For example, try to make sure you make time at least once a week to spend time together. You can go out on a date or just hang out together at home. Try to fit in time when you can. You don’t always need to go on a dinner date. Try meeting for lunch or even breakfast. Spending time together doesn’t always mean sitting down and talking, though that’s important. Try fitting each other in while you’re doing other things, such as working out together or even grocery shopping together.
In other words, make time in each day to connect with your partner. You don’t need to send twenty texts a day, though if you both are up for that, that’s a good way to connect. Establish what works for both of you. That is, if one person isn’t big on texting, maybe email would work better or a phone call in the evening. Try to move beyond just, “How was your day?” Ask about each other’s long-term dreams or talk about what you’re grateful for. Discuss what you value or what you like best in a friend. It can be easy to slip into “How are you?” “Fine, how are you?” Digging deeper, though, will bring you closer. [3] X Research source While having weekly or bi-weekly dates is good, checking in every day keeps you in touch with how the other person is doing and creates a sense of familiarity and intimacy.
For instance, you can say things like, “I just want you to know how important you are to me. I’m so glad you’re in my life. " You can also keep it more simple, such as “I’m so happy I got to see your face today. " Showing gratitude doesn’t have to be verbal. Give your partner a card or surprise him or her with a small gift just to show them you’re thinking about them and how special they are to you. For instance, surprise them with a home-cooked meal just to say “thank you. "
One way to start building empathy is to be conscientious of checking in with your partner about feelings. Ask the person how he or she is feeling in a given situation. It also means you have to stop only seeing through your eyes. Sometimes, you have to shut off how you’re seeing the world for a moment to understand how your partner is seeing it. You don’t have to give up your point of view. You just have to change to your partner’s perspective once in a while to understand the world through his or her eyes. That may mean that you need to shut off the voices in your head. As your partner is talking about a situation, you may find yourself raising objections or trying to convince your partner to see it differently. Instead, you need to shut those objections down and truly listen to what your partner is saying.
For instance, you may need to work more hours while your partner is in school, and then he or she works more hours while you finish a degree. This step is also important in the smaller things. That is, if you live together, both of you should contributing to household chores and errands, not just one of you.
A little competition every now and then never hurts. However, when you start thinking you’re a better person than your partner overall, that leads to an unhealthy relationship. That doesn’t mean you can’t accept a compliment from your partner. If your partner tells you you’re great at something, saying “Thank you!” is appropriate. However, telling your partner in a serious tone that she’s terrible at something and you do it better isn’t appropriate. It only serves to drive a wedge between you two.
For instance, one kind of support is not ragging on them when they want to spend time away from you to develop an interest. Another way to encourage the person is to be their cheerleader. When something good happens, make sure to celebrate it with them.
For instance, give the person your full attention when you go on a date. Don’t be looking at your phone or watching the television that’s on in the restaurant. Another way to show respect is to be sensitive to any cultural issues your partner may have. For instance, if your partner mentions that his or her family likes to do something a certain way, don’t just laugh it off because you like to do it differently. Another way to be respectful is to be forgiving rather than blaming. When your partner makes a mistake, offer forgiveness to him or her, rather than tearing them down for it. [9] X Research source
Kindness can show up in so many ways. It can mean being considerate of needed alone time. It can mean showing up with a cup of coffee when you know your partner needs it. It can also mean something as simple as holding their hand when they’re feeling a little anxious. Kindness can also be doing a chore your partner hates, like running to the dry cleaners, before she has a chance to. It’s all the small things that add up to show you care for the person.
In other words, if you always cut your partner off when they start talking about something that’s bothering them, that’s not creating the emotional space for them to talk. In addition, you have to open the door sometimes. When you notice your partner is looking down or sad, try to ask them what’s going on.
