Every couple has its ups and downs, but emulating the habits of those amazing people who’ve been in happy, long-term relationships for a few years now is without a doubt going to ensure that your ups are way higher (and more frequent!) than your downs.
Without further ado, here are the 8 things that make a relationship truly last:
Communication is paramount
It may sound cliche, but communication is indeed the one thing that no relationship can do without, but I’m talking about real, worthwhile communication here. When you feel like there’s something wrong, talk to your partner. When you don’t know what to wear to work, talk to your partner. Even when you don’t have anything particularly important to say, talk to your partner. This will not only help cement your relationship, but also keep you both constantly entertained.
You’re a couple, but you’re different. Celebrate this!
No two people are the same, but this is hardly a problem for a couple that knows that their differences make them special. You don’t have to agree with your boyfriend on every matter, and understanding this is the first step towards ensuring that you will be together for a long time. Make sure that you are always supporting each other, even if you may not always see eye to eye.
Develop some common passions
I know that I have just told you that it’s perfectly okay for you and your guy to enjoy different things, have different opinions and so on and so forth, but it’s always advisable to engage in activities that bring you together. You can go for whatever you want, as long as you’re both enjoying the experience. Want some ideas? How about taking a French course together? The two of you can even take up a sport, but choose one that neither is familiar with. I can assure you that you’re gonna have a lot more fun this way!
Pick your battles, sweetie
At times, conflicts can be truly beneficial to a relationship, as they do tend to help partners understand each other’s expectations better. In most cases, however, they’re nothing more than a waste of time and certain way to piss each other off.
A healthy couple will know that sometimes, it’s just worth it. For them, it’s not about winning an argument at all costs, but about ensuring that things are always fine between them. The best piece of advice that I could give you is to always think twice before starting a fight and to give up trying to be right about things that won’t even matter five years from now.
Show your affection at all times
All right, you are in a relationship, which means that more or less, you have already stolen your man’s heart. However, this is by no means a reason to stop flirting with him. Small gestures can go a long way, and the occasional sign of sweetness can totally brighten the day for both of you.
You know those couples who’ve been together for decades and yet still look smitten? Well, you can be sure that this kind of people always tell each other ‘I love you’ before going to bed. She always gives him a soft peck on the cheek in the morning, and he always courts her when he has the occasion.
How about a date?
When both you and you and your partner are leading busy lifestyles, it can be pretty hard to spend time the way you did before you got together. Staying in to binge watch House of Cards together can be pretty fun at times, but nothing compares to a night out together. Go have dinner at a fancy restaurant, get out and about for some stargazing, go to a poetry club – everything works, as long as it gives you the opportunity to spend some quality time alone.
To make things more interesting, you can take turns planning each date. This way, one of you will be in for a surprise every time you go out.
Money talk – you gotta have it
It is a well known fact that money is one of the main causes of conflict in a relationship. However, I believe that it is not money per se that makes partners mad at each other, but rather the lack of communication on the topic. When you are in a couple, you have to be honest about financial matters. Don’t lie about how much you or how much you want to share, unless you’re specifically trying to prevent your significant other from trusting you ever again.
Sync your bedtimes
It may not sound like a big deal, but going to bed at the same time can actually improve your relationship in an endless number of ways. If you do have to work on something at night, you can always wake up after your partner’s fallen asleep.
Oh, and most importantly, always follow your heart. She’ll know what’s right for you.
