Basic Types Of Romantic Relationships & How To Define Yours

Basic Types Of Romantic Relationships & How To Define Yours – People use the word “relationship” so much these days that it’s often assumed to have one universal definition. In reality, though, the word encompasses such a massive variety of kinds of human connections, both romantic and nonromantic, and it’s likely that no two people share the exact same understanding of what defines a relationship. So, here’s a cheat sheet of the basics.

What is a relationship?

A relationship is any kind of association or connection between people, whether intimate, platonic, positive, or negative. Typically when people talk about “being in a relationship,” the term is referencing a specific type of romantic relationship involving both emotional and physical intimacy, some level of ongoing commitment, and monogamy (i.e., romantic and sexual exclusivity, wherein members don’t have this type of relationship with anyone else). That said, romantic relationships can take many different forms, from marriage to casual dating to ethical nonmonogamy.

There are four basic types of relationships: family relationships, friendships, acquaintanceships, and romantic relationships. Other more nuanced types of relationships might include work relationships, teacher/student relationships, and community or group relationships. Some of these types of relationships can overlap and coincide with one another—for example, two people can be both work colleagues and close friends. There are also many variations within each category, such as codependent friendships, sexless marriages, or toxic family members.

Basic types of relationships:

  • Familial relationships, aka family members or relatives
  • Friendships
  • Acquaintances
  • Sexual relationships
  • Work or professional relationships
  • Teacher/student relationships
  • Community or group relationships
  • Place-based relationships, such as neighbors, roommates, and landlord/tenant relationships
  • Enemies or rivals
  • Relationship to self

Types of romantic relationships.

There are many different relationship labels people use to define their relationship to themselves and to others, but below are a few of the main basic types of romantic relationships:

1.

Dating

Dating is the process of intentionally spending time with someone to get to know them better, have fun together, and enjoy being romantic. Dating can sometimes be about seeing if there’s potential for a more long-term relationship, or it can just be about having fun without expectations for the future, which is sometimes called casual dating.

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Basic Types Of Romantic Relationships & How To Define Yours

Not everyone agrees on what level of commitment is implied when two people say they’re “dating.” Some people only use the term when there’s already a defined, committed relationship in place, whereas others use the term to mean they’re simply exploring to see if there’s relationship potential.

2.

Committed relationship

In the context of couples, the phrase “in a relationship” usually means being in a committed, long-term romantic relationship. A committed relationship is one where two or more people agree to continue being in a relationship for the foreseeable future. There’s an understanding that the two will continue to spend time together, work on growing their relationship with each other, and continue nurturing their connection. People in committed relationships may choose to use identifiers like boyfriendgirlfriend, or partner to signify their relationship to others.

In traditional monogamous relationships, being in a relationship also means that a couple will be romantically and sexually exclusive—that is, they won’t have any other romantic or sexual partners other than each other. In nonmonogamous relationships, exclusivity isn’t required.

Marriage is one form of committed relationship wherein a couple publicly vows to stay together and forms a legally binding union.

3.

Casual relationship

A casual relationship is a relationship where two or more people may be dating, regularly spending time together, and engaging in romantic or sexual activities—but without any expectations for the relationship to last into the future. These types of relationships are usually more situational and short-term, and they may or may not be exclusive.

People in casual relationships usually do like each other and are attracted to each other, though there may not be an intense emotional connection or desire to deepen the connection. Whereas people in committed relationships may see each other as life partners, people in casual relationships may not be as integrated into each other’s lives. They typically won’t use terms like boyfriendgirlfriend, or partner.

4.

Casual sex

A casual sex relationship is one where two or more people spend time together primarily to have sex with each other. They might see each other regularly for sex, or they may have sex once and never see each other again. They may like each other and enjoy each other’s company, but they’re not interested in a romantic relationship with each other. Usually, there’s no emotional connection, or the connection is distinctly platonic or friendly, as in a “friends with benefits” situation.

5.

Situationship

A situationship is a romantic relationship that hasn’t been explicitly defined, usually by omission. The relationship may have many of the same qualities as a committed relationship, a casual relationship, or dating, but the people involved have simply not put labels on it—usually intentionally, whether that’s to avoid making things too complicated, because they’re still figuring out what they want from each other, or because they’re too afraid to bring up the “DTR talk” (aka a conversation defining the relationship).

Generally speaking, situationships usually have more emotional involvement than a friends-with-benefits scenario but not the explicit romantic feelings and commitment of a committed relationship.

While relationships without labels work great for some people, situationships can often happen because the two people aren’t on the same page about what they want or because there’s an assumption that the relationship will be short-term enough for it not to matter.

6 Types of Relationships and Their Effect on Your Life

6 Types of Relationships and Their Effect on Your Life – Interpersonal relationships make up a huge and vital part of your life. These relationships can range from close and intimate to distant and challenging. No matter the nature of the relationship, different types of relationships help make up the social support network that is pivotal for both your physical and mental well-being.

To better understand and discuss these relationships accurately, it can be helpful to learn more about the different types of relationships that a person can have.

What Is a Relationship?

A relationship is any connection between two people, which can be either positive or negative.

You can have a relationship with a wide range of people, including family and friends. The phrase “being in a relationship,” while often linked with romantic relationships, can refer to various associations one person has with another.

To “be in a relationship” doesn’t always mean there is physical intimacy, emotional attachment, and/or commitment involved. People engage in many different types of relationships that have unique characteristics.

Basic Types of Relationships

Relationships typically fall into one of several different categories (although these can sometimes overlap):

  • Family relationships
  • Friendships
  • Acquaintances
  • Romantic relationships
  • Sexual relationships
  • Work relationships
  • Situational relationships (sometimes called “situationships”)

These different forms of relationships can vary greatly in terms of closeness, and there are also different subtypes of relationships within each of these basic types. Some of the different kinds of relationships that you might experience at some point in your life include the following.