As they’re talking, take in what they’re saying. Open up to what’s underneath the words, not just what they’re saying aloud. [13] X Research source Show them you’re listening by asking leading questions. You can also offer short summaries. For instance, you could say, “What I hear you saying is your upset because I’m not spending enough time with you. " That helps them know you’re listening, plus it helps you to know you are getting it right. [14] X Research source
For example, say your girlfriend says something like, “Isn’t that car adorable? My car is getting so run down. " You could say, “Oh, are you considering get a new car?” or you could ask her if she wants to go test drive one. Another example is if your boyfriend mentions a new restaurant going in down the street that looks good. You could take the initiative and make reservations. Picking up on verbal cues shows you are listening and paying attention.
For instance, if the person turns away from you while you’re talking, it could mean they’ve lost interested or they’re trying to hide something. [17] X Research source If they’re not looking at you, it could indicate they’re hiding something or that they’re having trouble getting out what they want to say. It can also be a sign of embarrassment. [18] X Research source If they cross they’re arms, it could mean they’re starting to get defensive about the conversation. [19] X Research source
In other words, try not to have arguments when you’re very angry, as they can just escalate into nastiness. Humor can keep discussions light, as can affection gestures, such as hugging or lightly touching the person’s hand or shoulder. [21] X Research source
A 2-day rule is a good bet. That is, you should bring it up within two days if you still feel strongly about it. If not, drop it. If you must deal with the issue today, try taking an hour break. Go spend some time doing something you enjoy, such as listening to music or reading a book. Once you’ve distracted yourself for a while, you’ll be better able to deal with the situation.
For instance, if you hate it when your boyfriend doesn’t call at night, bring it up. If you let it keep happening, it can grow into this huge thing that comes between you and him, and then you’ll explode on him. You could say, “Hey, I know you are busy at night, but I feel upset when I don’t hear from you. I like to know you’re safe. "
That means, of course, that you must know what your needs are. Maybe you need alone time once in awhile, or maybe you need cuddly time at least once a week. Once you know what you need, express those needs to your partner. Have a conversation about what both of you need, both in and out of the relationship. Try to make a plan about how both of your needs can be met. For instance, you could say, “I really need cuddle time once a week. " Your partner might counter with, “I’m happy to give you cuddle time. I love cuddling with you. But I also need to spend a bit of time apart as well. "
For instance, some signs of an emotionally abusive relationship can be that your partner is hypercritical of you, humiliates you, shuts you out completely, and/or gets very angry and moody much of the time. Other signs can be overusing a sarcastic/mean tone, being dominating, making you feel guilty often, and blaming you for everything that goes wrong. You may also notice that your partner embarrasses you on purpose, is very controlling, calls you all the time to see where you are (and not in a caring way), or is overly jealous. If your partner does one or even a couple of these once in a while, it may not be abusive. However, if your partner does it all the time with the intention of making you feel bad, humiliating you, or controlling you, then that is definitely a sign of emotional abuse. Look for the phrase, “I love you, but. . . " That’s often a sign of a controlling person. Be aware that many abusers will apologize for their behavior to draw you back in.
Sleep affects your glucose levels, which in turn affects your self-control. If you don’t have enough self-control, you tend to snap at your partner and not be available for what he or she needs. [25] X Research source Make sure you are getting your require 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Staying on a sleep schedule, meaning you go to bed and get up at the same time every day, can help you get enough sleep and feel more rested. If you have trouble remembering to go to bed, try setting an alarm at night. Set for an hour before you need to be in bed. When it goes off, turn off all electronics and head for bed.
Don’t forget to eat lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy to put you at your healthiest.
If you’re not sure what you’re emotional triggers are, pay attention when you get really upset, but you don’t actually have a good reason. Try to think about what set you off. Write down these instances and what you think caused it. As you write more down, you’ll start to notice certain patterns.
For instance, if you make mistake, tell yourself it’s okay. You can learn from it and move on, not beat yourself up. Remind yourself that no one’s perfect. You make mistakes just like everyone else in the world and just be yourself that’s what your boyfriend loves about you.
