15 Healthy Relationship Habits That Will Protect Your Happiness

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Healthy relationship habits aren’t easy to establish, but they strengthen the bond between partners in the long haul. What, then, are these relationship habits? Learn more in this guide.

What comes to your mind when happy couples display affection for each other in public or on television? Do you think they already figured it out? Do you feel they are perfect and don’t have conflict? While it’s not sure what people feel about a “supposed” happy relationship, one fact remains – people think these relationships are perfect. But the real question is, are they?

Most perceived healthy couples aren’t perfect. Instead, they have discovered a way to practice healthy relationship habits. And it isn’t a walk in the park. Developing any habits isn’t child’s play. 

Maintaining important relationship habits takes time, conscious and intentional effort, discipline, and perseverance. However, they can have a significant impact, produce a happy and stable relationship, and eventually improve your overall habits.

This article will explore healthy relationship habits and how you can practice them until they become part of you.

What is the definition of a healthy relationship?

A healthy relationship is fulfilling – full of happiness, friendship, empathy, positive habits, and love. It involves individuals who are committed and intentional about themselves and the relationship. Healthy couples in healthy relationships know it is challenging to maintain a stable relationship for a long time. 

Therefore, they put their heart into it, becoming conscious of their habits. A healthy relationship’s features are effective communication, trust, honesty, responsibility, friendship, forgiveness, and support.

Grady Shumway, LMHC, says

A healthy relationship is characterized by happiness, empathy, and a strong sense of friendship and love. It thrives on commitment, intentionality, and mutual effort to maintain stability over time. Key elements include effective communication, trust, honesty, responsibility, friendship, forgiveness, and mutual support.

5 ways to keep your relationship healthy

Again, a healthy relationship isn’t easy to have, but it’s possible. All you need is determination and intentional effort to have one. Check out the following tips to help you maintain a healthy relationship and avoid unhealthy relationship habits. 

1. Effective communication

Perhaps you have heard effective communication repeatedly concerning relationship matters. The truth is you will keep hearing it because of its crucial role. Communication helps to resolve many issues. In any relationship, it’s important to make this a routine.

Effective communication means expressing your feelings freely to another person and having someone ready to listen to you. You must make communication a routine in your relationship. 

Regardless of the topic or concern, no one should be scared to discuss it with their partners. It helps you resolve issues as soon as possible. Most quarrels in some relationships are due to misunderstandings and lack of communication. Speaking your mind releases you from pent-up anger and unhealthy assumptions.

Grady Shumway adds,

Effective communication is the cornerstone of healthy relationships, facilitating understanding and resolution of issues. It involves freely expressing feelings and actively listening to your partner.

Making communication a routine ensures openness and prevents misunderstandings, fostering a stronger, more harmonious relationship.

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2. Date

Some couples assume that the dating phase ends once they get into a relationship, but it isn’t so. Dating should be a regular part of your relationship. It reminds you of why you wanted to date your partner in the first place. It shows you are each other’s priority. 

Notably, it helps to strengthen your relationship and increase your bond and sustainability in the long haul. Every happy couple goes on a regular date to unwind and have fun.

3. Create time for each other

One of the habits of making relationships stronger is the ability to set aside time for your partner. That means you value your partner and enjoy spending time together. 

Creating space for each other also helps you connect and understand each other better. When you know someone more, it’s easy to relate to them. In turn, your relationship becomes stable.

4. Be friends with your partner

Indeed, the position of a friend differs from that of a romantic partner. But you know what is better – having a friend and spouse in one person. This is one of the key habits for a happy marriage. 

Being friends with your partner is the ultimate fulfillment you need to have a healthy relationship, habits, and life. You can tell each other things freely and come up with solutions together.

5. Settle your disputes

Another way to maintain a healthy relationship is to settle disputes and fights as soon as possible. There are many benefits of fighting in a relationship. 

Disagreements are normal in any relationship. When couples don’t fight, they pretend or don’t love each other enough. Healthy couples don’t have the same personality, so they fight. However, what makes them stand strong is the ability to resolve it through understanding and communication.

15 best habits for happy relationships

Now that you know how to keep a healthy relationship, what can you do going forward? What are the happy habits for every couple out there? Knowing these habits can help you reinvent your relationship. Learn more in the subsequent paragraphs:

1. Find ways to connect

One of the healthy relationship habits you need is creating ways to connect emotionally with your partner. Many might think, “But we have a connection; we are dating.” Oh! The connection goes beyond communicating with your partner or going on dates. It is more about checking in on your partner. 

How do they feel about themselves these days? What are their thoughts these days? You can connect with your partner over any activity, including house chores, sports, driving, or before you go to bed. The goal is to know how they feel.

2. Appreciation

Relationship habits include appreciating your partner. Appreciate them for being in your life, doing the chores, paying the bills, and caring for you. 

While these duties are seen as regular, hearing that they make your partner feel good gives you joy. It shows your effort isn’t unnoticed, and you become more motivated to do more.

3. Forgive

One of the healthy relationship habits you will find worthy is forgiveness. Although the magnitude of issues sometimes determines how partners forget and move on, forgiveness is still important for strengthening relationships. Humans are prone to mistakes, and no one is perfect. 

The benefits of forgiveness are numerous. First, forgiving your partner improves your relationship. 

Research has shown that couples who forgive easily enjoy more stable and more satisfying romantic relationships. Also, they are likely to enjoy longer lives.

4. Patience

If you plan on having healthy relationship habits or ordinary relationship habits, imbibe in having patience. Patience isn’t a habit you establish in weeks or months. It takes years of practice and failure over practice and failure. 

In situations threatening your personality, it takes determination and discipline to maintain your composure. In a relationship, you will constantly face situations that might make you overreact. Being calm and relaxed and making efforts to find solutions are the best.