While there are many different types of relationships, the four main types are typically identified as family relationships, romantic relationships, friendships, and acquaintanceships.

Platonic Relationships

A platonic relationship is a type of friendship that involves a close, intimate bond without sex or romance. These relationships tend to be characterized by:

  • Closeness
  • Fondness
  • Understanding
  • Respect
  • Care
  • Support
  • Honesty
  • Acceptance

Platonic relationships can occur in a wide range of settings and can involve same-sex or opposite-sex friendships. You might form a platonic relationship with a classmate or co-worker, or you might make a connection with a person in another setting such as a club, athletic activity, or volunteer organization you are involved in.

This type of relationship can play an essential role in providing social support, which is essential for your health and well-being. Research suggests that platonic friendships can help reduce your risk for disease, lower your risk for depression or anxiety, and boost your immunity.1

Platonic relationships are those that involve closeness and friendship without sex. Sometimes platonic relationships can change over time and shift into a romantic or sexual relationship.

Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships are those characterized by feelings of love and attraction for another person. While romantic love can vary, it often involves feelings of infatuation, intimacy, and commitment.

Experts have come up with a variety of different ways to describe how people experience and express love. For example, psychologist Robert Sternberg suggests three main components of love: passion, intimacy, and decision/commitment. Romantic love, he explains, is a combination of passion and intimacy.2

Romantic relationships tend to change over time. At the start of a relationship, people typically experience stronger feelings of passion. During this initial infatuation period, the brain releases specific neurotransmitters (dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin) that cause people to feel euphoric and “in love.”

Over time, these feelings start to lessen in their intensity. As the relationship matures, people develop deeper levels of emotional intimacy and understanding.

Romantic relationships often burn hot at the beginning. While the initial feelings of passion usually lessen in strength over time, feelings of trust, emotional intimacy, and commitment grow stronger.

Codependent Relationships

A codependent relationship is an imbalanced, dysfunctional type of relationship in which a partner has an emotional, physical, or mental reliance on the other person.

It is also common for both partners to be mutually co-dependent on each other. Both may take turns enacting the caretaker role, alternating between the caretaker and the receiver of care.

Characteristics of a codependent relationship include:

  • Acting as a giver while the other person acts as a taker
  • Going to great lengths to avoid conflict with the other person
  • Feeling like you have to ask permission to do things
  • Having to save or rescue the other person from their own actions
  • Doing things to make someone happy, even if they make you uncomfortable
  • Feeling like you don’t know who you are in the relationship
  • Elevating the other person even if they’ve done nothing to earn your goodwill and admiration

Not all codependent relationships are the same, however. They can vary in terms of severity. Codependency can impact all different types of relationships including relationships between romantic partners, parents and children, friendship, other family members, and even coworkers.

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6 Types of Relationships and Their Effect on Your Life

Codependent relationships are co-constructed. While one partner might seem more “needy,” the other partner might feel more comfortable being needed.

Someone who feels more comfortable being needed, for instance, may avoid focusing on their own needs by choosing a partner who constantly needs them.

Casual Relationships

Casual relationships often involve dating relationships that may include sex without expectations of monogamy or commitment. However, experts suggest that the term is vague and can mean different things to different people.

According to the authors of one study published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, casual relationships can encompass situations such as:3

  • One-night stands
  • Booty calls
  • “Sex” buddies
  • Friends with benefits

Such relationships often exist on a continuum that varies in the levels of frequency of contact, type of contact, amount of personal disclosure, discussion of the relationship, and degree of friendship. The study found that people with more sexual experience were better able to identify the definitions of these labels compared to people with less sexual experience.

Casual relationships are often common among young adults. As long as casual relationships are marked by communication and consent, they can have several sex-positive benefits. They can satisfy the need for sex, intimacy, connection, and companionship without the emotional demand and energy commitment of a more serious relationship.4

Casual relationships tend to be more common among younger adults, but people of any age can engage in this type of relationship. Consent and communication are key.

Open Relationships

An open relationship is a type of consensually non-monogamous relationship in which one or more partners have sex or relationships with other people. Both people agree to have sex with other people in an open relationship but may have certain conditions or limitations.

Open relationships can take place in any type of romantic relationship, whether casual, dating, or married.

There tends to be a stigma surrounding non-monogamous relationships. Still, research suggests that around 21% to 22% of adults will be involved in some type of open relationship at some point in their life.5

The likelihood of engaging in an open relationship also depends on gender and sexual orientation. Men reported having higher numbers of open relationships compared to women; people who identify as gay, lesbian, and bisexual relative to those who identify as heterosexual were more likely to report previous engagement in open relationships.

Such relationships can have benefits, including increased sexual freedom and pitfalls such as jealousy and emotional pain. Open relationships are more successful when couples establish personal, emotional, and sexual boundaries and clearly communicate their feelings and needs with one another.

Open relationships are a form of consensual non-monogamy. While there is a primary emotional and often physical connection between the two people in the relationship, they mutually agree to intimacy with other people outside of the relationship.

Toxic Relationships

A toxic relationship is any type of interpersonal relationship where your emotional, physical, or psychological well-being is undermined or threatened in some way. Such relationships often leave you feeling ashamed, humiliated, misunderstood, or unsupported.

Any type of relationship can be toxic including friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, or workplace relationships.

