Being in a relationship has its perks: you always have someone to split the Netflix bill with and someone who’ll pretend to laugh at your terrible jokes.
But knowing that a relationship is only as strong and healthy as the people in it, you’ve made it your goal to love better this time around (good for you).
The thing is, even if you consider yourself a pretty solid partner, there’s always room for improvement!
Since 100% of us aren’t perfect and will either struggle with communication issues or fall into unhealthy patterns, I wanted to share some relationship tips that will actually help you love better.
We often focus on learning how to love once we’ve entered a relationship, but I have a gut feeling that the foundation of a healthy relationship starts with you, and I have a sneaky suspicion that you intuitively know this, too.
Relationship Tips For Men
1. Love Your Alone Time
Too often, especially at the beginning of a relationship, couples start to do everything together. Hanging out with your Special one is amazing but maintaining your independence while you’re in a relationship will be super important to your happiness in the long run.
That said, enjoying your alone time is key, whether you’re single or happily coupled. Do all of the things you love, whether it’s hitting the gym, getting work done at that coffee shop you love, or binge-watching that show you’re secretly obsessed with. It’s important to be comfortable by yourself.
While I would love to be with my partner every second of every day, I still cherish my time spent alone. It gives me time to clear my head, catch up on work, and practice some serious self-care.
2. Keep Jealousy From Ruining Your Relationships
After being in an unhealthy relationship where trust issues were involved, it can be challenging not to jump to conclusions the next time around.
Jealousy, of course, isn’t just about romantic relationships. It could be about a coworker who got that promotion you wanted, the sibling who seems to have it all figured out, or even that friend who looks absolutely perfect on Instagram 24/7.
In more extreme cases, jealousy can lead to possessiveness in a relationship, and that’s seriously unhealthy behavior! There’s no need to compare yourself to other people – keep doing you and hold your head high.
3. Relationship Advice On Managing Your Finances
Not being impulsive with money is always a great skill to have, but as we all know, the first stages of a relationship can be filled with “let me impress you” spending.
Of course, you want to wow your new partner, and spontaneous dates are pretty amazing, but if you do that stuff too often, it quickly becomes like having another monthly subscription.
Having an idea of what your spending limits are is extremely helpful when planning dates. Some of the best dates cost absolutely nothing, and a thoughtful gesture doesn’t have to break the bank. This is honestly one of the best relationship advice tips for men.
Consider using budgeting apps like Mint or YNAB to keep track of your relationship spending without being weird about it.
4. Manage Stress
Finding healthy ways to cope with stress is important in all aspects of life, not just relationship building. Stress management may include a yoga class, a simple walk around the neighborhood, or even a quick journal entry using apps like Day One at the end of each day. Do whatever helps you unwind.
Too often, we take out our stresses on the people closest to us, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Finding healthy ways to cope with stress outside of your relationship only makes the unwinding at the end of the day with your S.O. that much better.
Bringing stress into the relationship only creates more stress – it’s a vicious cycle. Having solid stress management skills will help prevent you from snapping at your partner when they don’t deserve it.
5. Master Time Management
This one is honestly my greatest weakness, and it only gets worse when I’m in a relationship. It’s so easy for me to procrastinate and push responsibilities to the side when I’m dating because I become so focused on spending quality time with that person.
Having good time management skills before entering a relationship is crucial. Getting swept away in the moment is nice, but making sure you meet deadlines and don’t lose track of reality is better.
That being said, it’s completely possible to be swept away while keeping your feet on the ground! Be sure to communicate to your S.O. what things you need to get done – a supporting partner will absolutely help you maintain your balance.
Try using productivity apps like Todoist or Trello to keep track of your commitments without becoming a robot about it.
6. Pursue Your Passions And Make Them A Priority
It’s incredibly helpful to already be on the path of pursuing your passions when you enter a relationship. I count myself among the people who have clear goals in mind and are actively working toward them. But we all know that life doesn’t necessarily work that way for everyone.
Whether you’re working toward your goals, just discovering what they are, or pursuing them on the side for personal satisfaction, whatever makes you tick should not be pushed aside when you enter a relationship, or at any point during it.
