It can be hard enough to find the right person to spend your time with, but then you have started working on maintaining the relationship, that can be even harder. In relationship, the little things can make all the difference and it’s very easy to say the wrong thing and upset your partner. The biggest mistake that people make, though, is that they begin to take the relationship for granted and they stop trying to make it special. That’s why a little soul searching every now and again can be very useful as a way of checking that you are doing all you could do to keep the relationship sound. Even if you think you are the perfect partner, check out these ten things that you could do to make you a better partner and make your relationship even better.
1. Don’t assume that love just happens
Don’t think that just because you fell in love, or you are in love right now, that you will both always be in love with each other. No matter grow comfortable you get in a relationship, it is important to never forget that your partner does still have a choice. It would be unhealthy to become paranoid about this, but you can never take love for granted.
2. Love your partner for who they are and encourage them to grow
Don’t ever try and change your partner, love and accept them for who they are. You should be their biggest supporter in life, the one who encourages them to be the best person that they can possibly be. When you can grow together, and achieve your dreams together, you will have a strong and mutually beneficial relationship.
3. Work out why fights happen
Disputes in a relationship are inevitable, but if they happen too frequently they will damage the relationship. Think about why fights have started between the two of you and consider if you could have done more to avert them. You can’t think logically in the heat of an argument, so it is worth sitting down on your own later, when you have calmed down, and asking yourself if you could have done something differently.
4. Make the ordinary special
We all know that the honeymoon period doesn’t last forever, but are you making the most of the ordinary, mundane moments that you have together. Whilst you can’t make doing the chores around the home the most exciting thing in the world, you could share them and do them together. That would be a lot better than being in separate rooms all evening.
5. Don’t forget to compliment your partner
If you appreciate that your partner looks smart when you go out, then make sure that you tell him that you do. Just because he always keeps himself well groomed, doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t like to know that you notice things about him and appreciate the effort that he makes.
6. Always find the time to listen
Keeping up good communication is another important factor in a good relationship. When you’ve been together for a while, it can be easy to not pay real attention to what each of you are saying. Be the person that your partner can come to with all his news and all his problems and always take what he has to say seriously.
7. Be spontaneous
Everyone likes nice surprises, so don’t be afraid to turn up unexpectedly to take your partner out for lunch, or arrange a weekend away somewhere nice. Surprises and romantic gestures are a great way to keep a relationship alive and another way to show how much you appreciate your partner.
8. Share your whole life with your partner
We all need some personal space from time to time, but it is important to share your whole life with your partner. Share what happened in your day, share your fears and your frustrations and be prepared to listen to all of his concerns too.
9. Demonstrate your affection
The smallest little touch can mean a lot too, so don’t lose the intimacy that you probably had when you first met. Things like holding hands when you are out, or an arm around the shoulder when you are sitting together watching TV. These are the simple things that you can do to express your love for your partner.
10. Encourage your partner to talk
Sometimes, one of the hardest things to do in a relationship is to talk about what you both need from the partnership. If you are unhappy about something, then you should talk about it, but you should also encourage your partner to be open and honest about things too. Men, more than women, find this hard to do, so try and let your partner know that is OK to talk about his needs, or you may never know what he really wants.
Stay happy!
