Being in a relationship has its perks: you always have a designated cuddle buddy and someone to talk to about the Game of Thrones. But knowing that a relationship is only as stable and healthy as the people in it, you’ve made it your goal to love better this time around (good for you).
The thing is, even if you consider yourself a healthy partner there’s always room for improvement! Since 100% of us aren’t perfect and will either be in an unhealthy relationship or do unhealthy things we wanted to share a few relationship advice that will help you love better.
We often focus on learning to love once we’ve entered a relationship, but we have a gut feeling that the foundation of a healthy relationship starts with you, and we have a sneaky suspicion that you intuitively know this too.
Relationship Advice For Men
1. Love Your Alone Time
Too often, especially at the beginning of a relationship, couples start to do everything together. Hanging out with your S.O. is great but maintaining your independence while you’re in a relationship will be super important to your happiness in the long run.
That said, enjoying your alone time is key — whether you’re single or happily coupled. Do all of the things you love, whether it is walking the dog, getting work done in a cafe, or watching that movie that you secretly love, it’s important to be comfortable by yourself.
While I would love to be with my partner every second of every day, I still cherish my time spent alone. It gives me time to clear my head, get work done, and practice self-care.
2. Keep Jealousy From Ruining Your Relationships
After being in an unhealthy relationship where cheating was involved, it can be challenging to not jump to conclusions the next time around.
Jealousy, of course, isn’t confined to love, it could be in regards to a coworker that got a promotion over you, it could be to the sibling that gets all the praise, or even directed toward the friend that looks flawless one hundred percent of the time.
In more extreme cases, jealousy can lead to possessiveness in a relationship, and that’s unhealthy behavior! There’s no need to compare yourself to other people — keep on doing you and hold your head high.
3. Relationship Advice On Managing Your Finances
Not being impulsive with money is always a great skill to have, but as we all know, the first stages of a relationship can be filled with impulsivity. Of course, you want to impress your new bae, and impulsive dates are the best kind of dates, but if you do that stuff too often it quickly becomes equivalent to another bill each month.
Having an idea of what your spending limits are is extremely helpful when planning dates. Some of the best dates cost no money at all, and a thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be an expensive one. This is one of the best relationship advice for men.
4. Manage Stress
Finding healthy ways to cope with stress is important in all aspects of life, not just relationship building. Stress management may include a yoga class, a simple walk around the park, or even a quick journal entry at the end of each day — do whatever helps you unwind.
Too often we take out our stresses on the people close to us, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Finding healthy ways to cope with stress outside of your relationship only make the unwinding at the end of the day with your S.O. that much better.
Bringing stress into the relationship only creates more stress — it’s a cycle. Having solid stress management skills will help prevent you from snapping at your S.O.
5. Master Time Management
This one is my greatest weakness, and only becomes worse when I’m dating. It’s so easy for me to procrastinate and push responsibilities to the side when I’m in a relationship because I become so focused on spending quality time with that person.
Having good time management skills before entering a relationship is key. Getting swept away in the moment is nice, but making sure you reach deadlines and don’t lose track of reality is better.
That being said, it’s completely possible to be swept away while keeping your feet on the ground! Be sure to communicate to your S.O. what things you need to get done – a supporting partner will absolutely help you maintain your balance.
6. Pursue Your Passions And Make Them A Priority
It’s incredibly helpful to already be on the path of pursuing your passions when you enter a relationship. I count myself among the lucky few who have a clear career path and life goals in mind and am in the process of obtaining them. But we all know that life doesn’t necessarily work that way.
Whether you are working towards your goals, just discovering what they are, or just pursue them on the side for personal gratification, whatever makes you tick should not be pushed aside when you enter a relationship, or at any point during the course of it.
When the “we” mentality starts to take over it’s easy to put your passions, desires, and dreams, on hold. Don’t! That being said, you don’t want to become self-absorbed and put all of your priorities above your S.O.’s needs. It’s completely doable to find a healthy balance.
Whatever you were passionate about before you entered your relationship is still there, having a partner just adds an amazing person to your corner to cheer you on. And, if they don’t support your dreams and passions, they are not worth your time.
7. Become Self Aware
How do your actions affect others? What are some things that you need to work on? Try to do this without being too critical. Outside of a relationship, what kind of person are you? What kind of partner are you when you’re in a relationship?
These questions are important to ask before you enter something serious. Knowing yourself inside and out will only help build a better foundation with your partner. It’s not just about getting to know another person — it’s about getting to know you too.
Relationship Advice For Women
At times we may find ourselves wondering how to make our relationship last even at its worst days. This list of relationship advice for women will help you get things figured out.
1. Relationships Don’t Make You Happy
Your inner state determines your dominant emotional state in the relationship, not the other way around. If you’re miserable inside, you won’t find someone to make you happy in a relationship, no matter how wonderful they are.
You must make becoming happy on your own a priority — through yoga, therapy, meditation, gardening, whatever. Only then will you be able to find happiness in the relationship.
2. Your Truth Is Not Necessarily The Truth
What you know to be true is like the colored blob in a lava lamp: It may be true — but only for that moment, and only at your present level of understanding. Individual truth is fluid, so expect it to change based on experience.
