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Signs of a Healthy Relationship

Reviewed by Rashonda Douthit, LCSW · October 26, 2020 ·

Being in a healthy relationship is so fulfilling. When you know that your partner truly loves you and has your back, it’s going to be that much easier to smile. If you’re wondering whether you’re in a healthy relationship or not, then it should be pretty easy to figure that out. You just need to look out for the signs of a healthy relationship.

If you notice these signs, then it’s an indicator that your relationship is likely in a good place. Even if you don’t have all of these signs in your current relationship, it’ll be possible to work toward developing them. Knowing what it takes and how to have a healthy relationship makes a difference. Just keep reading, and you’ll have a much better idea of how to have a healthy relationship.

Great Communication

One of the most essential signs of a healthy relationship to look out for is great communication. Couples that have great communication are much more likely to stay together and remain happy. When you’re able to communicate with your partner well, it is easier to get along even when you disagree about certain things. Many couples struggle with communication issues, but couples who have learned to master communication find their relationship is better for it.

You can cultivate great communication over time by learning to sit down and listen to each other. Often, the missing component in your relationship will be listening to what your significant other has to say. Some people get so wrapped up in what they want to forget to listen to what others want. Work on becoming a better communicator, and you’re going to be much more likely to have a healthy relationship that you desire.

True Affection

Of course, couples in a healthy relationship are going often show each other a lot of affection. If you hug and kiss your partner a lot, then that may be a pretty good sign that your relationship is generally in a good place. Those who aren’t as affectionate might not have the strongest relationship. That doesn’t mean that all healthy couples have to constantly show each other affection in public, though.

What does a healthy relationship look like without affection? Affection can be an important aspect of a healthy relationship with your partner. Try to put some effort into showing your partner that you care.  Genuine affection is good for your relationship.

Good Sex Life

You could lump having a good sex life in with being affectionate toward one another, but not everyone who is affectionate has a fulfilling sex life. When your partner takes the time to care about your sexual satisfaction, that’s a very good sign. It means that you both want to put in the effort to make sure that the other is happy. Couples who have a healthy sex life are often willing to explore things that they find mutually interesting in the bedroom.

A good sex life can be a big part of your healthy relationship definition if you want it to be. Many healthy relationships use sex as an important pillar. You can show your partner how much you care by making time for sex, as well as ensuring that you’re both comfortable with your sex life. If you want to improve your sex life, spend some time talking to your significant other about sex to see what can be done.

You Trust Each Other

Trust is crucial when you’re in a romantic relationship with someone. How can you say that you’re in a healthy relationship if you can’t even trust your partner? Healthy relationships involve placing trust in your partner and knowing that they will be true to you. If you are very jealous in a relationship and don’t trust your partner, that’s not a good sign.

You should trust your partner on various levels in a relationship if you want it to be healthy. For example, you’ll trust your partner to stay loyal to you, and you’ll also trust your partner to hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to going to work. You develop a deeper sense of trust in your partner over time as you experience life together. If you can’t trust your partner or if your partner has betrayed your trust in the past, then it becomes tougher to maintain a healthy relationship.

Trust issues can be resolved, though. Even partners that have cheated or made big mistakes can atone. It’s simply up to you to decide whether you can trust someone again after they have taken your trust for granted.

You Can Spend Time Apart

Being able to spend time apart from each other without it being a big deal is a sign of a healthy relationship. You can know how to have a healthy relationship without needing to smother your partner. Some people go overboard with wanting to be together all the time. It’s fine to love your partner so much that you’d like to be near them most of the time, but it can also be good to have your own life.

You shouldn’t be so dependent on your partner that being apart makes you feel nervous. If you feel too odd when you’re away from your partner, that may be a trust issue. It’s something that you should try to work on for the sake of yourself and your relationship. There are likely going to be many times when you’ll need to spend time away from your partner, and getting used to it will make things better for you.

Try to develop relationships with people outside of your romantic relationship. You should have friends, hobbies, and social functions that you can look forward to. It’s also good to encourage your partner to spend time doing things they enjoy independently. You can still enjoy lots of things together, but it’s good to have some time apart from each other as well.

You Work Well As A-Team

Working well as a team is a truly great thing because it shows that your relationship has staying power. When you communicate with each other well, it makes teamwork that much easier. Couples who are in healthy relationships will get to the point where they can work together very efficiently. Your relationship might not be like this right away, but you can develop great teamwork over time.

Teamwork is great when it comes to handling practical life responsibilities. For instance, you can work together to get all of your household chores done without tripping over each other. Good teamwork can make it easier to raise a child together as well. If you show signs of working well as a team, then that bodes well for your future as a couple.

Values are important to many people, and you might have certain values that mean a lot to you. For some people, values are linked to religious beliefs, while others simply hold views based on having a moral compass. 

You See A Future Together

Seeing a future together with your partner might be the most important sign to look out for. Do you see yourself marrying this person or settling down with them? Would you like to have kids together at some point soon? If you can easily see yourself in a committed long-term relationship with your current partner, that’s a good sign that things are progressing well.

The type of future that you see together isn’t necessarily the most important thing here. Not everyone believes in the concept of marriage, and some people don’t want to have kids. It’s just good to know that you think that a relationship is going somewhere positive. Taking the time to ensure that you both see a future in your relationship together will be ideal.

What If You’re Not In A Healthy Relationship?

It can be very easy to feel down if you don’t think you’re in a healthy relationship. You might even be a bit sad or even depressed about the fact that your relationship is struggling in certain ways. It’s certainly possible to turn things around, and you should know that most relationships go through tough times. Before you can fix your relationship, it’ll be good to address your feelings.

If you’re worried about depression, you can take this depression test to see if you are depressed. Don’t worry if you’re going through a bout of depression because you can get treatment. You can work with your partner to get things back to a good place if you’re both committed to each other. Many couples have found success by working with relationship counselors.

You could learn to develop great communication skills while improving yourselves. Not all healthy relationships start out perfectly, and you can grow from this point that you’re at. Just sit down and talk with your partner about your concerns and what you would like to do. This will allow you to walk together toward a brighter future.

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