Relationship New Year’s Resolutions To Make This Year
As we THANKFULLY leave this year behind, it's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. A lot of us make them and don't really keep them because they end up being a lot of work...that sounds lazy but you get what I'm saying.
One way to make some resolutions that you can stick to might be to make some with your partner. It's just as important to grow as a person in a partnership, if you are in one, as it is to grow as an individual.
Choose Your Battles Wisely
A great way to work on yourself while working on your relationship is learning to pick your battles wisely. Not everything you and your partner have a disagreement about is worth a full-blown battle. Sometimes it's OK to just let the situation unfold as it would. Obviously don't let it go without saying something, but say it in a way where you're just sharing information and not starting a fight.
Be Better At Compromising
A huge part of being in a healthy relationship is learning how to compromise. There are obviously things in your life that you should never compromise, like your self-worth and your values, but when it comes to decorating your new apartment or who is cooking dinner, learn how to make compromises even if that means something not being completely to your taste.
Work On Your Listening Skills
Working on your listening skills is a great gift that you can give yourself and your partner. It can be hard to have the emotional energy all the time to take in everything a person is saying, but actively listening to your partner, or anyone, is going to help you build better connections.
Communicate Your Needs
Repeat after me: no one can read your mind. No matter how well you think someone knows you, you can't expect them to know everything about you, and therefore you can't expect them to know what is on your mind and what you're thinking. Be upfront with what's bothering you and what is making you happy.
Be Open To Vulnerability
Being vulnerable is difficult, even to those of us who are in stable and supportive relationships. But how many of us are in those? Just kidding... but, you know. Allowing yourself to be more vulnerable will create space for intimacy. It's probably going to be scary but it will be worth it.
Let Your Partner Have Some Space
One of the greatest things you can give your partner in a relationship is the space they need to be themselves. Let them be weird, let them go out and hang out with their friends, and let them have things in their life that are just their own.
Embrace Yours And Your Partner's Imperfections
No one is perfect, not even you. The sooner that you learn that and accept that you and your partner aren't perfect and you're going to make mistakes, the easier it is going to be to accept those mistakes as they come.
Learn To Let Go Of Grudges
Nothing is lazier or more useless than holding a grudge. It's really hard not to hold things against someone, especially if they are mistakes that they keep making, but they never get anyone anywhere. Instead, help them grow out of these mistakes instead of just resenting them.
Be Respectful Of Your Partner's Comfort Zone
If your partner tells you that they don't want to do something that you're suggesting, you should just accept that for what it is and don't push them too much. We don't know what the story is behind their answer, and we shouldn't push the people we love into uncomfortable situations for our benefit.
Work On That Spark
This one is a big one! When you're living your lives, working, keeping a house, having a social life, and more, it can be hard to have the energy to keep things spicy. It's important to make sure that you keep that spark alive because it helps you both connect.
Practice More Empathy
Empathy is difficult, especially if it is something that doesn't exactly come easily to you. But, learning to walk a mile in someone else's shoes is going to help you see things from their perspective in a way that you might not have before.
Be More Trusting Of Your Partner
Being more trusting goes hand-in-hand with wanting to be more vulnerable. You can't have a good relationship if there isn't any trust. Try and open up with your partner more and share more things and let them have the opportunity to earn your trust.
Try And Do More Things Together
When you've been in a relationship for a while, you sometimes forget that you need to go out and have fun with each other still. Set aside that time to try out that new place you've noticed or to go on vacation.
Cook At Home More
This one will create a place for the two of you to bond, and it will also help your wallet. If you cook together even one night a week you'll notice a difference and you might even learn to love doing it.
Work On Your Friendships Outside Of Your Relationships
Having a full and happy life outside of your relationship is really important. Making sure that your other relationships are healthy and that you're taken care of is going to help you feel more fulfilled and more likely a better partner.
Make A Weekly Date Night
Make one night a week your date night. You don't cook, you don't do any chores, you just get together and enjoy each other's company. Maybe you go out on date night or maybe you order in, just make sure that you are relaxing.
Stop Making Assumptions
Don't assume that you know what is going on in your partner's brain. Be direct with them and ask them what's going on. It will probably save you from a lot of unnecessary fights.
Try One Of Each Other's Hobbies
While it is important to have your own lives, it's also fun to let your partner show you something that they're really passionate about. Who knows, it might even turn into something you both love doing together.
Try Letting The Little Things Go
Fighting about the little things isn't going to get either of you anywhere. It's just going to make you into someone who is nitpicky and you're going to get annoyed with yourself.
Talk About What You Want From The Future
It's fun to think about what your future is going to be like. That's why making a bit of a bucket list together or at least talking about what you might want from life is a good way to learn about yourself and your partner.