Toxic relationships are characterized by:

  • A lack of support
  • Blaming
  • Competitiveness
  • Controlling behaviors
  • Disrespect
  • Dishonesty
  • Gaslighting
  • Hostility
  • Jealousy
  • Passive-aggressive behaviors
  • Poor communication
  • Stress

Sometimes all people in a relationship play a role in creating this toxicity. For example, you may be contributing to toxicity if you are all consistently unkind, critical, insecure, and negative.

In other cases, one person in a relationship may behave in ways that create toxic feelings. This may be intentional, but in other cases, people may not fully understand how they are affecting other people. Because of their past experiences with relationships, often in their home growing up, they may not know any other way of acting and communicating.

This doesn’t just create discontentment—toxic relationships can take a serious toll on your health. For example, according to one study, stress caused by negative relationships has a direct impact on cardiovascular health.6 Feeling isolated and misunderstood in a relationship can also lead to loneliness, which has been shown to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health.

Toxic relationships can be stressful, harmful, and even abusive. If you are in a toxic relationship with someone in your life, work on creating strong boundaries to protect yourself. Talk to a mental health professional or consider terminating the relationship if it is causing you harm.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Defining Your Relationship

How you define your relationship depends on various factors, including what matters to you and how the other person feels. To define your relationship, it can be helpful to ask a few questions:

  • Do you have romantic feelings for one another?
  • What does each person hope to get out of the relationship?
  • How much time do you want to spend together?
  • Where do you see the relationship going?
  • Are you currently involved with or want to be involved with other people?

Figuring out what matters to you and your partner is an important step in defining the type of relationship you are interested in having. You might find that you are both on the same page or discover that you want different things out of your relationship.

Defining your relationship doesn’t have to mean committing for the long-term. Instead, it can be a way to help you both better understand the boundaries and expectations of your relationship.

How to Keep Your Relationship Healthy

Regardless of how you define your relationship, there are important steps you can take to ensure that your connection is healthy. Strategies that can help include:

  • Showing appreciation and gratitude
  • Communicating openly and honestly
  • Being affectionate and showing that you care
  • Mutual respect
  • Actively listening
  • Showing interest in each other
  • Being supportive and encouraging
  • Feeling empathy for each other
  • Spending time together
  • Having healthy boundaries
  • Being trustworthy

Communication is often the single most important thing in a relationship.7 Good relationships are also marked by honesty, trust, and reciprocity. This doesn’t mean that the relationship is purely transactional; it indicates that you naturally engage in a give and take that provides mutually beneficial support.

A Word From Verywell

No matter what type of relationship you have with another person(s), it is important for it to be a healthy one. Healthy relationships are characterized by trust, mutual respect, openness, honesty, and affection. Good communication is also a hallmark of a healthy relationship.

There are steps that you can take to improve your relationships with other people. Making sure you let others know you care and showing your appreciation are two strategies that can be helpful.

But if a relationship is causing stress or shows signs of being toxic, look for ways to establish clear boundaries, talk to a therapist, or even consider ending the relationship if it is too unhealthy.

Social relationships are important and they come in all different types. Having a variety of relationships with different people can ensure that you have the support and connections you need for your emotional health and well-being.

Ways To Be A Better Boyfriend, From A Dating Coach

Ways To Be A Better Boyfriend, From A Dating Coach – What makes a great boyfriend? It’s a good question, with many possible answers.

At core, a good boyfriend is someone who tends to his partner’s well-being with the same reliability and dedication he gives to himself. He is thoughtfully attuned to his partner’s needs and feelings, and he is sensitive to the ways his actions affect them.

With that broad definition in mind, here are a few big and small ways to be a better boyfriend to your person every day. (The truth, of course, is that all of these apply to partners of all genders; they’re all great habits to adopt for anyone who’s in a relationship and wants to make their significant other feel loved.)

1.

Make sure they know how you feel.

Your partner shouldn’t have to wonder about how you feel about them and whether you’re still interested. Day in and day out, make it abundantly clear how into them you are and how much you care. Say it directly to them and remind them, often. For most people, words of affirmation never get old.

2.

Define the relationship clearly.

Ambiguity makes for a lot of misunderstandings. A relationship that isn’t clearly defined is a breeding ground for insecurities, unmet expectations, and hurt feelings. If you see yourself as this person’s boyfriend, tell them that upfront and let them know how you’re viewing your relationship. Stop trying to play it cool—be willing to be vulnerable and make your intentions known.

3.

Text back promptly.

Texting speed might not seem like a big deal to some, but many people glean a lot about how important they are to someone based on how quickly that person texts them back. You don’t need to be glued to your phone or feel guilty about missing a text for a few hours, but don’t leave your partner waiting around to hear from you for an extended period of time. Treat them like a priority, and text them back promptly, consistently, so they know you care.

4.

Be engaged when you’re together.

A good boyfriend is engaged and present when you’re together. Put your phone away, and give your partner your undivided attention. Make them feel like you are fully in the moment with them and happy to be there. Pay attention to your body language, make eye contact, and notice if you find yourself checking out or disengaging. Pull yourself back in, or communicate with your partner if there’s a reason why you’re struggling to be present with them right now.

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Ways To Be A Better Boyfriend, From A Dating Coach

5.

Ask about their day.

Strive to know them as well as their mom or best friend does. Seriously, what is going on in your partner’s world these days? How’s work? What’s occupying their mind lately? How are they dealing with life’s stresses? What problems can you help them solve? Be their confidant. These types of daily conversations are what build true connection, intimacy, and trust over time.

6.

Actually listen when they talk.

This one probably seems obvious, but it needs to be said: Listen to them when they’re talking to you. If your girlfriend comes home and starts venting about the drama going on with the mean girl at the gym, don’t tune her out. What matters to your partner should matter to you. As well, during any discussion with your partner and especially during conflicts, try to really comprehend what your partner is trying to communicate to you. Some people have a habit of trying to prepare their response in their head while the other person talks rather than actually listening. Turn off your brain when your partner is talking, and just focus on trying to actually understand their point or their feelings.

