16 Interesting Habits of Couples in Strong, Long-Term Relationships

What habits create a strong and healthy relationship in a couple? Habits can have a powerful impact in your relationship. Habit can be defined as: “a consistent and regular pattern of behavior”. What makes for a strong and healthy romantic relationship differs from couple to couple. However, if you look at the strongest couples you know, you will start seeing some trends when it comes to certain habits that the couples have. The formation of trust and positive partnership requires efforts and time. For any relationship to grow strong and stay strong, you need to put in some work. Relationship is something that is always evolving, but there are certain habits that while they do adapt with time, are critical for a relationship to last and get stronger with time. Sitting back and waiting until problems arise, is a bad idea, a strong relationship is not a one-time achievement, but a work-in-progress. It’s something you need to build and work on, every single day. Knowing these habits can help you to have better romantic relationships. Below are some habits that will help you to create and maintain happy and healthy relationships in your life.

The Habit of Good Communication

Communication is a key habit. It is one of the most important qualities a healthy relationship. However, not everyone knows how to communicate correctly or even communicate at all. Happy and healthy couples have their own ways of communicating. Communicating is a form of bonding. Having a real conversation regularly will wipe away any form of misunderstanding. If you are bothered about something or have an objection to something your partner is doing, tell that to your companion. It is no secret that good communication is a critical base for a healthy and strong relationship and that the healthier the communication between couples, the quicker they are at resolving conflicts. No matter how awkward or uncomfortable it feels or how bad the issues are, they discuss them instead of sweeping them under the rug. It makes for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. Remember that communication is a skill and that you can practice your communication skills as an individual and as a couple. This is an effort that both of you must put forth in order to strengthen the foundation of your relationship.

The Habit of Mutual Respect

Respecting your partner comes in many forms. Strong and healthy relationships mean respecting your partner’s time, feelings and character. Showing respect to your partner is a habit that is worth cultivating, as it’s a necessary ingredient for creating a happy, healthy and long lasting connection. When you express respect towards your partner, you are expressing your love, acceptance, and warmth. However, there are many things people do in relationships that can break down respect, like name-calling, talking negatively about each other to friends or family and/or threatening to leave the relationship. You may have a different outlook on life but this does not mean that you should disrespect your partner and put them down.

The Habit of Spending Quality Time Together

Most of your time is spent at work. The other time is spent doing miscellaneous works, including domestic chores. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend together with your partner, the quality of that time is more important. It’s important to be present, physically and emotionally. A great night where you can talk and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours is going to be more meaningful and intimate than always running around and attending parties together where the two of you do not have much time to actually talk to each other and nurture your connection. There is a huge difference between communicating with a partner about his work during lunch and sitting on the couch and watching the latest CNN news. Turn off the television in the evenings and be with your partner and switch off your phones, and be connected with your partner face to face. You’ll love it. It’s great to spend time together and enjoy entertainment programs, but it is also important to make sure that you like to maintain a deep emotional connection. Focus on what brought you two together and appreciate that. It is not big trips or gifts that make the difference, but the smaller, everyday moments that you spend with your partner. It’s easy to allow stress, frustration and distractions to get in the way of having a happy relationship, but when you take the time to love and appreciate your partner, you are establishing a habit that is filled with warmth, affection and care. Take time to ask your partner about their day and how they’re doing. This habit creates connection and love. Snuggle up on the couch and talk with your partner; talk about each other and what the two of you can do to develop your relationship.

The Habit of connecting With Your Partner

In the contemporary world with busy schedules connecting with your partner throughout the day can be last priority, but if you want to have a happy, long-lasting relationship, reconnecting with your partner throughout the day is crucial; such as sending a loving text during your lunch break or giving your partner a call on the way home. This habit is meant to tell your partner that you care. Even if you have a hectic schedule, be creative. You can still make the time to spend a text message or give your partner a phone call.

The Habit of Spending Time Apart

Strong couples spend time together, but they also have lives of their own and they know how to strike this balance perfectly. Spending time together with your partner is important. But just as important is spending time apart. With a fast paced life, it is hard to find spare time for personal entertainment. Why don’t you take at least half an hour from your busy schedule, and utilize it? Your quality time together is important, but strong couples also have their own friends and hobbies that they participate in without their partner. This is very healthy and it prevents a dependent relationship. Give yourself constant and brief breaks to understand what you want from your life. Being able to do your own things and remain independent is vital. If you look at people with strong relationships, you will see that each partner enjoys time apart and together and they know that both are of equal importance for keeping their relationship healthy. Healthy personal boundaries and autonomy create a lasting relationship.

The Habit of Appreciation

When it comes to powerful habits of happy relationships, it’s about expressing your appreciation to your partner. We often forget to show or say to our spouse how we appreciate them. Show your special someone that you love him or her. This could be done with words, cards, good deeds, flowers, acts of kindness, or leaving a love note before going to work or other sweet things. Instead of focusing on the shortcomings, make a conscious effort to notice the positive qualities of your partner. Nobody is perfect, so express appreciation to your partner every day. Find out your partner’s love language and express your appreciation for your partner through their love language. They believe in PDA. It stands for Public Display of Affection like walking while holding hands or just a random hug or spontaneous little kiss on the cheeks. Take time when kissing your partner; do it mindfully, and enjoy the experience.

