Becoming a better couple may seem like a long and far-fetched goal, especially if you’re dealing with a host of issues right now but I can assure you that the following tips can actually save your relationship.
Managing and improving a relationship, even a good one, requires a lot of consistency and effort.
Much like anything in life, you have to work for it. What’s essential and nonnegotiable is teamwork.
The two of you have to be on the same page. What I like to do is spend time envisioning the fruits of my labor.
Imagine the kind of amazing relationship you could have by becoming a better couple now through strategic changes and improvements to your communication skills and overall mindset.
This makes me feel motivated and hopeful. It can do the same for you.
Here’s a quick look at the 15 tips that will save your relationship and make you a better couple:
- Communicate with honesty and patience.
- Spend more time with each other without distractions.
- Set goals together.
- Find hobbies you can do as a couple.
- Don’t insult each other during arguments.
- Be forgiving.
- Commit to each other completely.
- Try new things together.
- Express your love regularly.
- Be supportive of each other during good and bad times.
- Be willing to listen.
- Always make an effort to know how your partner is feeling.
- Don’t punish each other.
- Improve your intimacy.
- Don’t compare your relationship to others.
With that being said, let’s take a closer look at each of these tips on how to be a better couple in more detail so you can grasp a firm understanding of how to apply them in real life.
1. Communicate with honesty and patience
Relationships are easy at first, especially during the honeymoon phase but as time ticks on and things become more serious, it becomes harder.
You have to be willing to exercise a lot of patience and understanding with each other.
Trying to win an argument isn’t a surefire way of winning a happy relationship.
On the contrary, to win is to find a compromise. To understand each other on a deeper level is far more gratifying than just selfishly getting your way.
In the future, be patient and honest with your partner. If they do something that bothers you, express that gently and with kindness.
Expect for them to feel slightly defensive but give them the time to absorb what you have said.
Related post: 12 ways to be a better partner
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2. Spend more time with each other without distractions
Quality time together is nonnegotiable. Because we live in a digital era doesn’t mean we should substitute real-life quality time together with texting. It’s not the same at all.
Irrespective of how busy you are, always prioritize some time for each other.
Don’t take what you have for granted. And if you have, now is the perfect time to make the changes necessary to appreciate and improve your relationship.
I would go so far as to suggest that this is the number one most effective tip on how to be a better couple.
3. Set goals together
Despite how unrealistic ‘couple goals’ look like on Instagram, they’re actually instrumental in developing better communication, a stronger connection and more chemistry.
Human beings are designed to grow. If we stand still for too long, we wither away. Goals can be an incredible tool for improving your life.
And since a relationship is built on the idea of sharing your life with each other, wouldn’t it be amazing to set goals together that you both can contribute towards?
Whether it be financial, health or social goals, try accomplishing them together.
Related post: 10 warning signs in a relationship that are cause for concern
4. Find hobbies you can do as a couple
It’s really easy to get wrapped up in the monotony of life to the point that it makes your relationship boring.
You may start visiting the same places every week at the same time on the same day.
Week after week. The spark begins to fade and the two of you start to bicker or lose interest in each other.
This can happen to anyone at any time. This is why I strongly recommend that you find hobbies that you can share with each other.
Unlike goals, hobbies are activities you participate in during your free time and just for fun.
They’re the kind of activities that engage you and afford you the opportunity to grow as a person as well as a couple.
Take up a new sport together, join the gym, visit new landmarks, start a YouTube channel or learn a new craft together.
5. Don’t insult each other during arguments
I can’t begin to tell you how detrimental insults can be to a relationship. They may seem excusable because you’re angry or mad. But, when you hurt someone’s feelings, it can have lasting effects on their self-confidence and the relationship.
Respect is a fundamental element of relationships. Without it, you have nothing but a volatile relationship that is destined to fall apart.
Don’t allow yourself or your partner to be too insulting. If you’re stepping out of line, excuse yourself and cool off rather than stay and fight.
If your partner is losing their temper and being harshly insulting, let him or her know that they’re crossing a line and you’re going to excuse yourself until they are willing to have a civilized discussion.
6. Be forgiving
Everyone makes mistakes, even your partner. It may hurt and you may have every right to be angry or walk away from them but consider forgiveness.
Nobody is perfect in this world, especially not your partner.
You’ll have many arguments or disagreements in your relationship, there will be events that may shake the very core of the relationship but if you can find it in your heart to forgive your partner if they are truly good for you and genuinely remorseful, do it.
Forgiveness is not weakness.
