Couples Share Their Best Tips For Staying Together Through Tough Times

1. Listen To Each Others Points During Disagreements

Image Source / Relationship Services

During a tough period in a relationship, the key is to both feel like your points are being registered by the other. Being a pair of ears to your partner when they need to get something off their chest allows them to feel lighter and you to help identify a problem and solution to work through together.

2. Set Boundaries

Image Source / Mom Junction

Setting boundaries in your relationship can allow you and your partner to be on the same page and aware of what each other want and need in a relationship. Setting boundaries can be scary but is an essential part of a smoother running relationship.

3. Reminisce On The Good Times

Image Source / Hearthside Senior Living

When times get tough, it is important to remember the good times and why you fell in love in the first place. Reminiscing on happy times can reignite a missing spark and can encourage you and your partner to create new memories to look back on in the future.

4. Increase Time Spent Together

Image Source / iStock

Increasing the time spent with your partner can remind you of how much you enjoy their company. This also is guaranteed to make your partner feel more special and wanted by you. You can use the time to get to know one another better, or talk about things that may be on your mind.

5. Honesty Is The Best Policy

Image Source / Psychalive

Bottling things up when it comes to your relationship can make a small issue into a big one, so it is vital to be honest with your partner under all circumstances. Without honesty, problems cannot be solved and growth cannot occur. Your partner isn’t a mind reader, so talk!

6. Work On Your Friendship

Image Source / Medium

Above all, the person you share your life with should also be your best friend; when your relationship gets tough, strip it back and work on this aspect of it. Friendship in a relationship and/or marriage is known to build intimacy in both an emotional and physical sense.

7. Schedule Frequent Date Nights

Image Source / Women’s Health

Frequent date nights have been scientifically proven to increase happiness in both relationships and marriages. Positive effects such as commitment, communication, and understanding are all associated with designated time with a partner, so it may ease a rough patch.

8. Be Spontaneous

Image Source / The Knot

Spontaneity in any form will boost excitement in a relationship. Little surprises such as a small gift, a surprise visit or a spontaneous trip out is guaranteed to add a new layer to a relationship. Throwing out the usual, mundane menu, everyday routine once in a while can bring you and your partner closer together

9. Be Reminded Of The Love That You Share

Image Source / Bridge To Recovery

Love conquers all, so when times are tough in your relationship, just remember how much love you have for your partner. Reminding yourselves of the love you share makes for a closer bond, an improved sex life and reduces the stress of everyday life. Stripping a relationship back to basics and focusing on what’s important is vital when things get too much.

10. Don’t Go To Sleep During An Argument

Image Source / Better Sleep Council

Taking your relationship troubles to bed with you can allow the frustration, anger or tension between two people to build overnight. This makes the situation become much bigger than it initially was, making it much harder to solve. Sleeping on negative emotions makes them harder to forget in the long term, but sometimes  sleep is all you need to release tension.

11. Keep In Touch When Apart

Image Source / Westend61

Being apart from each other means you need to make a little extra effort to make your partner feel safe, loved, and wanted. Frequent texts and calls are easy and are a great way to stay connected; when a rough patch creeps up on you and your partner, showing them that your thinking of them throughout the day is essential.

12. Respect Each Others Differences

Image Source / Verywell Mind

No two people are the same, and no matter how connected you feel with your partner, there will always be differences between the two of you. Respecting the differences between yourself and your partner allows you to learn and be in touch with the way they work, ensuring a smoother sailing relationship.

13. Communication Is Key

Image Source / Health Line

Communicating your needs in all aspects of your relationship is vital whether that be your sex life or emotional needs . Telling your partner what you want/need from them and visa versa and taking in that information allows both parties to feel fully fulfilled in their relationship.

14. Don’t Play The Blame Game

Image Source / Personal Excellence

Blaming one another for the strain on a relationship will only cause further disruption and feed between the both of you. Chronic blaming can be a form of emotional abuse and can leave the blamee gaining low self esteem if blamed too much for things out of their control. Taking responsibility of your actions and approaching situations differently will make problem solving much easier.

15. If It Doesn’t Kill You, It Will Make You Stronger

Image Source / Unsplash

As Kelly Clarkson once said, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ and that is the mindset that should come with tough times in relationships. When things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows, it doesn’t last; when you come out of the other side, a new lesson will have been learnt which furthers the strength of a relationship.