7.

Stop trying to win arguments.

Spoiler alert: If your goal is to “win” an argument, you’ve already lost sight of the bigger picture. Your goal in every single conflict should be for both people to walk away feeling understood, cared about, and armed with a plan to minimize any hurt feelings going forward. Stop trying to defend yourself from getting blamed, stop trying to prove why you’re right, and start trying to create true understanding between yourselves.

8.

Learn to empathize even when you disagree.

Couples don’t need to agree about everything. If your girlfriend comes to you with a complaint that makes absolutely no sense to you, you should not proceed to try to prove to her why her complaint makes no sense. You are different people; you don’t need to see things the same way. Instead, make it your goal to get in her shoes and understand why she sees things the way that she does. Even if you would not feel the same way if the roles were reversed, familiarize yourself with her train of thought and why it’s producing the feelings it’s producing. Once you can understand the root cause of someone’s emotions, you can then figure out how to make changes to your behavior to avoid hurting them going forward—as their boyfriend, that is the ultimate goal.

9.

Be affectionate in your day-to-day life.

Kiss them on the forehead. Swoop in and hug them from behind while they’re cooking. Send them a text that lets them know you’re thinking about them even when you’re not together. Be romantic so they feel loved and desired.

10.

Be affectionate even when you’re around others.

Most people behave a little differently depending on who they’re with, and in particular, people can sometimes behave differently when they’re in public or with a group of friends than they do when they’re one-on-one with their partner. But if your boyfriend is highly affectionate with you at home but more distant when you’re with others, that discrepancy can feel a little like rejection—or like he’s trying to downplay the relationship to other people. So, be affectionate with your partner no matter who’s around so they know your love isn’t limited to behind closed doors.

How to Be a Good Boyfriend 10 Tips for a Healthy Relationship

How to Be a Good Boyfriend 10 Tips for a Healthy Relationship – Relationships of any kind are complex and require ongoing work. To be a good boyfriend, it’s important to put in the work to unpack what it takes to be in a committed relationship. This work becomes the most rewarding when you are in a space where you can work together with your partner.

Being a good partner (whether boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse) requires a lot of humility and vulnerability as you challenge yourself and work on your blind spots. These tips can help anyone wanting to be a better partner. It’s crucial to have patience with yourself and recognize that blaming others or having them carry your issues won’t work long-term. Being a better boyfriend means that you and your partner are on the same team, and thus you treat them as such. They don’t teach us how to be a boyfriend, as they can apply to any partner in a relationship, be it a girlfriend, wife, or husband.

Some essential skills these tips will give you in your own life include:

  • Knowing how to build a healthy relationship
  • Ability to address signs of emotional neglect
  • Avoid toxic relationships and abusive relationships
  • Identify codependent relationship

10 Ways to Be a Better Boyfriend

Here are 10 tips on how to be a good boyfriend:

1. Listen to Your Partner

It can be easy to think you are listening but comprehending and digesting what your partner shares make your conversations much more meaningful. Consider your partner’s words and perspectives as a chance for you to learn more about them. Take every opportunity to remember and know what they mean so you can reference them later. Listening to your partner helps them know you genuinely want to know what they have to say and are actively considering their perspective. It improves emotional intimacy and trust.

2. Connect Daily

It can be easy to get lost in the grind of the day-to-day work that we forget to check in with our partners. If we know they are going through something big, it’s important to give them the chance to share their thoughts even if it seems like they are doing fine. You and your partner deserve love from a place of concern and support. Knowing that you remember important things in their life will improve your emotional intimacy and make it easier for them to come to you for help.

3. Practice Non-Verbal Communication

Much of our communication is non-verbal, and it can be hard for your partner when you are physically distant. Sometimes this is beyond your control as we all have responsibilities that will call for physical distance; however, being physically present with your partner is essential.

Some examples of non-verbal communication include:

  • Holding their hand
  • Sitting close to them
  • Looking at them in the eyes
  • Gentle touches

These small gestures show you are present and provide a sense of safety. It can also be validating and reassuring, so pay attention to your non-verbal communication.

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How to Be a Good Boyfriend 10 Tips for a Healthy Relationship

4. Understand Attachment Styles

Attachment styles are essential to consider when you are in a relationship. Your partner may have a different attachment style that conflicts with yours; if that is the case, what works for you may not work for them. Taking time to learn about yours and their attachment styles can give you new ways to connect in more meaningful ways for both of you.

5. Learn Each Other’s Love Language

Understanding love languages teach us how we need to be loved, but sometimes our love language may not be what our partner needs. It’s not fair to assume your partner knows your love language, so expecting that they should know when you have never shared it with them is a recipe for pain.

6. Respect Their Mental Health

Understanding your partner’s mental health issues is a love language we should practice more often. It is the most profound way of truly understanding who your person is and their story. It can be hard to know if the experiences that shaped us were indeed the same, but the emotions felt can be universal, such as pain, grief, and hardship. It’s crucial that when dating someone with depression or dating someone with anxiety, you must be mindful of how their mental illness impacts them and learn the proper ways to communicate when they have symptoms.

7. Show Empathy

Being empathetic is a skill that takes time to develop. Empathy doesn’t mean that you try to point out your partner’s gaps in understanding, as this can be very invalidating. It doesn’t mean you play devil’s advocate because it’s not a time to challenge your partner. Empathy means creating a space of emotional safety for your partner to experience their emotions and receive support–no feedback, no advice, no solutions.

