Relationship maintenance strategies

In our previous blog, we discussed maintaining healthy relationships. Now we’ll look at relationship maintenance strategies.

Our relationship psychology course will explore the main issues that cause problems in relationships as well as the strategies in maintaining healthy relationships.

Keeping a relationship alive and sustainable can often be a challenge. However, there are many relationship maintenance strategies that can improve the quality and help solidify a relationship.

Here are just some of the common problems in relationships:

• Emotional demands – An example of this is insisting that your partner spend all of your time together and it’s often very suffocating.
• Jealousy and insecurity – This can expose a darker side to the relationship. It can often lead to experiencing intense emotions. There’s often lots of questions being thrown around the other’s whereabouts and you feel your partner is developing an interest in another person.
• Distance – Spending some time away from each other in a relationship is important. If you feel that enduring feeling of distance between the two of you, then this may be a sign the relationship’s in trouble. You may feel you’ve outgrown each other or stopped sharing feelings with each other.
• Unrealistic expectations – Being overly dependent on each other can often lead to problems in a relationship. So can failing to see the real human being in a partner and trying to constantly put them on a pedestal. Unrealistic expectations often lead to discontent and bitterness.
• Infidelity – The biggest problem in a relationship and the one that’s most likely to end the relationship for good. The whole idea of being cheated on and finding out that your partner has had an affair with someone else is a devastating blow. Even if a relationship does survive infidelity, the future still looks bleak and it may be difficult to trust a person.

 

“If your love for another person doesn’t include loving yourself then your love is incomplete.” ― Shannon L. Alder

Relationship maintenance strategies – keeping a relationship healthy:

• Trust – Trust is the ultimate key to a healthy relationship. The best way for you and your partner to develop trust in each other is to be sensitive to each other’s feelings. You can still disagree with each other, but don’t disregard how your partner is feeling.
• Communication – Strong communication is the foundation to establishing a happy, healthy relationship. Communication is a life force of relationships and one of the most effective relationship maintenance strategies. Regular communication, like telling your partner what’s really bothering you can help you overcome any issues you may face and strengthen your relationship.
• Have fun – The key to a happier, healthier relationship is to have fun. Put a considerable amount of effort into doing enjoyable things together, whether that’s going on holidays together, dinner dates, cinema, nights out or nights in.
• Respect – Having mutual respect is one of the most important relationship maintenance strategies. It’s important to respect your partner’s wishes and values and always value their opinions in a non-judgemental way. Being compassionate is also key to showing respect as is recognising that they have their own struggles and valuing their feelings.
• Honesty and accountability – Being open and truthful with each other is another one of the important relationship maintenance strategies. Being honest about each other’s pasts, accepting responsibility for your own actions and sharing your feelings are all essential.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama

What are your top relationship maintenance strategies? What do you think is important for maintaining a healthy relationship? Please let us know below…