No matter how strong its foundation, any relationship without nurturing will eventually fall apart. A healthy relationship requires both parties to put in the time, attention, and love required to strengthen the partnership.
Whether your relationship is thriving or stuck in a rut, you can take steps to improve it. Make an effort to work at your relationship every day, and you will be rewarded with a deeper connection.
Take steps to improve your relationship
Here are ten easy habits that will help you nurture your relationship:
1. Communicate
Communication is key to any healthy relationship. If you want your relationship to prosper, you must be able to communicate well. Speak honestly when you have a problem, and do not let your emotions fester. Allow your partner the freedom and space to do the same.
Even when the conversation may be difficult, it is imperative that you talk through your issues together. When both partners feel safe sharing their feelings with one another, they are able to build trust and respect.
As both of you practice speaking honestly and listening well, you will become even better communicators. This will help your relationship grow stronger and deeper.
2. Be Intentional
If you want to foster growth in your relationship, you need to be intentional with your time and your actions. Carve out time to spend with your spouse and make sure you are using the time wisely. Even if you can only manage a quick twenty or thirty minutes each day, you need to dedicate time for your partner.
Here are a few ways you can be intentional with your time:
- Start a weekly date night
- Go on a brief walk together after work
- Cook breakfast together in the morning
- Find a tv show you both enjoy and watch it together
- Meet for lunch once a week
Find activities that you enjoy together
However you choose to spend time together, make sure that you focus on your partner. Make sure to silence your phone, get rid of any interruptions, and hire a babysitter if necessary.
Show your partner that you prioritize your relationship by dedicating time to building your connection.
3. Show Appreciation
If you are not careful, it can be easy to take your partner for granted. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is by showing appreciation every single day. Think of everything, big and small, that your partner does for you each day. Write these actions down and make sure you do not neglect to thank your partner for doing them.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Write a heartfelt letter expressing how your spouse’s selflessness makes you feel
- Buy them chocolates, flowers, or some other token of appreciation
- Say “thank you!”
- Take on one of the jobs or chores they typically do for a day
- Prepare a romantic dinner
- Tell other people in your life how much you appreciate your partner
When your partner feels appreciated, it will nurture your relationship. Nothing kills a relationship faster than having one person feel like they are not appreciated or valued. Make it a habit to show appreciation every day.
4. Acts Of Service
Giving is one of the most important acts you can do in a relationship. Take time to complete acts of service for your spouse.
Does he hate taking the trash out or washing the dishes, do this chore for him from time to time. Does she put the kids to bed every night or always cook dinner? Take over this responsibility so that she can have a break. These little acts of service can make a big difference in a relationship.
Actively look for areas in which you can help your partner. If you notice your spouse’s car is dirty, take it to a car wash. If you know your significant other has an important meeting, wake up early and prepare a nice breakfast. Acts of service are a great way to show your partner you care about your relationship.
5. Take Responsibility
When you and your partner have a problem or an argument, make sure you take responsibility for your part of the situation. Avoid playing the blame game or making excuses. Listen to what your significant other has to say without being defensive. Then apologize if appropriate and take responsibility for your actions.
If you want your relationship to flourish, make sure you are willing to admit to and own up to your mistakes.
6. Provide Emotional Support
Demonstrate to your partner that you are care by showing emotional support. When your partner knows that you have his or her back, it will increase the trust, connection, and love in your relationship.
Listen, give compliments and appriciate
Here are some easy ways you can make showing emotional support a habit:
- Offer your loved one compliments and validation
- Listen when they have a struggle they are facing at work
- Ask them how they are doing
Make sure your partner knows they are not alone in this relationship.
7. Forgive
Holding grudges can be detrimental to any relationship. Get in the habit of forgiving your partner when you have talked through a problem where they were at fault.
Sometimes couples will bring up resolved issues and past mistakes when they have an argument. This chips away at the trust in a relationship and prevents you from ever truly solving problems. Practice forgiveness and let go of resolved conflicts.
8. Share
When you share your goals, dreams, ups, and downs with your partner, you will become closer. Sharing is a form of intimacy that comes with many benefits. It is important for you to be vulnerable and talk about things that might make you uncomfortable.
Not only does this help your partner know what is going on in your head, it also allows you to have important discussions. If your dream is going to require moving across the country or investing time or money, it is important that you communicate that with your partner.
9. Perseverance
Like anything worth having, relationships require hard work to maintain. It does not matter how close you are with your partner; you are going to need to work at your relationship to maintain its integrity. One way you can nurture your relationship is to actively work toward improving your relationship.
Always be willing to improve, both for your own sake and your partner’s. Then put in the hard work toward fixing these problem areas. When things get tough in your relationship, resolve not to give up right away or avoid having hard conversations. Work on your partnership in good times and in bad times.
10. Attend Marriage Counseling
If you want to make sure your relationship is as healthy as possible, consider couples therapy. Couples therapy can help you work out issues, develop positive habits, and learn to communicate. Try to attend marriage counseling regularly, even when you feel like your relationship is solid. Marriage therapy can equip you with the tools and strategies you need to have a successful relationship.
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