8. Offer Validation

Even if you don’t understand or agree, validation’s purpose is to confirm that their perspective is correct because it’s real for them. We all need to be seen and heard, and confirmation from your partner can go a long way. As a boyfriend, it’s paramount to know that you influence your partner’s well-being and that what you say matters. Understanding this and depersonalizing the act of validation is critical because your partner is separate from you and will likely have different perspectives.

9. Fight Fair

Fights will happen, and a lack of conflicts doesn’t mean your relationship is healthier than with arguments. It’s in how we handle our disputes and how we manage to repair our relationship once a disagreement happens. Suppose one partner hits below the belt while the other tries to de-escalate. In that case, it will only make it more challenging to navigate the discussion to a solution.

Some crucial tips for being a fair boyfriend in a fight include:

  • Recognize your limits in a fight
  • Develop fair fighting rules
  • Learn how to deal with relationship conflict

10. Structure Your Conversations

Having rules around when and where a difficult conversation will occur can be constructive. It gives both partners a chance to calm themselves if they are nervous, and gives them the time to think about their response, so one isn’t surprised or blinded. It levels the playing field by having structured conversations that involve thoughtfully planned responses and respect for each other’s time.

9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Relationship Strong and Healthy

9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Relationship Strong and Healthy – It is no secret that it takes more than just love to keep a marriage strong and healthy. Obviously strong feelings for each other is a necessity, but with the many responsibilities of life, fitting in quality time with your significant other can definitely take a backseat.

Luckily there are countless ways to give your relationship the care and attention it needs to last. Best of all, a lot of them don’t require a huge change in your daily schedule or a lot of money.

1. Greet each other when you come home

First things first, say “hello”. This may sound like a cliché, but making sure that you greet your spouse when they come home is important. It lets your partner know that you are happy to see them and often translates to “I missed you.”

Let’s face it, it can be pretty disappointing when you show up to an event and no one greets you or seems to care that you’ve even arrived. The same goes for when your spouse gets home, so don’t forget to greet them with a loving “hello” followed by a sweet kiss! Even just spending a few minutes doing some daily activities greatly increases your relationship’s happiness.

2. Schedule a weekly check-in

Running your children around from doctors’ appointments to practices to school and back often seems to have no end. We live in a time of constant “go, go, go,” which is why it’s important to schedule in weekly check-ins with your spouse. Sure, a weekly meeting may not sound like the most romantic thing in the world. But pour yourselves a glass of wine once the kids are asleep or meet for coffee during your lunch break.

There are plenty of ways you can take 30 minutes each week to just check in. This is a time for you to discuss things that happened that week or make decisions about the week ahead. A time to share how you are doing. If you feel like you have nothing to talk about, we’ve created a list of 25 conversation starters that are sure to get the conversation flowing.

3. Don’t forget to date your spouse

Just because you are married doesn’t mean you can’t also be dating, right? In fact, it is because you are married that you should be dating. It is easy to be caught in the hamster wheel of wake up, grab a cup of coffee, kiss, run out the door, dinner with the kids, pass out, and repeat. It is also easy for your relationship to grow very tired because of this.

Schedule one night each week that is your night with your hubby, just the two of you. Go to a nice restaurant, see a movie you both want to see, go for ice cream in the summer months. There are countless opportunities to have a fun, romantic date night that you both deserve.

4. Share your daily highs and lows

Written in your wedding vows somewhere was probably something along the lines of “for better and for worse.” Well, when it comes to your relationship, it is important to share the “better and worse” daily. Make it a fun dinner-time tradition to share a high point and a low point of each day. This can even be something that the kids take part in, as well! Sharing one high and one low each day is a wonderful way to maintain healthy communication between you and your partner.

5. Find something you appreciate about your spouse every day

This one is very easy because it is something that can be both said or kept to yourself. Try and think of at least one thing that you like about your spouse daily. Better yet, tell them! If your spouse brings you coffee in bed, tell them how much you appreciate that. When he or she takes the kids to basketball practice after work, let them know how much that means to you.

9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Relationship Strong and Healthy

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There is no better form of encouragement than being told by your spouse how much they appreciate the little things you do. And reminding yourself of the awesome things your partner does for you will certainly help you out in those moments when he is getting on your nerves a bit more than usual.

6. Tell your partner often why you love them

The initial stages of a relationship are filled with butterflies and constant verbal affection. The problem is, as time goes on, those butterflies tend to fly away and so do the “I love you because…” soliloquies. Of course it is normal to not be as “lovey dovey” as when you first met, but don’t forsake all verbal affection.

Tell your partner you love them often, but don’t stop there! Tell them why you love them. Whether it be for taking the kids to the mall when you clearly need some relaxation time, bringing you flowers one random evening, or simply for being him. Whatever it may be, say it loud and say it proud!

7. Look each other in the eyes

We all grew up with our parents reminding us to look people in the eyes when we speak to them. Mom and dad may have been on to something, because eye contact is just as important in marriage as it was when we were kids! Whether you are out with friends or speaking to your kids, it can be both rude and frustrating to have the person you are talking to checking their phone or looking around the room as you speak. It gives off the impression that the other person is disinterested or simply doesn’t care what you have to say. The same goes for when you and your partner are speaking.

Actions speak louder than words. Instead of saying “I’m listening”, show your partner you are listening by looking him in the eyes and eliminating other distractions when you are having a conversation.

8. Spend time together without technology

Speaking of making eye contact, eliminating technology every now and then is a great way to give your significant other your full attention. There is no denying how distracting technology can be, so make sure that you and your spouse are spending some time without it. Make a no cell phone rule for date night or leave the electronics in the other room during your morning coffee together.