When the “we” mentality starts to take over, it’s easy to put your passions, desires, and dreams on hold. Don’t! That being said, you don’t want to become self-absorbed and put all of your priorities above your S.O.’s needs. It’s completely doable to find a healthy balance.
Whatever you were passionate about before you entered your relationship is still there. Having a partner just adds an amazing person to your corner to cheer you on. And, if they don’t support your dreams and passions, they honestly aren’t worth your time.
7. Become Self-Aware
How do your actions affect others? What are some things that you need to work on? Try to do this without being too harsh on yourself. Outside of a relationship, what kind of person are you? What kind of partner are you when you’re actually in a relationship?
These questions are important to ask before you enter something serious. Knowing yourself inside and out will only help build a better foundation with your partner. It’s not just about getting to know another person – it’s about getting to know yourself too.
Consider using self-reflection apps like Reflectly or Journey to track your thoughts and patterns over time.
Relationship Tips For Women
At times, we may find ourselves wondering how to make our relationship last even during the really tough days. This list of relationship advice for women will help you get things figured out.
1. Relationships Don’t Make You Happy
Your inner state determines your dominant emotional state in the relationship, not the other way around. If you’re struggling with happiness inside, you won’t find someone to make you happy in a relationship, no matter how wonderful they are.
You must make becoming happy on your own a priority – through yoga, therapy, meditation, gardening, whatever works for you. Only then will you be able to find genuine happiness in the relationship.
2. Your Truth Is Not Necessarily The Truth
What you know to be true is like that lava lamp on your desk: It may be accurate, but only for that moment, and only at your current level of understanding. Individual truth is fluid, so expect it to change based on experience.
The same goes for your significant other. If you invalidate the other person’s truth (something that happens way too frequently in relationships), you invalidate their experience and understanding.
Nothing will cause backlash and defensiveness faster than invalidating another person’s experience. If you can find a way to honor their truth, you will not only honor them, but you will also find your partner more engaged and interested in working on the relationship.
3. You Must Be Relentlessly Self-Referring
If you become angry, disappointed, or sad because of something the other person did or said, instead of making your partner the villain of the relationship, there’s an opportunity to take responsibility for your part in what happened.
Maybe something in you triggered your anger. Maybe your expectations were unrealistic? Or perhaps you were seeking happiness where it can never be found (hint: in another person).
These are common relationship blind spots that we all fall victim to from time to time. They rarely have everything to do with the other person and will continue to trip you up unless you become aware of your internal triggers.
Consider working with a therapist through platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace to identify these patterns.
4. Your “Ideal” Relationship Will Be Unique To You
Love may not look how you imagined it would. You may not be married by the time you’re in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s. You may not have children. You may fall for someone 10 years younger or five years older. And all of that is completely OK.
Learn your lessons, be open to the guidance of your heart, and let go of the social conditioning that tells you where you should be in life to be happy. Accept that where you are right now is where you should be and stay committed to growth.
You can never go wrong with this approach to relationships.
5. Seeking Your Happiness In The Other Person
The movies are totally wrong about this one. No person completes you – who is capable of transforming you into a permanently happy person. Your partner’s qualities may complement yours nicely, but they can never complete you because, on a soul level, you are already complete.
What’s required is a space for you to explore and express yourself as authentically as possible.
6. You Must Give What You Want To Receive
If you want love, you must be more loving. If you want understanding, you must understand. That’s the proper sequence – giving first, and then being open to receiving. But remember: You must give without expecting anything in return.
Also, because the emotional bank account between you and your partner may be seriously overdrawn, you may have to give a lot more than you initially thought to get out of debt and begin experiencing the flow of reciprocity.
7 Relationship Tips To Make Your Relationship Stronger
Whether you’ve been dating your partner for six months or have been married to them for five years, relationships are created from commitment and are continued due to mutual respect and effort.
To say your connection is special would be an understatement, and not wanting to enhance it would be, honestly, unfortunate.
While every relationship is different, no relationship is perfect. By practicing these 7 relationship tips, you won’t only ensure a quality relationship with your partner, but you’ll also prove that you’re determined to work for one.