16. Be Punctual

Image Source / Best Life

When creating plans with your partner, the little things have a huge impact. Small aspects like being on time for meeting your partner make a massive impact on their self esteem. Being on time for your partner will not only increase time spent together, but will make your partner feel wanted by you, thus creating a more positive environment.

17. Practice Patience

Image Source / Verv

Patience is important in a relationship as it ensures each other feel wanted regardless of any ‘bad qualities’ they may possess. Being patient in a relationship allows room for growth, and for things to run more seamlessly. Acting out patience in your relationship will translate into other areas of your life.

18. Give Each Other Space

Image Source / MeetMindful

Being in a relationship can mean most of your time surrounds another person. It is important to take time out for yourself to do the things you enjoy. Taking a step back from your relationship to have alone time allows you to reflect on your relationship and miss the other person. After all, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

19. Make Your Partner A Priority

Image Source / Forbes

Being in a healthy relationship means that your and your partner are equals; making them a priority means that their needs are as important as your own. Your well being, needs and desires taking priority over other things to your partner is vital so you feel secure and safe with that person.

20. Have Trust

Image Source / Love Panky

Establishing trust in a relationship acts as a safety net in your relationship. The increased closeness that trust brings allows a couple to feel fully safe with one another. This is an essential building blocks of relationships and is vital in solving any rough patches you may experience with your partner.

21. Show Appreciation For One Another

Image Source / Anne Cohen Writes

Showing appreciation for others spreads positive energy, and encourages others to do their best. This translate to relationships; couples who actively make their partner feel appreciated will create a more positive, safe environment which makes conflicts more easy to resolve.

22. Spend Time With Others

Image Source / Vulture

Removing yourself from your relationship temporarily to spend time with friends is very important as friends are vital in having a healthy, happy life. Added energy from your friends can be brought back into your relationship and can uplift time with your partner. If a relationship is suffering a rough patch, having an outside perspective in a friend can help bring clarity to a situation and allows you to make a more well rounded decision.

23. Choose Forgiveness

Image Source / Yale News

Forgiving your partner for their wrong-doings can be viewed as weak in our society; however, it is vital in a relationship when small conflicts occur as it allows relationships to develop and shows strength and dedication to your partnership. Letting go and forgiving can also positively impact your physical and psychological health.

24. Provide A Safe Space For Your Partner

Image Source / Jessica Baum

Providing a safe environment for your partner is crucial for when you hit a rough patch. A safe space will make you and your partner more likely to feel comfortable discussing tough topics. Being an active listener, respecting your partner’s boundaries, and creating a judgement free zone are all ways to develop a safe environment in your relationship.

25. Make Time For Intimacy

Image Source / Vita Nova Counselling

Sex is a huge aspect of a relationship, talking about what your partner wants and needs in their sex life is vital to satisfy both parties. Sex helps develop a more positive self image, and creates a closer bond between you and your partner so setting time out to be intimate is very important.

26. Consider Counselling

Image Source / Psych Central

Couples therapy is not a sign of a failing relationship; being able to calmly discuss your problems with a professional, outside perspective allows a couple to work through their problems more rationally which will help resolve them quicker, and more effectively.

27. Be Open

Image Source / Wendy Miller Medium

Being open in a relationship consist of vulnerability with your partner. This can be scary if you’ve never been open with a partner before, and if you haven’t, you can by being honest with your partner and explaining exactly what you want from your relationship. This works both ways so it is also important to listen to your partners needs, and respect their vulnerability.

28. Be Positive Through Tough Times

Image Source / University Of The People

Developing a positive mindset throughout any tough time in your life wether that be in your relationship or your own personal life is proven to be valuable. Remaining positive when its hard to helps you build resilience to negative atmospheres, and can make them a little more bearable.

29. Kiss Hello And Goodbye

Image Source / Wallpaper Flare

The simple act of greeting and leaving your partner with a kiss is easy and really effective. Kissing releases oxytocin which causes feelings of attraction to your partner and attachment. When times are tough, a kiss can remind your partner of how you truly feel about them and improves the quality of a small action.

30. Ride The Wave

Image Source / The New York Times

Most importantly when obstacles occur in a relationship, you shouldn’t always have it in your mind that the situation is temporary and will pass eventually. Accepting these negative feelings and allowing them to stay their course instead of fighting them, allows the time to pass quicker and smoother thus ensuring tough times don’t overstay their welcome.