Spending time together without the imposing distraction of technology allows you and your spouse to give each other the attention and consideration that you both deserve.

9. Small acts of physical affection go a long way

Marriage doesn’t automatically equate to no flirting. A simple brush of the hands or a kiss as you and your spouse pass by each other is all it takes to keep the spark from burning out. A little romance and day-to-day physical affection can truly be the cherry on top of a healthy relationship built upon good communication and trust.

Hold hands in public, hug your husband or wife from behind when they are making their breakfast, give him or her a loving peck as they read the paper. However big or small the gesture may be, regular physical affection has a major impact on a happy relationship.

5 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Relationship in Marriage

5 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Relationship in Marriage – We all want to have a happy, loving and healthy relationship in our marriage that lasts for a lifetime. However, this is not always the case. As many of us struggle with our spouses, fairytale relationships often go sour.

Once we settle into our marriage, we may take our spouse for granted. Such behavior can lead to a downward spiral if we don’t take action to change things.

Here are a few ways to maintain a healthy relationship and keep your marriage intact forever.

Be Attentive

Pay attention to your spouse’s needs and feelings. If you continue to watch TV after your spouse asks you to help with dinner, they will feel ignored. If they ask you to stop and pick up milk on the way home from work, and you arrive without milk, they will feel what they had to say was not important because you did not listen.

Although these things may seem insignificant to you, your spouse may interpret them as signs that you don’t care. Be attentive to their needs, desires, and requests.

Simple actions like asking if they need help preparing dinner can mean a lot—call or text before leaving work to see if there is anything they need. Your attentiveness will not go unnoticed.

Be a Good Listener

People often get frustrated when they feel their spouse does not listen to them. You may say you hear when you are not listening at all? There is a difference. As you text friends and play games while your spouse speaks, it’s no wonder why they think you are not listening and, of course, don’t care. Put the phone down and listen. Good communication is one of the foundations of a healthy, happy relationship.

Intimacy and Romance

Although sex is a healthy part of a relationship, it is not the only way to maintain intimacy. A common complaint in many relationships is the lack of romance, although the sex is satisfying. Intimacy is a way for spouses to be close both physically and emotionally.

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5 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Relationship in Marriage

There are many ways to be intimate such as a romantic moonlit walk on the beach. However, you don’t have to have a beach nearby. A night at home watching a movie, cuddling on the sofa or in a hot tub can be intimate and romantic. Any intimate setting where the two of you can spend alone time together can bring you closer. Engaging in activities that your spouse enjoys will let them know that you care about what is important to them. It also shows that you enjoy spending time alone together.

Random Acts of Kindness

Simple acts of kindness can brighten your spouse’s day and show how much you love them. For example, text and say, “I love you.” Send flowers for no reason. Prepare a romantic candlelight dinner. Write a poem or romantic note and leave it where they will find it. Be creative and do things that will make them happy. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, as long as it is meaningful.

Always Be Kind

There are disagreements in even the best relationships. Everyone has a bad day now and then. Perhaps you had a hard time at work. Maybe you’re just tired or not feeling well. During these times, emotions may flare easily. If an argument erupts between the two of you, think before speaking. We often say things we don’t mean during a disagreement. However, those words can have a long-lasting impact.

Hurtful words can cut your spouse deeply. Don’t say things you will be sorry for later. Before you say anything that may hurt, take a deep breath, and consider your words. You can disagree without saying things that you will regret.

Listen to your spouse’s view and then express your own opinion calmly. Learn to compromise when there is a disagreement. You can usually find an amicable solution if you are willing to listen and compromise.

Good relationships have a foundation of love, respect, and trust. Show your spouse respect. Be a good communicator. Be supportive of their goals, desires, and endeavors. Work together instead of against each other. After all, a beautiful and long-lasting relationship is a friendship and partnership. So, show your spouse that you support them in every area. If you are attentive, loving, and supportive, you are on the road to a healthy, happy, and everlasting relationship.

How to Make Love Last Forever

How to Make Love Last Forever – Keeping your primary relationship healthy, positive, supportive and together isn’t easy. But it can be done.

“We expect a lot from our relationships, and the fact is, long-term marriages or relationships are difficult to sustain, given the pressures most of us live with,” says Sue Maisch, L.S.W., a family and child counselor in Glenwood Springs, Colo. “To make it work, couples need the maturity to realize a long-lasting relationship will entail sacrifice, commitment and hard work, but that the payoff of a deeper love and stable, loving home life is well worth the effort.”

Here are suggestions on how to strengthen the connection with your partner.

Practice forgiveness

Resentment, anger and blame are normal reactions when your loved one does something hurtful. Without forgiveness, however, little hurts as well as betrayals can tear a relationship apart.

“People who don’t forgive often have problems maintaining positive feelings toward their partners,” says Ms. Maisch. “But partners who move toward forgiveness are better able to maintain their connection because they make a conscious decision not to dwell on the mistakes their partner has made.”

Be realistic

Every long-term relationship will have its share of disappointments. But learning to look beyond a particular bad patch to see your partner objectively and lovingly can pull you through.

“Remembering and nourishing memories of happy times you’ve had together can help you get past irritation and those times when you’re wondering if you want to stay in the relationship,” says Ms. Maisch.

Develop rituals

The way you and your partner say good-bye or hello, or how you celebrate birthdays or anniversaries year after year can help build a strong connection that can keep you emotionally committed during times of conflict.

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How to Make Love Last Forever

For example, taking time to kiss your partner good-bye every morning when you leave for work — no matter how late or distracted you are — tells him or her that in the grand scheme of things your relationship is a high priority.