The Habit of Being Supportive:

Partners in strong relationships encourage and support each other in their individual pursuits. You must support your spouse to achieve his/her laudable goals because it will affect the family and the relationship positively. They are most supportive when their loved one is sad or stressed. Affirm your partner’s dreams, goals, and their existence. Be on the same page with your partner so that when he happy, you are happy with him/her. When he/she is down, you empathize with him/her. Treat your relationship as an opportunity to bring out the best in each other. The couples in strong and healthy relationships endeavor to bring out the best in their partners.

The Habit of Commitment

Commitment is a form of glue that holds a marriage together. Joyce Meyer wrote, “Our journey was not easy, but Dave refused to give up on me, and we both refused to give up on God. Now we have had more than 40 years of marriage, and I can honestly say our relationship is better than ever. Though our early years were difficult, we have had many years of happiness and we look forward to many more.” Another touching story of commitment was told by Emilie Barnes, “One of the great love stories of my life is how Bob has been my caregiver for the last 10 years. From my first being diagnosed with life threatening M.A.L.T. cell lymphoma, a form of low-grade non-Hodgkin’s leukemia, in 1997 until today, he has stepped up to the plate and honored his ‘I do’ from our wedding some 51 years ago. Little did we realize when we were so young that our promise ‘until death do us part’ would be tested.”

The Habit to Resolve Fights

There are misunderstandings in every relationship. Therefore, it is important to go through the hard times together. Nevertheless, choose reasons to clarify all the details wisely, just like among people who are in strong and healthy relationships. Show that you love them with their flaws. Rather than letting small grievances mount, talk it out. Do not allow anger and disappointment to build up inside you. Say what you feel, clearly and respectfully.

The Habit of Expressing positive attributes about your partner to others

The habit of expressing positive attributes about your partner will help deepen the connection in your relationship. On the contrary, expressing negative attributes about your partner will only build a wall between you. A couple that always argues in public and expresses negative traits about each other to friends and family members cannot have a strong and healthy relationship. This is a bad habit that eventually destroys a relationship. This negative pattern of behavior creates mistrust, disconnection and lack of respect, so choose today to be a positive partner who always sees the positive side of your spouse. Make a habit of expressing positive attributes to others about your partner. This positive pattern of behavior creates admiration, fondness and love.

The Habit of Expressing Affection

Relationship provides a wonderful avenue through which a man and a woman can express love to each other in a uniquely personal way. A successful and healthy marriage always begins with true love. Showing true love means helping your spouse become better person. ‘I love you’ are magic words.” Uttering the magic words regularly can make some positive impart in your relationship. Regardless that you and your partner know how much you care and love each other, verbalize the words.

The Habit of planning the futures together

A happy relationship focuses on short and long term goals. Planning your future goals can take two forms. One, you sit down with calendars, calculators, and note pads. Two, you have a deep and meaningful conversations on future goals. These goals are both for each individual and also as a couple. Unhappy couples have nothing to look forward to in life. They just waste their time on superficial nonsense and trying to live up to society’s standard of happiness. Focus within your relationship on creating, establishing and accomplishing goals. Happy couples have a custom of planning everything together, regardless of how trivial the matter is. Happy couples have goals that are both small and big. Follow this goal setting template and start nurturing the connection with your partner. You two are a team, so work like a team. Planning makes your bond stronger and enriches your journey together.

The Habit of Having a Sense of Humor

Many people who have strong and healthy relationship fall in love with their spouses because of their sense of humor. They crack jokes at unexpected times. And they have the ability to make their spouses laugh for hours. Cracking jokes every now and then has a positive impact on a relationship. Everyone needs humor. Happy couples know the right time to be witty. And laughing even at the silliest jokes on earth can increase the level of love between the two of you.

The Habit of Intimacy

Sex within the bonds of marriage is a wonderful thing. It is important in cultivating a flourishing relationship. . Spice it up with some variety and have fun. Light candles around the room before you turn out the lights. Purchase massage oil and give each other a body massage. Take a bubble bath together. The more you have it, the more you want it. The opposite is equally true. The less you have it, the less you want it. Unfortunately, the less you'll feel connected to your partner. Keep your sex life alive and interesting. Enjoy the blessings, pleasures, and the benefits of a fulfilling marriage and intimate sex life.

The Habit of Not Comparing

Some couples often compare their lives to those of others — what jobs people have, their homes, and their clothes. And they tend to compare our relationships as well. But the happiest of couples don’t look to see what others have or didn’t have. They are happy with what they have been endowed with by God.

The Habit of Praying Together

J. C. Ryle wrote, “No time is so well spent in every day as that which we spend upon our knees.” Every couple who has enjoyed healthy and strong relationship has learned how to pray together. There is nothing more vital to a positive marriage than a couple’s commitment to prayer. It is written in the Bible that the family who pray together stays together. The devil is always trying to create discord among couples so you have to go to God in prayer. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). In the strong and healthy marriage, there exists a continual flow of communication and fellowship with God.

Conclusion

It is my desire that this hub will kindle the flame of love in your marriage and in the marriages of millions of other couples like you across the world. Take a little time and think about your marriage or relationship. Do any of these habits exist in your relationship, and if so, how strong and are they? There is always work to be done in any relationship, but as long as you and your partner have these habits, you have already laid the foundation for a relationship that can be very healthy and strong. If these habits are non-existent, you might want to sit down and have a chat with your partner and discuss how to cultivate these habits so as make your relationship happier and more fulfilling for both of you. When you need to approach your partner about a matter that may prompt disagreement, choose your timing wisely. Time of the day is not the only variable to consider in timing a discussion with your spouse; time of month is important too.