. But consider it from your partner's perspective. Providing warmth and empathy to those you care for is a joy, not a burden.

Keep an eye out for your partner's nonverbal cues. What we don't say conveys a large portion of our communication. Nonverbal cues such as eye contact, tone of voice, posture, and gestures like leaning forward, crossing your arms, or touching someone's hand communicate far more than words.

You'll be able to say how your partner really feels and react appropriately if you can pick up on their nonverbal signals, also known as "body language". To make a relationship work, each person must be aware of their own and their partner's nonverbal cues. Your partner's reactions may differ from yours. For example, one person may find a hug after a stressful day to be a loving mode of communication, whereas another may simply want to go for a walk or sit and talk.

Be an attentive listener. While our society places a high value on talking, learning to listen in a way that makes another person feel valued and understood can help you form a deeper, stronger bond.

There is a significant difference between this type of listening and simply hearing. When you really listen—when you're engaged with what's being said—you'll notice subtle intonations in your partner's voice that reveal how they're truly feeling and the emotions they're attempting to communicate. Being a good listener does not obligate you to agree or change your mind. However, it will assist you in identifying common points of view that can assist you in resolving conflict.

  

3. Maintain Intimacy

True intimacy is about the small everyday moments, not the big ones. It's sitting next to each other on the couch for the tenth time, watching your favorite movie. It is preparing your partner's favorite meal without their request.

Continue to push if you're having trouble connecting. Learning how to maintain a healthy relationship entails keeping the spark alive.

Touch is an essential component of human existence. Infant studies have demonstrated the importance of regular, affectionate contact for brain development. And the advantages do not stop with childhood. Affectionate contact raises oxytocin levels in the body, a hormone that influences bonding and attachment.

While sex is often the foundation of a committed relationship, it should not be the only form of physical intimacy. Touches that are frequent and affectionate like holding hands, hugging, and kissing are also essential.

Of course, it's critical to be aware of your partner's preferences. Unwanted touching or inappropriate overtures can cause the other person to tense up and retreat, which is the opposite of what you want. As with so many other aspects of a healthy relationship, how well you communicate your needs and intentions to your partner can make or break the relationship.

Even if you have a demanding job or young children, you can help to maintain physical intimacy by scheduling regular couple times, like a date night.

 4. Recognize What’s Important To Your Partner

Understanding what is truly important to your partner can go a long way toward fostering goodwill and a climate of compromise. On the other hand, it is critical that your partner recognizes your desires and that you express them clearly. Giving to others at the expense of your own needs will only lead to resentment and anger.

What exactly is a healthy relationship? It's two people taking on each other's needs. The more you do this, the more satisfying your relationship will become. What are your partner's primary requirements? Solace? What about safety? What is the significance? How do they want their needs to be met? Touch, words, or something else?

Develop the ability to understand with your heart. Beyond simply knowing what your partner requires on an intellectual level, this entails connecting on a deeper emotional level and empathically placing yourself in their shoes. Is your partner your top priority? What would you be willing to give up for the love of your life? Simultaneously, do you feel personally fulfilled by the relationship?

 

5. Appreciate Your Differences

You don't have to ignore or minimize your differences with your partner. On the contrary, appreciating your differences is critical to keeping the relationship exciting. Those minor differences are what piqued your interest in each other in the first place, and this is something you must always keep in the forefront of your minds and hearts. When you appreciate each other, you will not only appreciate the life you have built together, but you will revel in it.

Conflict is unavoidable in any relationship, but in order to keep a relationship strong, both individuals must feel heard. The goal isn't to win, but to keep and strengthen the relationship.

Make certain that you are fighting fairly. Maintain your focus on the issue at hand while also respecting the other person. Don't get into fights over things that can't be changed. Instead of directly attacking someone, use "I" statements to express how you feel. Instead of saying, "You make me feel bad," try, "I feel bad when you do that." Don't bring old arguments into the discussion. Rather than focusing on past conflicts or grudges and assigning blame, consider what you can do now to solve the problem.

Signs Of A Toxic Relationship

 

It would be ideal if we could all recognize the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. The truth is that it can be difficult to let go of someone we care about. We focus on the positive and refuse to see what everyone else sees: the relationship is unhealthy. If you're wondering, "What is an unhealthy relationship?" it's time to look for these warning signs.

 

 

1. Criticism

There is a distinction between honesty and criticism. Even if your partner is truthful, you will still feel respected and valued because their feedback is constructive. Criticism is frequently directed at minor details, such as your clothing or favourite pastimes, and makes you feel insignificant. 

 

2. Controlling behavior

If your partner puts pressure on you to change your appearance, give up activities you enjoy, or stop seeing friends or family, these are all major red flags. More subtle signs of controlling behavior include pushing you to share every thought or detail of your day or always needing to be with you.

 

3. Distance

Emotionally and physically close relationships are the hallmarks of healthy relationships. If you or your partner is no longer interested in intimacy, or if one of you is suppressing your thoughts and feelings, it's time to rekindle the flame. 

 

 4. Lack of conflict resolution

It is sometimes best to defuse minor disagreements. However, if you are constantly burying conflict – or arguing without seeing any improvement – your communication skills may be lacking.

 

5. Excessive Jealousy

While jealousy is natural and unavoidable in some situations, it can also be toxic depending on how you or your partner deal with it. Jealousy is especially dangerous when it is used to justify being possessive, aggressive, or controlling. Furthermore, excessive jealousy can indicate a lack of trust, which is poison in any relationship.

Certain red flags in a relationship, such as physical or emotional abuse, are always indicators that you should leave the relationship immediately. Otherwise, with both partners' commitment and dedication, healthy relationships can often be rekindled.