The same goes for your significant other. If you invalidate the other person’s truth (something that happens far too frequently in relationships), you invalidate their experience and understanding.
Nothing will cause backlash and defensiveness faster than invalidating another person’s experience. If you can find a way to honor their truth, you will not only honor them, but you will find your partner more engaged and interested in working on the relationship.
3. You Must Be Relentlessly Self-Referring
If you become angry, disappointed, or sad because of something the other person did or said, instead of making your partner the villain of the relationship, there’s an opportunity to assume responsibility in your story of what happened.
Maybe something in you triggered your anger. Maybe your expectations were too high? Or perhaps you were seeking happiness where it can never be found (i.e., in the other person).
These are common relationship blind spots that we all fall victim to from time to time. They rarely have to do with the other person and will continue to trip you up unless you become aware of your internal triggers.
4. Your “Ideal” Relationship Will Be Unique To You
Love may not look how you imagined. You may not be married by the time you’re in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s. You may not have children. You may fall for someone 10 years younger or five years older. And all of that is OK.
Learn your lessons, be open to the guidance of your heart, and let go of the social conditioning that tells you where you should be in life to be happy. Accept that where you are now is where you should be — and stay committed to growth.
You can never go wrong with this unique relationship advice for women.
5. Seeking Your Happiness In The Other Person
The movies are wrong. There is no person who completes you — who is capable of transforming you into a permanently happy person. Your partner’s attributes may complement yours nicely, but they can never complete you because, on a soul level, you are already complete.
What’s required is a space for you to explore and express yourself as authentically as possible.
6. You Must Give What You Want To Receive
If you want love, you must be more loving. If you want understanding, you must understand. That’s the proper sequence — giving first, and then being open to receiving. But remember: You must give without expecting anything in return.
Also, because the emotional bank account between you and your partner may be in the red, you may have to give a lot more than you initially thought to get out of debt and begin experiencing the flow of reciprocity.
7 Relationship Advice To Make Your Relationship Stronger
Whether you’ve been dating your partner for six months or have been married to him or her for five years, relationships are created from commitment and are continued due to mutual respect and effort.
To say your connection is special would be an understatement — and not wishing to enhance it would be unfortunate.
While every relationship is different, no relationship is perfect. By practicing this 7 relationship advice, you won’t only ensure a quality relationship with your partner, but you’ll also prove that you’re determined to work for one.
1. Ask Your Partner Something New
Communication is the determining factor of success for every relationship. It’s nice to ask how your partner’s day went, but it’s boring when you ask over and over again.
Enhance your conversation by putting in the extra effort to question your significant other on something more specific. Through this adjusted approach, you avoid falling into a routine and begin holding more meaningful discussions.
2. Designate A Monthly Date Night
Amongst both of your busy schedules and nonstop responsibilities, the most foolproof way to guarantee that you make time for each other is to set a night every month dedicated to doing just that.
Regardless of if you’re looking to spice up your relationship or wanting an activity that doesn’t include Netflix, the commitment to go on a date is one night — but the happiness that comes from it will last much longer.
3. Express Your Appreciation
The comfort that a relationship brings is the reason we tend to overlook what our partners do and treat their acts of kindness as our forms of expectation instead.
To put it honestly, your partner doesn’t have to fill your gas tank or buy your favorite ice cream — he or she chooses to, and your acknowledgment of this type of effort will reinforce your partner to be thoughtful and remind you to feel thankful.
4. Tweak Your Schedule
We know — you’re independent and don’t plan on stopping your life for anyone (and you shouldn’t have to). Even though you have other commitments outside of your relationship, it’s a kind gesture to compare both of your schedules to see if it’s possible to spend more time together.
Maybe your partner can go to the gym a little earlier to attend the movie premiere you wanted to attend, or maybe you can wake up earlier to get your projects done so that you can make it to your partner’s intramural game.
While you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your life to satisfy your partner, your ability to compromise should be enough to make him or her happy.
5. Remember The Small Things
Another way to add meaning to your conversation is to truly listen to what your significant other is saying — and talk about it in the future.
If your partner mentions a conversation that he or she wants to have with a manager, take note on your calendar and remember to ask about it the day of.
The fact that you’re able to refer back to the topics and details that your partner spoke about is one that will touch him or her. Overall, it’s the little things that mean the most, and there’s no better way to show this than starting with your relationship.
6. Let Go Of The Past
As a culprit for many potential arguments and the underlying issue for future ones, what happens in the past doesn’t always stay there — and it’s difficult to move forward in a relationship when you’re still thinking about what happened in it from another time.
If you find yourself continuing to dwell on the past, it might be a sign to take a step back and consider why — are you naturally less forgiving or is what happened something you can’t seem to forgive?
By focusing on the reason for this reoccurring feeling, you’ll find more clarity within yourself and what you want from the relationship with your partner.
7. Make Time To Focus On Yourself
How we feel about ourselves is how we’ll act in a relationship — for example, if you lack confidence in yourself, you’ll look for assurance in your relationship.
To prevent any toxic behaviors from happening with your partner, it’s essential to have a strong sense of self. Invest in a new hobby, make plans with some friends, and take steps in discovering who you are as a person.
By falling in love with yourself, you’ll naturally be your own best version for the person who happens to be falling in love with you.
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