Listen actively

“Jumping in and interrupting when your partner is trying to tell you something can make him or her frustrated or discouraged,” says Ms. Maisch. “It’s crucial to listen more than you speak when you’re having a serious discussion.”

Be honest

Secrets and lies weaken the foundation of any relationship. Ignoring problems (another form of keeping secrets) doesn’t make them go away. What is important is respectful, open communication regarding your feelings and dreams.

Fight fair

Even the truest of friends and most compatible partners argue. To keep your disagreements from damaging your relationship, set up some respectful ground rules during a calm moment.

These might include no name-calling or criticizing, making sure each person gets to have a say, really listening to each other and taking a break from the discussion if it gets too heated, as long as you promise to revisit the issues within a day or two.

Get help if you’re stuck

If you and your partner keep having the same arguments with no progress in sight, seek help from a therapist or marriage counselor.

“Above all don’t wait until your connection has been seriously damaged before you get help,” says Ms. Maisch. “Get counseling before one or both of you become entrenched in negative emotions.”

What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?

What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? – Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other’s independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions. If or when a relationship ends, there is no stalking or refusal to let the other partner go.

Characteristics of Healthy Relationships

  • Respect for privacy and space. You don’t have to be with your partner 24/7.
  • Your partner encourages you to spend time with friends without them, and to participate in activities that you enjoy.
  • You feel comfortable expressing your opinions and concerns to your partner.
  • Your feel physically safe and your partner doesn’t force you to have sex or to do things that make you feel uncomfortable.
  • Your partner respects your wishes and feelings and you can compromise and negotiate when there are disagreements or conflicts.

The foundation of a healthy relationship includes:

  • Boundaries: You and your partner are able to find ways to meet each other’s’ needs in ways that you both feel comfortable with.
  • Communication: You and your partner can share your feelings, even when you don’t agree, in a way that makes the other person feel safe, heard, and not judged.
  • Trust: Building trust can take time and allows couples to be vulnerable with one another knowing that they can rely on the other person.
  • Consent: Most commonly used when you’re being sexually active, giving consent means that you are okay with what is happening, and that no one is forcing you or guilting you into doing anything that you don’t want to do. Consent can be given and taken back at any time, and giving consent once does not mean you automatically give consent in the future.

See how these things go hand in hand by exploring the other sections to your left.

Please keep in mind that in some abusive relationships, trying to enforce boundaries, honest communication, trust, and other healthy behaviors could put your safety at risk. Remember, abuse is about power and control and someone who is abusive might not want to give up their control over you.

Be careful. If you feel like someone is disrespecting you or is being abusive, check out the “Get Help” section. You’re not alone.

Boundaries

Communication

50 Best Relationship Quotes and Sweetest Couple Quotes That’ll Make Your Heart Flutter

50 Best Relationship Quotes and Sweetest Couple Quotes That’ll Make Your Heart Flutter – Nothing beats that beautiful feeling of being in a loving relationship or even a new relationship that has lots of potential. And while those feelings are somewhat indescribable, the best relationship quotes and cute couple quotes attempt to capture some of that magic.

Whether you’re in a new relationship or are a long-time couple, you’ll resonate with these quotes about relationships. From sweet couple quotes to share with your partner to inspiring new relationship quotes, this giant list of 150 of the best relationship quotes and couples quotes is guaranteed to make your heart flutter.

Cute Couple Quotes About Relationships

1. “All of me loves all of you.” — Jonn Legend

2. “I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is the way you move against me while you sleep and there are no words for that.” — Brian Andreas

3. “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” — Audrey Hepburn

4. “You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought.” – Arthur Conan Doyle

5. “I’d rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you.” – Pocahantas

6. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao-Tzu

7. “Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life.” – Richard Bach

8. “Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive.” – Unknown

9. “My love for you is past the mind, beyond my heart, and into my soul.” – Boris Kodjoe

10. “I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.” — J.R.R. Tolkien, “Lord of The Rings”

11. “We were together even when we were apart.” – Shannon A. Thompson

12. “We loved with a love that was more than love.” – Edgar Allan Poe

3. “Love: Two minds without a single thought.” – Philip Barry

14. “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss

15. “You’re my reflection, all I see is you.” – Justin Timberlake

16. “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle

17. “I love you much (most beautiful darling) more than anyone on the earth and I like you better than everything in the sky.” – E.E. Cummings

18. “I could watch you for a single minute and find a thousand things that I love about you.” — Unknown

19. “I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there’s a life after that, I’ll love you then.” – Cassandra Clare

50 Best Relationship Quotes and Sweetest Couple Quotes That'll Make Your Heart Flutter

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20. “I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, every day we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours.” – Nicholas Sparks

21. “If I know what love is, it is because of you.” — Herman Hesse

22. “I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” — Angelita Lim

23. “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love … I love … I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” – Pride and Prejudice

24. “Once I knew you I never wanted to know anyone else.” — Leo Christopher

25. “If I lost you I would cry, oh how I love you baby.” – Ike and Tina Turner

26. “Being married is like having somebody permanently in your corner. It feels limitless, not limited.” — Gloria Steinem

27. “A relationship where you can be weird together is your best choice.” — Paulo Coelho

28. “Some think love can be measured by the amount of butterflies in their tummy. Others think love can be measured in bunches of flowers, or by using the words ‘for ever.’ But love can only truly be measured by actions. It can be a small thing, such as peeling an orange for a person you love because you know they don’t like doing it.” — Marian Keyes

29. “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” — Oprah Winfrey

30. “When someone loves you, the way they talk about you is different. You feel safe and comfortable.” — The Intern

31. “There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” — Mahatma Gandhi

