Healthy Ways to Improve Your Romantic Relationship

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If your goal for this year is to work on improving your relationship with your partner, it's important to look at practices that are emotionally healthy for both of you. While this means abandoning traits that your partner finds toxic, there are other practices that are more proactive in creating a positive and healthy bond. These suggestions can help you build a stronger and more satisfying relationship.

Communicate Your Needs

While it is important to do your best to meet your partner's needs, you shouldn't be shy about expressing your own needs. Mutual communication will help you to understand each other's needs. When you fail to express yourself or feel afraid of offending your partner, your own unhappiness and stress will continue to build. You shouldn't expect your partner to know what you need from them if you don't make your feelings clear. Talking about your needs and desires will help you invest more into your relationship. Communicating openly will take some practice, but making the effort and dedicating yourselves to honest discussions will help you make your relationship stronger.

Don't Ignore the Importance of Physical Intimacy

You should never stop looking for new ways to explore your sexuality together. Finding different ways to please one another will help you avoid falling into a rut in your lovemaking, and that can become a source of tension in the relationship. To spice things up, try taking online sex classes together. You can also look for books that explore different positions and activities for couples. If one of you is experiencing a sexual dysfunction, your doctor may offer an effective treatment. Stress can also affect sexuality so try to add relaxation techniques, such as mutual massages, to your lovemaking routine.

Fight Fairly

All couples face conflicts, but there are certain things that should always be off limits during a fight. For example, stay focused on the point of the argument without bringing up past arguments. You should also avoid name calling, and, when the argument gets too heated, know to walk away for a few minutes. While emotions can make it difficult to think rationally, try to remember that the goal is to settle the dispute. Winning shouldn't be your primary objective. You should also be open to forgiving your partner when they do something to betray you. Try to keep in mind that you may be in their position one day, and you would want them to forgive you.

Quality Partner Time is Always Important

When you first start dating someone, you tend to spend every free minute with that person. That's because the relationship is new and you find your new partner exhilarating and interesting. As time goes by, those feelings become dull and less important with each of you taking the other for granted. While you remain in the relationship, you give more value to other factors in your life. You put a greater focus on your career, hobbies, or friends. Even as a parent, you may spend more time with your kids without giving any thought to your partner's needs. The first step in rebuilding a romantic relationship is to reverse this course in your life. Start making more time for your partner, and make a point to show them how important they are to you. As a rule of thumb, you should dedicate a minimum of one hour every night to making your partner feel special.

Have Some Fun Together

Don't forget to have fun along the way. Sometimes, a couple's biggest problem is that they forgot the things that brought them together. If you meet at the beach, take your partner to the beach whenever it's possible. Take up old hobbies that you used to enjoy together, but, for one reason or another, you may have abandoned. You can also start new activities together that you're both interested in trying. Adventure and spontaneity aren't just reserved for physical intimacy. A new adventure outside of the bedroom can be just as beneficial for your relationship.

Conclusion

Before you enact any of these practices, discuss your feelings with your partner. Together, you may find more ways to help each other feel more loved and valued in the relationship. Opening the lines of communication in this way is the biggest step in improving your romantic relationship.