16 Simple Habits That Help Couples Stay Happy and In Love
Have you ever wondered what makes love last in a relationship? Happy couples know that it’s the little habits they build together that keep them close. Things like talking openly, spending time together on date nights, and showing small acts of kindness can keep the spark alive. Being supportive during hard times and appreciating each other every day also helps their bond grow stronger. Here are habits that happy couples follow to keep their love strong and lasting.
Prioritize Each Other
In lasting relationships, partners make each other a top priority. They show they care by putting in the effort and attention to make their partner feel truly valued and loved. Prioritizing each other means carving out time together, even when life gets busy. This commitment helps build a deep, emotional connection that keeps the relationship strong.
Monthly Meetings
Sometimes, when things are off, we avoid talking about it, not because we don’t want to, but because we never seem to find the right moment. The solution? Monthly meetings! Choose a new café every week and spend an hour discussing whether any problem needs to be addressed.
Learning Together
Happy couples often learn together. By this, we don’t mean learning in the sense of ‘growing’—even though they do that, too—but learning a new skill. For instance, they can take dancing lessons together, join a cooking course, or start volunteering with a local organization.
Laugh
We often fall in love with people who make us laugh, but after years together, this habit becomes rarer and rarer. Never underestimate the power that a good laugh can have on your mood. Why not go to see a stand-up comedian together? Or just start to be silly with each other again.
Support Each Other
Happy couples also support each other when no one else does. For instance, while all your partner’s friends may be skeptical about his decision to quit smoking, you should support and motivate him daily. This applies to everything. Whether your partner says he wants to go back to study, change his career, or become a scuba-diving instructor!
Talk About Everything
Hiding emotions may seem like a good solution in some cases, but it is never a good option in the long term. If you don’t like what your partner did, simply tell them. Otherwise, how can he fix his behavior? There is no space for ‘you should know why I’m angry’ in healthy relationships.
Healthy Communication
But communication alone is not enough. Happy couples know how to communicate effectively, especially when disagreeing. Respect should always be at the base of your relationship. So, no yelling, no accusing, and no assumptions. Make sure to keep calm, and if you end up losing control during a fight, apologize afterward.
Giving Each Other Space
True love is also about giving each other space. Some co-dependency may be normal initially, but after months together, you need to reclaim your independence. Remember, you can be happy in a relationship only if you’re happy when you’re alone, too. Your partner should not be the only reason for your joy.
Celebrations
Happy couples also like to celebrate small and big achievements together. Did one of you just get a promotion? Did you just finish your tango classes? Did one of you receive a certification for finishing an online course? Put on a nice dress, choose a fancy restaurant, and go out to celebrate!
Little Surprises
Giving each other for granted is so easy after years together. Happy couples know this and try to avoid it. How? With little surprises. A bouquet of flowers, an unexpected getaway trip, a home-made dinner—we assure you all these things won’t go unnoticed.
Express Appreciation
Again, this is connected with the habit of taking each other for granted. Just because your husband does the dishes every night doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show appreciation for his hard work. Always say ‘thank you’ and try to leave little appreciation notes throughout the house for your partner to find.
Willingness To Fix What Doesn’t Work
No matter how happy you are with your relationship, some things will always be off. The difference between successful and unsuccessful couples can be seen in their willingness to address these issues and find solutions together, whether this means reaching a compromise or seeing a therapist.
Talk About The Future
Talking about the future is another great sign of strength and happiness. While it’s natural at the beginning of a relationship, this habit often dies out after years together. Remember that just because you now have a house and a kid doesn’t mean you should stop discussing the future.
Saying ‘I Love You’
Some people wrongly believe that saying ‘I love you’ too often will diminish the powerful meaning of these words. We think otherwise. If you love your partner, remind him as often as possible. You can never oversay the words ‘I love you’ if you truly mean what you say.
They Respect Boundaries
In a happy relationship, it’s important to respect each other’s boundaries. This means understanding when your partner needs some personal space, time for their hobbies, or just a break. By honoring each other’s emotional needs and preferences, you create a healthy balance that keeps the relationship strong and full of mutual respect. It’s one of the keys to staying happy together for the long haul.
Put In The Effort
No pain, no gain, right? In life, as in love, you must put in the effort to see your relationship flourish. There surely will be downs as well as periods in which you will think there is no point as you are not made for each other. However, if you keep running away at the first difficulty, you will never be able to get that ‘happy ever after.’
More For You
One of the best ways to strengthen your relationship is through traveling. It allows you to spend time together, enjoy activities, and make unforgettable memories. While there are many places you can go to, you should plan to see French Riveria with your better half.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