32. “Love is a game that two can play and both win.” — Eva Gabor

33. “Your hand touching mine. This is how galaxies collide.” ― Sanober Khan

34. “A successful relationship requires falling in love multiple times, but always with the same person.” — Unknown

35. “Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”— Swedish Proverb

36. “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust

37. “To love is easy, to be in a relationship is extremely difficult.” — Santosh Kalwar

38. “You deserve someone who is terrified to lose you.” – R.H.Sin

39. “Fall in love with someone who makes you glad to be different.” – Sue Zhao

40. “Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.” — Emily Kimbrough

Best Relationship Quotes

41. “Happily ever after is not a fairy tale. It’s a choice.” — Fawn Weaver

42. “In the end, there doesn’t have to be anyone who understands you. There just has to be someone who wants to.” – Robert Breault

43. “Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” — Ann Landers

44. “Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr

45. “Far too many people are looking for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.” – Gloria Steinem

46. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind/And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” — William Shakespeare

47. “The person you’re meant to be with will never have to be chased, begged or given an ultimatum.” – Mandy Hale

48. “We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.” — Cornel West

49. “Never love anybody that treats you like you’re ordinary.” — Oscar Wilde

50. “Never love something so much that you can’t let go of it.” — Ginni Rometty

Meaningful Relationship Quotes That’ll Give You All the Feels

Meaningful Relationship Quotes That’ll Give You All the Feels – Throughout your life, relationships will come and go. There will be life-changing romances and meaningful friendships that last a lifetime. Of course, there will also be toxic situations, painful breakups, and grief after you fall out of touch with a friend. These relationships teach you more about yourself and about powerful, sometimes elusive, love. Relationship quotes can help you navigate these complex emotions and put into words how much a person means to you, whether you are dating someone new, looking for a sweet love message to celebrate a milestone anniversary, or searching for a way to tell a close friend, “I miss you.”

No one said relationships are easy. You may feel nervous energy around a new person you have big feelings for. Your relationship may have just become long-distance and you are struggling to find ways to tell your significant other that you are thinking of them. Or maybe you are looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day quote that encapsulates all you and your partner have been through and learned throughout the years (or even decades). That’s where the best relationships quotes come in, to help you say the things you want to say but don’t have the words for, as well as express your love in new and profound ways.

These relationship quotes are words to turn back to when you meet a new flame or are looking for sage advice about love. Let the words of poets, authors, philosophers, and actors help you feel seen, heard, comforted, and, most importantly, less alone.

Strong Relationship Quotes

  1. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” — Paulo Coelho
  2. “We loved with a love that was more than love.” — Edgar Allen Poe
  3. “You can talk with someone for years, everyday, and still, it won’t mean as much as what you can have when you sit in front of someone, not saying a word, yet you feel that person with your heart, you feel like you have known the person for forever.” — C. JoyBell C.
  4. “A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself — to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart.” — Leo F. Buscaglia
  5. “Love that stammers, that stutters, is apt to be the love that loves best.” — Gabriela Mistral
  6. “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” — Pablo Neruda
  7. “We cannot really love anyone with whom we never laugh.” — Agnes Repplier
  8. “It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is.” — Hermann Hesse
  9. “Be honest, brutally honest. That is what’s going to maintain relationships.” — Lauryn Hill
  10. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu
  11. “There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.” — Martin Luther
  12. “The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.” — Henny Youngman
  13. “I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there’s a life after that, I’ll love you then.” — Cassandra Clare

Meaningful Relationship Quotes That'll Give You All the Feels

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Meaningful Relationship Quotes

  1. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
  2. “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” — Carl Gustav Jung
  3. “The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.” — Ernest Hemingway
  4. “To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow — this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
  5. “To say that one waits a lifetime for his soulmate to come around is a paradox. People eventually get sick of waiting, take a chance on someone, and by the art of commitment become soulmates, which takes a lifetime to perfect.” — Criss Jami
  6. “I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.” — Alice Walker
  7. “The love expressed between women is particular and powerful because we have had to love in order to live; love has been our survival.” — Audre Lorde
  8. “Perhaps we are in this world to search for love, find it and lose it, again and again. With each love, we are born anew, and with each love that ends, we collect a new wound. I am covered with proud scars.” — Isabel Allende
  9. “Love is the absence of judgment.” — The 14th Dalai Lama
  10. “You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you.” — Bob Marley
  11. “Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.” — Bob Marley
  12. “I don’t need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.” — Shirley MacLaine
  13. “Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better.” — William Shakespeare
  14. “We can improve our relationships with others by leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead of critics.” — Joyce Meyer
  15. “Learn to be quiet enough to hear the genuine in yourself, so that you can hear it in others.”— Marian Wright Edelman
  16. “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any Happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”— Alice Walker
  17. “Once we recognize what it is we are feeling, once we recognize we can feel deeply, love deeply, can feel joy, then we will demand that all parts of our lives produce that kind of joy.”— Audre Lorde
  18. “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” — Oprah Winfrey
  19. “You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” — Nina Simone
  20. “Love is an endless act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is me giving up the right to hurt you for hurting me.“ — Beyoncé
  21. “When you take care of yourself, you’re a better person for others. When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.” — Solange
  22. “Fall in love with someone who makes you glad to be different.” — Sue Zhao
  23. “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” — Bryant H. McGill
  24. “Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo
  25. “The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing.”
  26. “People should fall in love with their eyes closed.” — Andy Warhol
  27. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” — Natalie Cole
  28. “You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.” — Jodi Picoult
  29. “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” — Victor Hugo
  30. “The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love.” — Henry Miller
  31. “I have decided to stick to love; hate is too great a burden to bear.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
  32. “The giving of love is an education in itself.” — Eleanor Roosevelt