HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP: 17+ Expert Tips for Anyone

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What Makes a Relationship Healthy?
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Food
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Girlfriend
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With a Boyfriend
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Alcohol
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With a Narcissist
How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Yourself
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 most important things in a healthy relationship?
What builds a healthy relationship?
What makes a man happy in a relationship?
How can I strengthen my relationship?

Every love relationship has its ups and downs, requiring effort, dedication, and the desire to adapt and evolve alongside your partner. There are actions you can take to build a healthy relationship, whether your relationship is just getting started or you’ve been together for years. Even if you’ve had a lot of unsuccessful relationships in the past or struggled to rekindle the romance in your current relationship, there are ways to stay connected, achieve fulfillment, and enjoy long-term happiness.

What Makes a Relationship Healthy?

Every relationship is different, and people meet for various reasons. Sharing a common objective for your relationship and where you want it to go is part of what characterizes a healthy relationship. And you’ll only know that if you have a long, honest conversation with your partner.

There are, nevertheless, some features that most healthy relationships share. Whatever goals you’re working for or obstacles you’re facing together, knowing these basic principles can help maintain your relationship interesting, engaging, and exciting.

You keep a strong emotional bond with one another.

You make each other feel loved and fulfilled emotionally. Being loved and feeling loved are two different things. When you’re loved, you feel welcomed and cherished by your partner, as if they actually understand you. Some relationships become caught in a state of calm coexistence without the parties emotionally engaging with each other.

You’re not afraid of (civil) debate.

Some couples communicate in hushed tones, while others may raise their voices and argue vehemently. However, the secret to a successful, healthy relationship is to not be afraid of disputes. You must be able to communicate your concerns without fear of retaliation, and you must be able to resolve conflicts without humiliation, degradation, or the desire to be right.

You keep outside relationships and interests alive.

Despite what romantic novels or movies may promise, no single person can fulfill all of your wants. Expecting too much from your partner, in fact, can put undue strain on a relationship. Maintaining your own identity outside of the relationship, maintaining relationships with family and friends, and maintaining your hobbies and interests are all key ways to stimulate and deepen your romantic relationship.

You are open and honest in your communication.

A fundamental component of any relationship is effective communication. It can improve trust and strengthen the tie between you when both individuals know what they want from the relationship and feel comfortable expressing their needs, worries, and desires.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Food

It’s one thing to wish for change; it’s quite another to work toward it. First and foremost, recognize that you are an individual. You have your culinary history and tastes, and you have every right to take this journey at your own pace. Following are some useful hints for having a healthy relationship with food.

#1. Permit yourself to eat anything you want, whenever you want.

Allowing oneself unconditional permission to eat is one symptom of a good and healthy relationship with food. You’re setting yourself up for hunger, emotions of deprivation, and fear of food when you make rules about when you can and can’t eat.

#2. Eat food when you are hungry.

Everyone is born with the ability to control their appetite. This is evident in children, who can determine when they are hungry or full. However, as people become older, they lose this ability for various reasons.

#3. Make mindful eating a habit.

Mindful eating has become a critical component of repairing a sour relationship with food. It entails eating in the moment and being completely present during the meal. When you eat thoughtfully, you’re not distracted by other things like your phone, TV, or a book. Rather, you take your time to make delicate observations about the food’s taste and texture, how your hunger and fullness indicators change, and how much you enjoy it.

#4. Be open to including all foods in your diet.

Food gains undue power when it is labeled as “bad.” Certain foods are more nutrient-dense than others and contribute to better health. Still, consuming a single food will not have a miracle effect on your health.

#5. Mind your plate

Imagine a life where you don’t have to justify your dietary choices to anyone, including yourself. Most people are always justifying their dietary choices to themselves or others. “I’m eating ice cream because I’ve had a poor day,” for example, or “I’m having a salad for supper because I didn’t have time to exercise.”

Allow yourself to eat whatever food you believe is best for you at the time, rather than justifying your eating choices.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Girlfriend

Keeping a healthy relationship with your lady takes more effort than just a feeling. It necessitates a great deal of concentration and effort. Here are some pointers to consider if you want to take a proactive approach to creating and maintaining a healthy relationship with her.

#1. Spend meaningful time with your partner.

Take a relaxing walk around the neighborhood, have a drink together, travel to a café or restaurant on the weekend, unplug from the internet, laugh, relax, and have fun together.

#2. Appreciate her efforts.

Tell her how much you appreciate everything she does if she cooks you a meal. Always express gratitude and honor her sacrifices when she assists you in even the tiniest of ways.

#3. Never go to bed enraged.

Don’t allow another day to go by without resolving your issue. Instead, keep going until both sides have had enough and agree that the disagreement is over, then forget about it. If you want to keep a healthy relationship with her, you must learn to forgive each other.

#4. Don’t forget to compliment her.

