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Healthy relationships feel good and bring you up while unhealthy ones don’t feel great and can sometimes make you unhappy.

10 Tips for a Healthy Relationship – Everything You Need to Know!

September 6, 2022
Amanda Harrigan

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Repeat after us: There is no such thing as a perfect relationship.

Even the happiest couples experience times of conflict and disagreement. The difference is how they handle these challenging times.

Here are 10 tips for a healthy relationship so you can aim to improve the relationship you are in or know what to look for in a healthy relationship in the future.

 

What is a Healthy Relationship?

While it is difficult to define exactly what makes a healthy relationship, there are key factors that serve as the foundation of healthy relationships. These include:

  • Friendship
  • Compromise
  • Trust
  • Mutual respect
  • Wanting the best for the other person
  • Commitment
  • Individuality
  • Loyalty
  • Honesty
  • Good communication
  • Understanding

 

Why Are Healthy Relationships So Important?

Healthy relationships are a key factor in overall well-being. Toxic, unhealthy relationships lead to stress, sadness, and frustration, and can negatively impact your entire life. Research even indicates that healthy relationships can contribute to a longer life.

 

10 Tips for a Healthy Relationship

We used our years of experience and reflected on the best 10 tips for a healthy relationship. Some of these, you might not have even thought of! Here’s our 10 tips for a healthy relationship:

 

1. Communicate Your Needs Clearly

If you assume your partner knows how you are feeling, what you need, or what you want, you are expecting them to read your mind. When they fail to guess how you are feeling or what you need, it can lead to feelings of resentment and frustration.

Let your partner know clearly and respectfully if there are areas of the relationship you’d like to see improved, if certain things bother you, or if you are frustrated about something.

Along with being assertive about your needs, be sure to ask your partner about their needs. Encourage your partner to be open about their needs and desires.

Good communication is one of the most important aspects to having a healthy relationship.

 

2. Prioritise Respect

Respect must be the foundation if you want a healthy relationship. And it goes both ways.

Your partner should treat you with respect at all times and they should receive the same respect in return. Even if you are upset with each other, stressed, overwhelmed, or tired, be sure to still be respectful of one another.

 

3. Be a Good Listener

Pay close attention to what your partner says — and make sure they give you the same attention in return. Along with listening to your partner’s goals and dreams, are you willing to listen to their struggles or their rough day at work? Are you willing to listen to a topic they are passionate about even if it doesn’t interest you?

 

4. Work Through Disagreements Privately

If you are arguing with your partner, keep your disagreement private. Avoid airing out your arguments over social media or sharing every detail with a friend. Work through things privately as a couple to show your respect for each other.

 

5. Make Each Other Feel Appreciated

It’s easy to point out wrongdoings or mistakes. Instead, make a point to praise your partner when they do something thoughtful or go out of their way to make you smile. Give positive feedback when you can and say ‘thank you’ to let your partner know you appreciate them.

Show your appreciation and love to your partner in the ways that mean the most to them.

 

6. Have Confidence In Your Partner

Do you have confidence in your partner and their ability to make decisions? Do you trust their decisions regarding their careers, their future, and their life? While your relationship is a partnership, it is also important to value your partner as an individual.

 

7. Stay Friends

Think back to when you met your partner — did your relationship start as a strong friendship? Friendship is the foundation of romantic relationships.

However, it is easy to forget the friendship aspect of the relationship after you’ve been dating for a while. A big part of a healthy relationship is continually working on remaining friends with your partner. One of the most important aspects of maintaining a friendship is making time for one another.

Whether you both have busy professional lives, kids, or other obligations, make time for each other and keep your friendship a priority.

 

9. Talk Through Issues

The best way to deal with issues is to talk respectfully and honestly about them. Find a time to talk calmly and openly about frustrations you are experiencing in the relationship or things you would like to see changed.

When talking, pay attention to phrasing. For instance:

  • You always make me feel…
  • I felt hurt by this…

Notice the difference? The subtle rephrasing shifts the sentence from a blame game to a statement that takes ownership over your feelings.

Learn to communicate honestly yet respectfully to help work through problems and move forward as a couple. Tackling problems together leads to increased trust and respect for one another and a stronger, healthier relationship.

 

9. Take Responsibility For Your Actions

We all make mistakes. In healthy relationships, both partners are willing to acknowledge their mistakes,

If you say something you regret, make a mistake, or mess up, admit it and apologise to your partner. Take responsibility for your actions rather than placing the blame on your partner.

Apologising and owning up to our mistakes is a genuine step toward improving both yourself and the relationship.

 

10. Explore New Things Together

Making new memories and experiencing new adventures is a great way to keep a relationship healthy and exciting.

Try pushing past your comfort zones and experiencing new things as a couple. It can be as simple as trying a new fitness class together, eating at a new restaurant, or learning a new skill together. Or, you can make it as exciting as taking a cross-country road trip together.

Make it a priority to explore new things together as a couple, plan fun dates, and continue building memories together.

Sharing adventures with your partner strengthens the bond between you, and helps you grow as a couple and individuals.

 

Do You Need Help Finding a Healthy Relationship?

If you constantly find yourself in unhealthy relationships, don’t worry — with the right tools, awareness, and willingness to work on yourself, you can find a meaningful, lasting relationship.

Whether you need the help of a life coach to work on inner issues and grow as a person or would like the help of a professional matchmaker to find a genuine connection, our experienced relationship experts can help.

We’ve helped hundreds of couples throughout Australia find meaningful connections and healthy relationships and we would be honoured to help you find yours. We invite you to contact us with any questions and to learn more about our matchmaking services in Perth.