5. Take responsibility

“Pride goes before fall.”

A healthy, happy relationship is full of conflicts. Since you are from different backgrounds, it’s inevitable to avoid stepping on each other’s toes. 

Knowing when you are at fault and taking responsibility shows emotional maturity. It means you value your romantic relationship more than your pride or ego. Also, it tells your partner you recognize your role in their pain. 

It’s not enough to say sorry and move on; it is a shallow way of asking for forgiveness, which means you don’t respect your partner enough. Instead, aim for a more impactful way of asking for forgiveness. 

For instance, you can say, “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I was just angry and didn’t mean to hurt you.”

6. They think of each other

Another part of the habits of healthy relationships is that they constantly think of each other. Indeed, your relationship won’t maintain the spark you started with. However, there are ways to maintain your feelings for each other. 

One way is to show you think of each other by buying gifts, discussing your past dates, wearing a color or shirt your partner likes, and tagging them to social media posts that relate to them.

7. Accepting each other’s imperfections

One of the habits of healthy relationships is accepting everything about your partner. It’s one thing to know that your partner isn’t perfect; it’s another to accept them. 

Indeed, some habits are difficult to cope with, but understanding your love for this person is greater than their flaws. Meanwhile, when we talk about imperfections, we don’t mean unhealthy ones that threaten your mental health or cause physical damage.

8. Support for each other

In a world full of judgment and criticism, healthy couples should have each other’s back. This is one of the healthy habits in a relationship. 

Even if the whole world is against you, knowing someone will go all out for you is the best feeling. It encourages you to put more effort into creating a better life and good relationship habits.

9. They respect each other

Respecting your partner is to see them as independent humans capable of making their own decisions. It doesn’t matter if these decisions are right or wrong. This is one of the crucial healthy couple habits. 

Forcing your opinion down their throats, judging them, or criticizing them at every chance you get would mean you don’t value them enough.

10. Healthy couples understand each other

One of the important healthy relationship habits is that the partners try to understand each other‘s perspective. 

Couples who resolve their fights quickly don’t always agree with each other. However, they understand their partner’s point of view. If their partner doesn’t like a particular activity, they know it’s because of their background and not because they necessarily detest it.

11. Effective communication

Communication is a key component of a healthy relationship. It involves being able to express your thoughts, feelings and needs openly and honestly while also actively listening to your partner. Effective communication helps resolve conflicts, builds trust, and deepens emotional connection.

12. Quality time together

Spending quality time together is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship. It allows you to strengthen your bond, create shared experiences, and show your partner that they are a priority in your life. 

Whether it’s through date nights, weekend getaways, or simply spending uninterrupted time together, prioritizing quality time helps keep the relationship strong.

13. Emotional support

Being there for your partner emotionally is an essential aspect of a healthy relationship. It involves offering comfort, empathy, and validation during difficult times. Providing emotional support shows your love and commitment and helps your partner feel understood and cared for.

14. Trust and honesty

Trust and honesty are the foundation of a healthy relationship. Building trust requires being reliable, keeping your promises, and being transparent with your partner. Being honest means being open and truthful, even about difficult topics. 

Trust and honesty create a safe space for open communication and deepen the connection between partners. These are some of the key habits of successful marriages. 

Watch this video to learn more about the psychology of trust:

15. Individual growth and independence

While being in a relationship is about the connection between two individuals, it’s important to maintain a sense of self and individuality. Healthy relationships involve supporting each other’s personal growth, goals, and interests. 

Encouraging independence allows for personal fulfillment and prevents codependency, which is an important part of good habits in a marriage. 

Remember, every relationship is unique, and what works for one couple may not work for another. It’s important to continually assess and adapt these habits based on the needs and dynamics of your relationship.

FAQs

Building and maintaining a healthy relationship requires awareness of certain key factors. In this section, we will explore the 5 A’s of a healthy relationship, red flags to watch out for, activities healthy couples enjoy together, and some bad habits that can harm a relationship.

Here are the answers to some pressing questions about the habits of healthy couples: 

• What are the 5 A’s of a healthy relationship?

The 5 A’s of a healthy relationship are Attention, Affection, Appreciation, Acceptance, and Assertiveness.

• What are the red flags in a relationship?

Red flags in a relationship include lack of trust, excessive jealousy or possessiveness, constant criticism, lack of communication or emotional support, and frequent disrespect or belittlement.

• What do healthy couples do together?

Healthy couples enjoy activities such as shared hobbies, going on adventures, traveling, cooking together, exercising, supporting each other’s interests, or simply spending quality time, such as having meaningful conversations or cuddling.

• What are three bad habits in a healthy relationship?

Three bad habits in a healthy relationship are harmful communication patterns like yelling or dismissive behavior, neglecting emotional needs and not offering support, and avoiding conflict resolution, which leads to unresolved issues that can fester over time.

Takeaway

While forming healthy habits is like adding building blocks to a sturdy relationship, it’s crucial to remember that a strong bond transcends mere routine. The 15 habits explored in this guide are not one-size-fits-all magic spells but rather essential tools to cultivate a deeper understanding, connection, and mutual respect in your partnership.

Think of your relationship as a garden. Regular watering (open communication) and sunlight (shared experiences) provide the foundation for growth. Yet, resilience comes from fertile soil (acceptance and forgiveness) and strong roots (trust and commitment). 

Pruning out negativity and nurturing compassion are equally important habits of couples in strong and healthy relationships. Remember, even the sturdiest oak started as a tiny seed, requiring consistent care and attention to weather the storms.

This guide is merely the first step in your journey. If you seek support in implementing these habits or require specific tools to address unique challenges, consider reaching out to a relationship therapist.