1. Ask Your Partner Something New
Communication is the determining factor of success for every relationship. It’s nice to ask how your partner’s day went, but it gets pretty boring when you ask the same thing over and over again.
Enhance your conversations by putting in the extra effort to ask your significant other about something more specific. Through this approach, you avoid falling into a routine and begin holding more meaningful discussions.
Try conversation starter apps like Lasting or check out resources from The Gottman Institute for deeper conversation ideas.
2. Designate A Monthly Date Night
Among both of your busy schedules and nonstop responsibilities, the most foolproof way to guarantee that you make time for each other is to set aside one night every month dedicated to doing just that.
Regardless of whether you’re looking to add some excitement to your relationship or want an activity that doesn’t involve scrolling through Netflix for 20 minutes, the commitment to go on a real date is just one night, but the happiness that comes from it will last much longer.
Use scheduling apps like Calendly or Google Calendar to block out this time and treat it as seriously as any other important appointment.
3. Express Your Appreciation
The comfort that a relationship brings is the reason we tend to overlook what our partners do and treat their acts of kindness as expectations instead of choices.
To put it honestly, your partner doesn’t have to fill your gas tank or remember your favorite coffee order – they choose to, and your acknowledgment of this type of effort will encourage your partner to keep being thoughtful and remind you to feel grateful.
Consider using apps like Gratitude to track the things your partner does that you appreciate, or simply set a daily reminder on your phone to notice one thing they did well.
4. Tweak Your Schedule
We know – you’re independent and don’t plan on stopping your life for anyone (and you absolutely shouldn’t have to). Even though you have other commitments outside of your relationship, it’s a thoughtful gesture to compare both of your schedules to see if it’s possible to spend more quality time together.
Maybe your partner can hit the gym a little earlier to make it to that concert you wanted to attend, or maybe you can wake up earlier to get your work done so you can make it to their family dinner.
While you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your entire life to make your partner happy, your ability to compromise should be enough to show them they matter.
Use shared calendar apps like Google Calendar or Cozi to coordinate schedules without the back-and-forth texting.
5. Remember The Small Things
Another way to add real meaning to your conversations is to truly listen to what your significant other is saying and bring it up again in the future.
If your partner mentions a big presentation they’re nervous about, take note in your phone and remember to ask about it afterward. The fact that you’re able to refer back to the topics and details that your partner shared is something that will genuinely touch them.
Overall, it’s the little things that mean the most, and there’s no better way to show this than starting with your own relationship.
Apps like Google Keep or Evernote can help you jot down these important details without seeming like you’re taking notes on your relationship :/
6. Let Go Of The Past
As a major cause of many arguments and the underlying issue for future ones, what happens in the past doesn’t always stay there. It’s really difficult to move forward in a relationship when you’re still mentally living in what happened months or years ago.
If you find yourself continuing to think about past issues, it might be a sign to take a step back and consider why. Are you naturally someone who holds grudges, or is what happened something you genuinely can’t seem to forgive?
By focusing on the reason for this recurring feeling, you’ll find more clarity within yourself and what you actually want from the relationship with your partner.
Consider working with a therapist through BetterHelp or using meditation apps like Calm to process these feelings healthily.
7. Make Time To Focus On Yourself
How we feel about ourselves is exactly how we’ll show up in a relationship. For example, if you lack confidence in yourself, you’ll constantly look for reassurance from your relationship, which gets exhausting for everyone involved.
To prevent any toxic behaviors from creeping into your dynamic with your partner, it’s essential to have a strong sense of self. Invest in a new hobby, make plans with friends who knew you before your relationship, and take real steps toward discovering who you are as a person.
By falling in love with yourself, you’ll naturally be your best version for the person who happens to be falling in love with you.
Try hobby-finding apps like Meetup to explore new interests, or use fitness apps like Nike Training Club to build confidence through physical wellness.
Final Thoughts
Healthy relationships don’t just happen, they’re built on mutual respect, communication, and a willingness to grow together. Whether you’re navigating challenges or simply looking to deepen your bond, good relationship advice isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about understanding, patience, and connection.
Remember, every relationship is unique, but the effort you invest can lead to a stronger, more fulfilling partnership. Keep learning, keep listening, and most importantly, keep loving with intention.
