Whether you’re in a new relationship or have been together for years, healthy love is something that takes continuous effort to cultivate. Keeping your love life happy and satisfying requires trust, emotional intimacy, and good communication skills.
Jealousy, obsession, and constant checking-in are signs of unhealthy love. Learn to keep your love life happy and healthy by following these simple tips:.
1. Make Time for Each Other
It’s easy to let work, home responsibilities and other commitments take priority over your relationship. But you can’t be happy with your partner if you don’t spend time with them.
Make it a habit to carve out time each day to talk about your days and connect. Maybe that means waking up earlier to prepare breakfast together, or turning off the TV to watch a movie after the kids go to bed at night. Eventually, these daily moments will add up to hours spent together each week.
If you have kids, it may also mean putting their needs before your own, and scheduling weekly date nights or dinners without them. If you live far away, it may mean setting aside monthly time to see each other in person. You could even set up a calendar to help you plan when you’ll see each other. It’s a great way to build excitement and create something to look forward to.
2. Take Care of Yourself
It’s important to keep your own interests and hobbies alive, even when you’re in a relationship. It’s also healthy to maintain a separate social circle with friends, and encourage your partner to do the same. Over time, relying too much on your partner can cause you to lose sight of yourself and become resentful.
It can be difficult to prioritize your own needs when you’re in a romantic relationship, but self care is crucial no matter your relationship status. Practicing self care can help you be more understanding, loving and accepting of yourself, which will trickle down into your relationship.
A healthy love life can be hard to find, but it’s worth the effort. Unhealthy relationships can take a toll on your mental, emotional and physical health by increasing stress levels, impacting sleep, and encouraging unhealthy behaviors. By following these tips, you can keep your relationship happy and healthy. This will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of love, including feelings of satisfaction and happiness.
3. Communicate Your Needs
A healthy relationship should contribute to a sense of fulfillment, happiness, and connection. If you are not feeling these things, it may be time to re-assess your relationship and set new boundaries.
It can be difficult to express how you are feeling and what your needs are in a healthy way. You may fear coming across as “needy,” or you may feel like your partner doesn’t care about hearing how you are feeling. Sweeping problems under the rug will only lead to unmet needs and resentment later on.
Communicating your needs is essential to a loving, healthy relationship. This includes expressing your feelings openly and setting clear boundaries. Boundaries are the lines that define what is okay and not okay in your relationship. They include physical, emotional, and psychological boundaries. These can be as simple as saying no to unwanted touching and being aware of your partner’s sexual preferences. Having these discussions with your partner can help to prevent future conflict and make your relationship more intimate.
4. Invest in Your Relationship
In order for your relationship to be healthy, it needs to be worth investing in. Spending time together, doing things you enjoy, and making the effort to show your partner that you care all go a long way toward building a strong bond.
Research shows that when you make a joint investment in your relationship, it makes you feel more grateful and committed to that person. This can also make it more difficult to walk away from the relationship, even if you are not satisfied with it.
Keeping a healthy love life takes work, but it is possible. By making regular investments into your relationship and minimizing withdrawals, you can build a strong foundation that will serve you well for the rest of your life. If you need help maintaining a healthy relationship or setting healthy boundaries, contact us to get matched with a therapist who can help.