Steps to Being Happier with your Significant Other

Relationships are tough, with the stresses of life and the fast pace everyone seems to be moving at, prioritizing one’s relationship can be tough.  Here are a few steps to being happier with your significant other.

Make sure that you set aside at least 2 hours a week to be together.  It can be a date, an outing outside of the home or planning time to spend together in the home.  During the 2 hours, put your phone away so you are not distracted and try to come to the date with something to discuss, a new piece of news you may have read or a story about something going on at work. If you prioritize some time together and try to connect it will make a difference.

The way that people connect is through sharing.  When you share, it’s an expression of intimacy, which can also be defined as “in-to-me-see” where you are literally allowing someone into your space, your life and your thoughts.  When you don’t share, you cut yourself off from being intimately connected with your significant other. Think about what you want your partner to know about you and find a time to communicate it to them.

Part of what connects couples in the beginning in being similar and making plans.  As the months and years go on, many couples forget or become so busy that they don’t carry out any special ideas that may have bonded them in the first place.  By making a list of fun things you would like to do or accomplish in your relationship, you bring back the spirit of fun and bond again over shared ideas and making plans.  Next, try to carry out some of what ends up on your fun list.

Sometimes, couples have just stopped communicating about what they would like in their lives right now.  Lots of couples do a great job as roommates or as business partners but have lost the erotic component of their relationship or don’t make time for regular intimacy.  If you miss having the romance as a regular part of your relationship then ask for it. Have a conversation with your partner about missing that connection with them and being curious about what it would take to bring it back into the mix.

Having been in private practice for 15 years, I am always excited to see the couples who come see me for therapy because they come from all backgrounds, religious beliefs, occupations, and upbringings.  It’s statistically proven that couples who come to therapy to work through their issues and learn to communicate more effectively have longer lasting and more satisfying relationships. Work smarter, not harder, call Lisa today to schedule a time to meet and make the best investment in your relationship.