A romantic rut can do more than just damage your relationship; it can have a serious impact on your mental health as well.
When you’re fighting with your partner or you become distant, everything seems to become more frustrating and all you can focus on is the negative. The best way to have a healthy relationship is to communicate with each other effectively and often. While it seems so simple, it’s something many of us struggle with as we get wrapped up in our own busy schedules and forget what (or in this case, who) is really important to us.
Safeguard your relationship and your health with these 7 easy communication tips:
1. Talk every day
Make it a point to have a real, open, honest conversation with your partner every day when possible. You’re with the person you love so you should be able to discuss things that are important to you without fear of being judged. Try going for a relaxing after-dinner walk together and talk about what’s on your mind. Just be sure to hold hands – affection is just as important!
2. Compliment each other
Everyone loves to be complimented! The key here is to compliment things beyond the physical – although telling your partner they look great can’t hurt. If your husband is a great cook, tell him how much you appreciate his skills, and if your wife is a great listener, let her know. Compliments that go beyond skin deep make a bigger impact and mean a lot more.
3. Be thoughtful
If your partner has a big meeting or a huge project to work on that day, send him/her a text or a cute email to let them know you’re thinking about them and to wish them good luck. If your partner stayed home sick, come home with their favorite soup. Little gestures show that you’re in tune with their needs and remind them how much you care about them.
4. Fight logically
If you find yourself in the midst of a brewing fight, be logical and specific about what you have to say, and most importantly, remain calm. If you’re frustrated because your partner didn’t do something they agreed to do, tell them how you feel without yelling broad accusations like, “You always break your promises!” Try instead, “I feel hurt because you said that you would do this, but you didn’t.”
5. Don’t bottle things up
Little things can blow up into big problems if left unattended. Don’t avoid talking about small issues because you think it’s not worth a fight. If you fight logically, you can resolve small issues quickly and easily, and nip a big relationship blowout in the bud.
6. Become an active listener
Active listening is something that takes time to master, but practice makes perfect. Make eye contact, nod your head, respond verbally (things like “okay” or “mhmm”), restate what they’ve said back to them, and ask thoughtful questions. You can even make it fun and practice together – if it’s awkward, at least you’ll get a good laugh out of it!
7. Say I love you
There’s no better way to remind your partner that you love them than by telling them sincerely and genuinely. Hearing the person you adore tell you they love you is the best feeling in the world, so don’t take it for granted. Say it sweetly and say it often, and don’t assume your partner should “just know” how you feel.
Communication is the key to a happy, healthy relationship, and when your relationship is in a great place your mind can be too! Enjoy some quality talking time with your partner and let your stress fade away!
How do you keep your relationship strong and healthy? Share your tips below!
photo credit: Joe Wilcox via photopin cc
These are great tips! I already do quite a few of these but can always do better when it comes to marriage and relationships!
Good stuff! I especially like the active listening tip…sometimes it’s all too easy to zone out or not REALLY pay attention. Heh, perhaps I’m stereotyping but it seems men can be particularly bad at paying attention. Particularly during football season;)
Thanks for the comment Courtney! I totally agree. There’s really no limit to strengthening our relationships and our communication skills!
Thanks Ellen! Haha, I agree. The active listening tip is actually something I learned as an RA in college, but I’ve found that it’s made my relationship and my friendships stronger. There’s nothing better than feeling like your loved ones really care about what you have to say, and making them feel that way in return 🙂
[…] you can have a better relationship just by practicing these seven basic communication methods from Bite Sized Wellness, there’s no excuse not […]
Turn towards your partner during active listening. Avoid turning away, as well as negative responses.