Finding ways to make your relationships more fulfilling can help set you up for a lifetime of happiness. Every kind of relationship out there takes work, whether it’s maintaining healthy boundaries or getting in enough time together. Each person is different, and there’s no one set of rules that will work perfectly. Hopefully, though, these 10 tips will give you some ideas about how to nurture truly fulfilling relationships.
Talk Openly
You probably don’t need to regularly maneuver your partner into doing what you want, by and large. You can try asking! You might not even realize how much unnecessary work you’re putting in by trying to stay stealthy.
Actively Listen
Even if you’re listening well, it’s hard for the other person to know that unless you’re engaging in the conversation. That’s the active part of active listening.
Argue Well
You’re not going to agree all the time. Learn how to disagree respectfully and to do it in a way that furthers the discussion instead of dragging you both down.
Check In
Your car gets regular oil changes and checks, your relationship should too. Don’t wait for the bad thing to happen or the explosion to bubble up.
Keep Interests of Your Own
Make sure you’re finding joy outside of a single relationship. Try to keep good friendships, work relationships and family ties, if you can.
Date Your Partner
It can be nice to remind yourself of the earlier days in your relationship when you were just falling in love.
Never ‘Fine’
If you tend to answer with this one word when asked about your day, you’re not giving your partner much to work with.
Plan Together
Planning fun things for the future can often be a great way to get through an otherwise difficult time. You might not have the time or money right now to get up and go, but dream together a little bit.
You Won’t Always Agree
Try to learn to respect ideas or thoughts you may not immediately agree with.
Apologize Well
Make sure your apologies really mean something, it goes a long way toward mending hurts. It’s more than ‘I’m sorry,’ it’s how you’re going to do better in the future, too.