Take note of numerous details, such as the clothes she chose and the way she applies cosmetics, or tell her how much you enjoy her new haircut. On the other hand, complaints do not have to be solely physical. You might also congratulate her on achieving outstanding grades in school, receiving a promotion at work, or expressing your admiration for her emotional bravery.

#5. Give her the respect she deserves.

Respect your girlfriend for who she is as a woman and as a person. Respect her thoughts, feelings, ideas, and views, even if they differ from yours. Demonstrate to your partner that you are responsible and open-minded. Be considerate and learn to accept new things, and be humble enough to change yourself for the sake of your relationship’s happiness and growth.

#6. Show your affection.

There are numerous methods to express your love for your lady, whether through actions, words, or conduct. Sending flowers, cooking her favorite meal, taking her out, surprising her, and telling her you love her while staring into her eyes are just a few methods to show your affection for her.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With a Boyfriend

Relationships may be incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable. Relationships, on the other hand, are complex and time-consuming. Even if you and your boyfriend love each other, your relationship may not be where you want it to be. Learn how to maintain a good and fulfilling relationship with your lover by learning how to have a healthy relationship with him.

#1. Pay attention to one another.

Listening to your lover, actually listening to him, is one approach to strengthening your communication with him. If you’re debating, don’t become so enraged that you overlook what he’s saying to make your point. Rather, please pay attention to what he has to say. Instead of continuing to dispute, you might come to a resolution by listening to each other.

#2. Tell your boyfriend what you feel.

When you’ve known someone for a long time, you automatically think they know what they’re talking about. You may believe your lover is aware of your thoughts and feelings about him. He isn’t a mind reader in the same way that you aren’t. So that you and your lover are on the same page, tell him what you desire.

#3. Show him how much you value him.

After being with someone for a long period, you may begin to assume that he understands how you feel about him. Maybe you’re over the honeymoon stage, but you still want him to know how you feel. Make it clear to him that you care about him and value what he accomplishes.

#4. Make tiny gestures for him.

To get your relationship back on track, you don’t need to make a grand romantic gesture. Small gestures can be more significant than grand gestures. When you’re together, start doing modest, thoughtful things for your lover. This will demonstrate to him that you are concerned about him, that you are paying attention to him, and that you are considering him.

#5. Set goals for your relationship.

Sitting down with your boyfriend and setting relationship objectives is one approach to having a healthy relationship. What do you hope to get out of your relationship? What location do you want it to be? These objectives are mutually beneficial. He can suggest projects for you to work on, just as you may suggest projects for him to work on.

#6. Make no attempt to change him.

You won’t be able to change your boyfriend. He will not be able to change you. If you believe changing him will improve your relationship, you must change your mindset. Attempting to change him will result in conflict. Instead, discuss the issues that are bothering you. You and your partner can collaborate to discover a solution.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Alcohol

Being aware of this relationship necessitates being open and honest about how alcohol affects your health, relationships, employment, and other social commitments. It also necessitates love, compassion, and willingness to seek treatment if any underlying difficulties are discovered. With that in mind, consider the following tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with alcohol.

#1. Keep track

Keeping track of how much you’re drinking is a crucial part of drinking in moderation. This is extremely important! It’s also critical to establish a method of tracking the drinking that works for you. Some people keep a card in their wallet to make it easier to keep track of how many standard alcoholic drinks they consume.

#2. Count and measure

You’ll notice in the preceding suggestion that it states to keep account of each “typical alcoholic drink.” Knowing how much alcohol is actually in one of your drinks is crucial to keeping track of how much alcohol you’re drinking. The first step is to understand what a typical drink is. A standard alcoholic drink contains 12 ounces of regular beer (often around 5% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (generally about 12% alcohol), and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, according to the NIAAA (about 40 percent alcohol).

#3. Set goals.

When you decide to improve your drinking habits, having precise goals can help you feel more successful when you achieve them, and it can also help you check in with yourself honestly when you don’t.

#4. Look for alternatives.

When attempting to break a habit or change a behavior, it’s usually far easier to replace it with something else than to quit simply. Filling your free time with new, healthy activities, interests, and relationships, especially if drinking has taken up a lot of your time, can be beneficial, especially if drinking has taken up a lot of your time.

#5. Stay away from “triggers.”

If you want to improve your drinking habits, consider about what “triggers” or “prompts” you to consume alcohol. Are there certain persons with whom you usually drink or certain occasions or activities that make you want to drink? Plan something else to do instead of drinking if specific activities, times of day, people, or sensations make you want to drink. If you have a problem with drinking at home, have only a small amount of alcohol on hand.

#6. Plan to handle urges.

Consider these choices if you can’t avoid a trigger and a desire arises: Remind yourself of why you’re making the change (it can help to carry them in writing or store them in an electronic message you can access easily). It can be beneficial to talk things over with someone you trust so that someone else understands your goals and why you’re making changes in your life.

#7. Know when to say “no.”

