Every relationship goes through ups and downs throughout its beautiful journey. From the moment a couple decides to be together for the rest of their lives till death do them part, a lot of life is lived in the years that follow the promise of forever, and the way someone chooses to live their life with their partner can decide if they have a healthy, happy relationship.

If you’re starting your forever journey with your better half soon, and want your relationship to be successful, healthy, and happy, here is a quick guide to keep your focus on your partner as you navigate life together:

7 Tips For A Successful Relationship

While there are countless ways you and your partner can work together to build a life and a relationship that you’re both proud of, here are seven tips that can help you turn your wedding vows into a forever commitment:

Communicate Boundaries And Expectations

Every strong relationship thrives on open communication. Being a couple means sharing a life together, but in doing so, it’s equally important to set boundaries and expectations around what you value in your relationship and how you want it to turn out. This includes but is not limited to, setting emotional boundaries, physical boundaries, and values that you and your partner must follow in situations related to your relationship.

Of course, any type of communication and conversation around boundaries and your relationship should be held with respect. Always use I statements to describe how you feel rather than blaming your partner and vice versa. You and your partner must consistently try to improve your relationship through communicating your needs and wants and pick the right time to share your concerns, especially if it’s about something serious. You both must also be open to compromises and reaching a common ground to build your relationship for the long haul.

For example, if you value clear communication in your relationship rather than avoiding difficult conversations, it’s imperative that you tell your partner what kind of conduct you expect from them. Alternatively, your partner may prefer having difficult conversations in a calm manner and may find it easier to solve problems after taking some time apart. Being aware of their method and respecting their personal space can certainly make your relationship healthier and happier in the long run.

Maintain Your Individuality

Before getting into an emotionally intimate relationship like marriage, it’s crucial for you to know yourself and your interests on a deeper level to maintain your individuality. More often than not, toxic relationships stem from the issues of both the people that are involved in it. When some people get into a relationship, they sometimes tend to become so co-dependent that their individuality is lost in the relationship. Couples who are joined hip-to-hip with no separate interests of their own, and often hang out with all the same people might face these issues as they fail to realize how being apart might be good for their relationship.

In order to be in a relationship that’s happy and healthy, there needs to be enough personal space for individual growth. If you want you and your partner to give more to your relationship, you must focus on yourself first. Whether you’ve recently been married or have been together for a few years, don’t give up your personal space and interests for your shared activities. Focus on building healthy relationships outside your relationship, with your friends and family, follow hobbies that you find interesting, and give space to your relationship instead of letting it consume your individuality. Some of the best couples are those who love each other deeply but are also independent.

Love Your Partner In Their Love Language

There are five different types of love languages that humans understand. These include physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, and acts of service. Even when we have been with someone for a long time, sometimes it’s easy not to realize how they want to be loved. We humans often give love the same way we want to receive it, but it may not translate in the same manner for your partner.

For instance, if your partner’s love language is an act of service and they love gardening, you can help them create a landscape of their own in your home. You could take care of the plants by watering them daily, mulching and weeding the soil, using a driveway fabric for landscape stabilization, and planting new seeds based on season for a thriving garden space. The simple act of doing things that your partner does on their own can help them feel supported and loved in a love language that they understand.

Be Spontaneous And Give More

The beauty of long-term relationships is that they’re secure and stable in nature, but the downside is that they can get boring at times. To break free of the monotony in your everyday life and add a touch of whimsy and fun to your day-to-day business, try being more spontaneous in your relationship. There are many ways to do that.

If you and your partner enjoy traveling, you could plan a surprise trip for the both of you or if you haven’t spent some quality time together in a while, you could plan a stay-at-home date, maybe with a bubble bath made specifically for you two. If your partner enjoys luxury brands and their love language is gift receiving, you could give them a gorgeous gift from some of the best-selling brands on Poshmark, especially if you value money and sentiments. The main idea is to give more to your partner through your words and actions and make everyday life feel as special as the day you got hitched.

Never Lose Touch With Your Connection

Intimacy is an extremely important and beautiful part of a healthy and happy relationship. While it should never be taken for granted, the hustle and bustle of everyday life can push your sex life on the back burner. If it has been happening in your relationship for a while, or you want to avoid it altogether, focus on keeping the spark intact. Intimacy is a combination of both physical and emotional connection that helps you connect with your partner on a spiritual level. So doing things that foster a deeper connection in your relationship can help you build and maintain a healthy intimate relationship.

Here are some ways to nurture intimacy in your romantic relationship over a long period of time:

• Compliment your partner often and sincerely. Let them know you appreciate their body, personality, and their presence in your life.

• Initiate physical contact frequently. Not every situation has to end in sex, but acts of touch, hugging, cuddling, and hand-holding can strengthen your physical and emotional bond.

• Show undivided attention to your partner and focus on spending quality time together as much as possible. This means disconnecting from all sorts of distractions, especially your phones.

• Share intellectual and physical interests and spend some quality time doing them together. This could include solving crossword puzzles, exercising, and reading.

Support Each Other Through The Ups And Downs

Life is never going to be easy, no matter how much you plan for things to go a certain way. Knowing that you are sharing this crazy ride called life with your best friend who supports you through everything that happens can be a boon. Try to be that person for your partner. Once you’re married, you’re going to be seeing a more vulnerable side of your partner; even personality traits of theirs that they find ugly are going to come out sooner or later. These are the kinds of situations that can make or break your relationship, depending on how you choose to react to them.

Being supportive can look like being patient and attentive to your partner's needs, but sometimes it can also mean helping them see and do the right thing when difficulties arise. The most important thing that’ll help you be a rock for your partner in difficult times is cultivating trust in your relationship and taking on every situation like a team. Being empathetic in how you respond to their stress can make your relationship more healthy and happier. And don’t be worried if you don’t get it right on the first try. Knowing how to be there for your partner is a journey, and learning is a part of it. Just be by their side and let them know they can trust you.

Learn From Your Mistakes And Aim To Improve

Last but not least, a happy and healthy relationship requires two people who are always willing to improve for their partner and their relationship. Being able to self-reflect, acknowledge, and follow up on your mistakes with changed behavior is a distinct personality trait that not many people have. However, people who are willing to change for the better and learn from their mistakes are more likely to end up in healthier relationships that last a lifetime.

No matter how perfect you want your relationship to be, mistakes happen. Sometimes unknowingly, you may hurt your partner's feelings, and they may hurt yours. The difference between a bad relationship and a great one lies in how you choose to repair your relationship after a disagreement happens. The best course of action involves taking accountability for what you have done, even if it wasn’t intentional, reflecting on your role in the situation, and making amends in the immediate future while also making small changes that can help you navigate such situations in a more responsible manner in the future.

Maintaining A Healthy, Happy Relationship

A lot goes into building and maintaining a healthy and happy relationship over the course of your life. As long as you know that you are with somebody that you deeply care about and love, it can become easy to take proactive steps in the right direction. There are probably a thousand different ways to make your relationship strong, but as long as you follow even 5 of them religiously, you’ll have a relationship worth everything, and you’ll get to build a beautiful life with your forever person.