It takes ridiculous amounts of strength to be forgiving.
But, in the end, it makes you a better person and it improves your likelihood of having a relationship that lasts a lifetime.
7. Commit to each other completely
If you’re in, be in. If you’re not, let it be known. There’s no need to waste each other’s time.
Even if you haven’t been as committed in the past, now is the time to decide where you stand with the relationship.
It’s the only way for you both to have a long-lasting relationship and to be a better couple.
Start by being honest with yourself. Once you’re able to decide on what you want from the relationship, it will make it infinitely easy to move forward.
Open yourself up. Share your innermost most feelings. Be vulnerable and be authentic.
8. Try new things together
Remember how I mentioned that routines and monotony can make a relationship boring? Well, it’s imperative that you try new things together.
Make a list of 100 new things to do together. Get your partner to participate in this.
You’ll probably have to hit the internet to find some fun date ideas. But, grab a page and start making your list.
By the time you’re done, you’ll have more than enough to keep you and your partner busy for a very long time.
These new experiences will keep you both engaged, excited and energized in the relationship.
Related post: 50 best date ideas
9. Express your love regularly
No matter how long you’ve been together or how old you are, it’s always a good idea to be affectionate and loving towards your partner.
This will make them feel incredibly loved and comfortable in the relationship. In turn, they will feel a stronger desire to be affectionate and loving towards you.
Write sweet letters for each other, text and call to say you miss each other, cuddle and kiss.
It won’t cost you anything significant to be romantic.
10. Be supportive of each other during good and bad times
Life can be unbelievably challenging. You will face many obstacles over time, you’ll be stressed with deadlines and expectations, you’ll lose people you love and you’ll find yourself stretched from corner to corner.
During those times, it really helps to have someone you love to support you emotionally and physically.
Be that person for your partner and allow them to be that person for you.
Just watch how much you end up falling in love and trusting each other over time by doing this.
11. Be willing to listen
Because none of us are perfect, there will be times when we aren’t giving our partners what they need in the relationship or we’d have done things that are less than ideal.
At which point, it’s imperative that you pay attention when your partner wants to express themselves.
Don’t ignore their complaints or feelings and brush them off.
Far too many people do this and then find themselves completely shocked when their partner walks away.
Even if you’ve done this before, as long as you’re still together, it’s not too late to start paying attention and listening to your partner.
A partner who feels heard will always stay connected and invested in the relationship.
Related post: How to stop feeling lonely in a relationship
12. Always make an effort to know how your partner is feeling
A great way to avoid growing distant from each other is to regularly check up on how you both are feeling.
Have a sit down with your partner every two weeks and ask them to rate you as a partner lately from 1 – 10.
If you get a rating of anything lower than 8, ask your partner to explain how you may have not been the greatest partner lately and what he or she would like for you to do differently.
Do the same for him or her and if you can both set aside your ego for the sake of the relationship, you will become a better couple.
I have no doubt in my mind of that.
13. Don’t punish each other
Because none of us are perfect and we are susceptible to making mistakes or making bad decisions, it doesn’t mean we should punish each other for it.
You don’t have to ignore bad behavior but you must not allow yourself to cross any lines just to get payback.
Nobody wins by trying to hurt each other.
Related post: 12 long distance relationship problems and how to fix them
14. Improve your intimacy
Physical and sexual intimacy is a key feature in a serious relationship.
Just because you’ve been with someone for years and share a life together doesn’t mean that you ought to neglect each other’s needs.
Always make time to be intimate.
Listen to each other’s needs and try to be accommodating.
Be respectful of each other’s comfort level and be open to trying new and fun things to spice up your love life.
It’s supposed to be fun and loving. Don’t make it a chore and don’t schedule it. Allow for some spontaneity.
15. Don’t compare your relationship to others
Last but certainly not least, focus on what you have rather than other people. Far too many people compare their lives to the inaccurate and far fetched posts on social media.
Don’t buy into the hype at all. If you live your life in constant comparison to others, you’ll never be content or truly happy.
Be grateful for what you have and graceful for what you don’t.
Aspire for more but don’t take for granted what you have.
Your relationship can be fulfilling, beautiful and amazing.
In conclusion
If you have a relationship that can be good and is boasting with great potential, don’t give up on it just because it has been dealt a big blow.
You can salvage the relationship and come out stronger. I’ve seen some couples go through the most devastating issues and survive. Scratch that, they are thriving.
It will take a lot of work but you can become a better couple.
With that being said, feel free to pop over to the comment section below and share some of your personal tips on how to become a better couple.