Love is a beautiful thing, but it will grow and change as both parties progress in their relationship.
One relationship goal that all couples should strive for is better communication. Communicating effectively will help you work through issues before they become one or resolve relationship conflicts before they get out of hand.
It can also help increase feelings of connectedness and intimacy in your relationship. This article will discuss strategies and tips on how to improve communication in your relationship.
1) Choose a good time to talk:
If you’ve been upset about something for a while now, chances are whatever it is has been weighing on you mentally throughout the day. So waiting until you’re calm before talking about what has been bothering you might not be the best idea. Instead, pick a time when you know you’ll be less stressed, whether that’s first thing in the morning or at night.
That way, you can sit down and talk about whatever it is with clear heads.
2) Use “I” statements to express feelings:
It’s tempting to start your relationship talk by pointing fingers or placing blame on your partner, but this will never lead to productive communication. So instead of saying things like “You’re always late,” try something along the lines of “I feel like I’m always waiting around for you…” This may seem elementary, but using phrases starting with ‘you’ often result in defensiveness, while shifting away from reformatory language can help start off on the right foot.
3) Don’t make assumptions:
When something is on your mind, it’s very easy to jump to conclusions and assume you know what your partner is thinking or feeling. But making assumptions can lead to relationship problems and false accusations about how someone feels about a particular situation.
Instead of assuming that your boyfriend had forgotten his promise he made to help you clean on Saturday, call him up and ask if he still plans on stopping by this weekend. If you think more clearly about a specific situation before reacting, chances are you’ll respond in a more effective way.
4) Maintain eye contact:
Keeping direct eye contact with one another might feel unnatural at first, but it will strengthen the connection you feel with your partner. Eyes are said to be the window to the soul, and who wouldn’t want to look into their partner’s eyes?
5) Take “time outs” if needed:
If you feel like you’re getting more worked up than usual or that the relationship talk has reached a point of contention, then it might be time for both parties involved to take a break. This gives you both some space to cool off before deciding on how to act next.
Doing this together ensures that neither party ends up feeling like they were coerced into doing something they didn’t want to do.
6) Be compassionate:
No relationship is perfect, and no relationship will ever go smoothly all the time. Since problems will arise in your relationship, keep in mind that it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about finding a solution you’re both happy with and working together to make things better.
7) Respect one another:
Every relationship needs mutual respect for each other in order to work. Not only does this help prevent relationship conflicts from arising, but it can also bring you closer together as well.
8) Remember why you fell in love:
When relationship problems arise, try thinking back to how you were when you first met your partner. If all else fails and relationship issues become too much to bear, remember the best times you’ve had together and what made them so special. That love you once had is still there, and if you can get back to that place together, the relationship troubles will be much easier to deal with.
9) Keep communication open:
Many relationship problems can be avoided if both parties are willing to voice their thoughts, feelings, wants, needs and desires to one another without feeling threatened or offended. Keeping communication lines open ensures that no relationship problems go unresolved for too long.
10) Communicate more often:
While it’s important to talk about relationship issues when they arise, showing your partner that you’re thinking about them throughout the day can be just as reassuring. When was the last time you left your partner a cute text message to let them know they were on your mind? Showing your partner that you care about him/her all day will keep relationship problems from cropping up in the first place.
11) Have relationship goals:
Being in a relationship means being aware of what you want from it. Having relationship goals will keep problems from hurting your relationship and help both parties stay focused on their relationship’s future.
12) Do something unexpected:
Every now and then, do something nice for your partner without them expecting it. Surprise them with flowers or take them out to dinner even though they thought the two of you were going out as friends (not as a date). This may seem like a minor gesture, but little acts like this can make all the difference between good and bad relationship days.
13) Be together, not glued to your phone:
While we live in an era where we can be connected to the world at any given moment, it’s important to establish some boundaries. We can’t put our phones down all the time, but limiting your phone usage when spending time with your significant other will make them feel more appreciated.
14) Go on dates:
This one’s pretty obvious – go out on dates with your partner! This is a great relationship goal you both should try to work towards.
15) Don’t let major relationship issues pile up:
It’s easy to avoid dealing with relationship issues, but letting them fester can lead to relationship burnout or relationship miscommunications later down the road.
16) Don’t go through life alone:
Being in a relationship doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment with your partner. However, being content in life means knowing that someone is there for you through the good and the bad.
17) Budget time together:
Having relationship goals can help make sure that both people in the relationship get the time they need alone or with friends/family – it’s all about balance! If you go out one night without your significant other, be sure to dedicate another night where you’ll set aside some special “couple” time together.
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