With so much going on in our day-to-day lives, sometimes relationships can fall by the wayside. Don’t let work and other obligations put a damper on your love life! Here are 15 ways to keep a relationship working.
1. Love Each Other
This sounds obvious, but it’s the most important. Keep your love for your guy in your mind at all times, so when you’re tempted to yell and scream or think negative thoughts, you’ll practice compassion instead. Don’t be afraid to openly love your partner, and tell them – often!
2. Don’t Lie
Even little white lies can lead to something bad. Also, keep in mind that if you feel it’s necessary to lie about something, you probably shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. For example, grabbing lunch with an ex. Once you’re caught in a lie, it’s so much more difficult for your partner to continue trusting you.
3. Keep Communication Open
Most relationships don’t end because of affairs or something else dramatic, but instead because the couple forgets to talk to each other. Don’t shy away from a conversation just because it may be something you don’t want to hear, you’ll have to face it eventually. Also, take time to talk to each other every day. It can start with something as simple as sharing how your workday went.
4. Stay Sweet
Continue to “woo” each other. Remember the little things you did for each other early in the relationship? Keep doing them. Whether it’s your man cooking your favorite meal for dinner, or you pick up something small from the store, just because it reminded you of him, these little things can make a big difference.
5. When You Get Hurt, Just Forgive and Forget
I’m referring to the “little things” here. Say your boyfriend had to cancel plans last minute on date night. If he has a reasonable excuse, such as work or family, then forgive him already. And don’t hold on to it. There’s nothing worse (for both of you) than stockpiling his “mistakes” to use against him later. Play fair.
6. Never Talk About Break-Ups
This is a big no-no unless you mean it. Do not use breaking up as a threat during arguments. It will make your partner feel insecure about the relationship.
7. Never Say It’s Okay Even When It’s Not
As rule #2 says, “Don’t Lie.” If something bothers you, you need to share why, and more than likely, your other half will adapt their behavior to make you feel more comfortable.
8. Forget About “Pride”
When you’re serious about someone, you need to leave your ego at the door. This may be especially hard for men, but you both need to accept that you’re not always right and that you may need to adapt yourself to make the relationship work.
9. If You Say Sorry, Mean It
When an apology is necessary, you should mean it. Don’t say sorry if you don’t really feel sorry. In this case, you should discuss with your partner why you’re not, and try to understand each other’s views even if you don’t completely agree.
10. Don’t Compare Your Past With Your Present
Hindsight is often seen through rose-colored glasses. This is why you shouldn’t be comparing your past relationships to the current one. They are all different.
11. Don’t Talk About Your Stupid Ex’s
Do you want to hear about your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriends? Well, he doesn’t want to hear about your exes either. They’re all in the past for a reason.
12. It’s a Give-and-Take Process
Be prepared to compromise. But, also allow the other person to have their way, completely, and for you to have your way, completely, sometimes too. The success of the relationship doesn’t depend on just one of you, but both.
13. Be Aware of His or Her Feelings
Often think of your partner’s feelings. Consider how certain actions might make them feel and how you’d feel if they did the same. Stay considerate and respectful of each other.
14. When You Have a Fight, Don’t Let the Day Pass
When you argue, don’t allow it to fester into the rest of the day. Do your best to fight clean, and end the argument quickly. If necessary, agree to disagree, but don’t spend the rest of your day angry at the other person. You’re supposed to love him, remember?!?
15. Don’t Be the Perfect One, Be the Right One
No one is a perfect person and no one is a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend all the time. We all make mistakes in life, but we should strive to do what is best for the relationship. Instead of showering someone with presents, give them the gift of accepting them as they are. That’s how to be the right one.