You’ll probably be offered a drink even if you don’t want one. Prepare a courteous and believable “no, thanks.” You’re less likely to accept these offers if you can say no quickly. If you pause, you’ll have more time to come up with reasons not to accept the drink. Will you be heading somewhere where you’ll have to return by car? When you’re not drinking, offer to be the sober driver or sober companion for the night.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With a Narcissist

It’s critical to understand how to speak with your narcissistic partner about their more dangerous traits if you want to hold them accountable. Here are strategies for maintaining a healthy relationship with a narcissist.

#1. Trust your intuition and listen to yourself.

If you haven’t already, you should educate yourself about narcissism, narcissistic personality disorder, and dark psychology so you know what you’re up against. Knowledge is essential, but regardless of what you read, believe your instincts and not be too hard on yourself.

#2. Constantly evaluate yourself

Make sure you’re asking yourself the correct questions regarding your relationship. How much of your time and money do you put into your partner? Do you associate with them because they add value to your life or because they make you feel special? Do you feel gilded by their light?

#3. Reinforce positive behaviors

Giving your partner sound positive reinforcement instead of nonspecific compliments like “you’re so fantastic” might be a great thing to do when they achieve something good. Praise for certain things might provide them a healthy boost in self-esteem, which is especially important for a narcissist who needs affirmation and adulation.

#4. Develop a mindfulness practice

It’s not unusual for a narcissistic partner to make your anxiety worse. Mindfulness benefits your overall mental health, and research shows that it can assist selfish people moderate bad habits.

#5. Be honest with yourself regarding your relationship.

Let go of any ideas you may have about your narcissistic partner’s ideal relationship, assess the relationship for what it is, and limit your expectations. Is your partner providing you with the things you need in a relationship? Are you getting what you want in terms of love languages and needs? If that’s the case, that’s fantastic. If not, perhaps an exit strategy is the best option.

How to Have a Healthy Relationship With Yourself

Here are suggestions to assist you in developing a healthy relationship with yourself.

#1. Be honest with yourself

The most crucial of all. Why are you with this individual? What aspects of your relationship make your heart skip a beat? If you’re talking about friendship, what qualities do you value in a friend? Then consider the advantages and disadvantages.

#2. Get to know yourself

How many of your decisions are made solely by you? It’s not many if you’re like most people. We often make the majority of our decisions in order to please others. And we might keep doing it for so long that we lose sight of what makes us happy. Begin by making little decisions that are solely for your benefit. Choose a movie you want to watch or go on a solo trip.

#3. Gratitude for your physical self is a good thing to do.

By eating well and exercising, you can express gratitude for your physical self, but this tip entails more than just a healthy relationship between food and exercise. It’s about taking the time to be grateful for what your body has done for you. We have a habit of ignoring our bodies until something goes wrong with them. You probably don’t give breathing much thought until your nasal passages become obstructed.

#4. Show compassion.

Is it possible that you are your own harshest critic? If that’s the case, you’re not alone. In modern society, this is a prevalent sentiment. We tend to give others a lot more slack than we do ourselves. Take a step back the next time you’re berating yourself, and consider what you’d say to a buddy. You’d almost certainly be more empathetic to a buddy than you would to yourself.

#5. Stop passing judgment on people.

Even the most compassionate people have judgmental ideas. Even if you don’t say them out loud, they’re there. It’s not anything you should be ashamed of, but passing judgment on others is a poor habit you should try to break. It isn’t about the other folks in this situation. It’s all about your health.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you should have faith in each other and feel secure in your relationship. You should have faith in your ability to learn and improve together. Trust your intuition and investigate what these sensations signify if you’re concerned about the quality of your relationship or suspect it isn’t as healthy as it once was. A therapist can advise you on whether you should put in more effort and when it’s time to move on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 5 most important things in a healthy relationship?

Communication. The capacity to talk honestly is one of the hallmarks of a healthy relationship.
Listening and being heard are two different things. It is critical to have someone listen to us and to feel heard.
Trying to resolve conflicts.
Intimacy between two people.
Trust.

What builds a healthy relationship?

Healthy relationships are built on trust, mutual respect, and healthy communication. Both partners in a healthy relationship feel valued and respected, and their limits are respected. Physical, emotional, and sexual boundaries can all exist.

What makes a man happy in a relationship?

If you want to develop a lasting, loving relationship, clear communication, openness to new experiences, and respect for your spouse are essential. Make your partner a priority: Tell your boyfriend or husband how precious he is to you on a regular basis.

How can I strengthen my relationship?

8 Ways to Make Your Relationship Stronger

Befriend each other. Any healthy relationship must have a strong foundation of friendship.
Keep in touch. According to David Kaplan, Ph.D., “couples need to spend a lot of time with each other.”
Get physical.
We should all be happy for each other.
Fight valiantly.
Consider taking a class.
Pay close attention.
Keep your sense of self-awareness.