8 Easy Ways To Make Your Relationship Last

Aug 31, 2018

When you first start a relationship, it is thrilling. You develop an instant attraction and want to spend all of your time with the other person. As you learn more about each other, your relationship continues to grow and develop. 

After a relationship has matured, it starts to take hard work. At this point, the thrill of the new relationship dies down. For the relationship to work out, you have to be willing to work on making the relationship truly amazing. To make sure that your relationship lasts forever, follow these eight simple rules. 

1. Build A Shared Dream

It is far too easy to get bogged down by the mundane aspects of life. After a long day at work, you barely have time to clean the house and pay your bills. Focusing on your significant other seems to be impossible. 

Successful relationships think of each other as an “us” instead of an “I” and “you.” They start to build shared dreams for the future like owning a home or traveling the world. You can get a running start on having a great relationship by building these dreams early. Focus on how you want to build a life together and plan out your future. This will help you create a solid foundation for the rest of your relationship. 

2. Build A Physical Connection 

Physical intimacy is extremely important for a relationship. While you need to have an emotional and mental aspect in the relationship, your physical intimacy helps you to connect. It is a physical way of showing just how much you love each other. This passionate time together can help you reconnect whenever you start to drift apart. 

This intimate spark is easy to have at the start of a relationship, but it can be hard to maintain. Children, work and financial matters can distract you from spending quality time with each other. Make physical intimacy a priority in your life. When you are able to maintain that intimacy, any problem or difficulty becomes just a minor issue. 

3. Keep Communicating 

Most people already know that communication is key to a lasting relationship. The importance of communication cannot be overstated. Whether you want to buy a car or share your dreams, talk to your partner. To truly share a life together, you have to share and communicate about everything. 

Communication is the way that you understand one another. You need to know how your partner is feeling and what they want out of life. Over time, you should become comfortable enough to share anything with your partner. While you have to learn how to criticize constructively, you should also be able to share negative feelings or problems as well. 

4. Focus On The Positive 

Everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated. This is especially true for a spouse or a significant other. Life can be challenging at times, but your relationship helps you get through even the hardest of problems. Show how much you appreciate your partner. Make a point of telling him or her the many things you love about their personality. 

When someone feels appreciated, they are happier in the relationship. They feel like they are respected and valued. No matter how many years pass by, always remember to stay positive and tell your partner why you appreciate them so much. 

5. Be Prepared For Change 

Once people hit the age of 25, their major personality traits are basically locked in. While someone's personality is unlikely to change too much, research shows that change will happen. Over the course of seven to eight years, researchers have found that partners change in some key way. This could be a major or minor change, but you need to be prepared for it. 

When you date someone, you expect them to stay the same forever. This belief can set you up for failure. You have to be willing to accommodate the changes that happen during the relationship. If you are communicating with each other, you will be able to navigate these changes better. You should let your partner know what you need from the relationship, but you should also be willing to accept the changes that will inevitably happen. 

6. Compromise Is Key 

It seems like you agree on everything now, but that will not be true forever. No matter how similar you are, you will eventually disagree about something. When that happens, do not waste time yelling or getting upset. Disagreements are normal. The important thing is how you work through those disagreements. 

Sit down and talk to your partner. Remain calm and thoughtfully listen to your partner's view. Try not to become defensive as they explain their ideas. If you do not understand your partner's viewpoint, ask more questions. For major issues, work on finding a compromise that works for both of you. Small disagreements like where to eat can be solved by taking turns. You can choose the restaurant this week, and then your partner can pick the restaurant next week. 

7. Apologize If You Are Wrong 

Mistakes happen. You do not want to hurt your partner, but it will happen sooner or later. Avoid being stubborn and sticking to your argument when you are wrong. For your relationship to work out, you have to be willing to apologize for your mistakes. 

When you apologize, maintain eye contact and be sincere. Let go of your stubbornness and pride. If your partner apologizes to you, accept the apology gracefully. Apologizing is not easy, so accept your partner's sincere apology without rubbing it in. 

8. Never Give Up 

The key to making a relationship last is never giving up. There will always be times when you argue or have problems. Long-lasting relationships are all about remaining committed during the good times and the bad. No relationship is ever perfect, so be willing to accept mistakes and work on improving the relationship. 

What are your favorite tips for making a relationship last? Let us know and pass this article on to your friends and loved ones too.