The best advice for a healthy relationship
Updated: Oct. 19, 2010
What does it take to make a marriage or long-term relationship work? We asked you for your best advice and you answered with some great tips for lasting love
The secrets to a happy relationship
It’s easy to fall in love, but harder to know how have a lasting relationship. It can take years to discover the secrets to making it work, or you might get the some sage advice from your friends and family.
When Best Health’s associate web editor, Alicia McAuley, was getting ready to walk down the aisle, we asked, “What are your best tips for a happy, healthy marriage?” Here are some of our favourite responses, submitted via Facebook and Twitter.
Have fun together!
A relationship can be a lot of work but it’s not worth it unless you have fun together. Facebook user Morgan Stanek tells us the key to staying happy is “lots and lots of Rockband.”
And Melissa Godley-Kingdon emphasizes the importance of humour: “Laugh lots and laugh often-even if it’s at yourselves.”
Get past the disagreements
Lisa Wood, who’s been happily married for ten years, says, “The best advice I have is pick your battles! Make sure the end result is important enough to you. If you fight over every little thing you’ll always be fighting!”
Facebook user Lisa Seifert Raco adds, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
And Annika Leigh says, “Never go to bed angry…find some other way to cool down.”
And what if your partner is grumpy? Kat Tancock, Best Health’s senior web editor says, “Learn to recognize when it happens and don’t let them pick a fight.” What’s Kat’s advice for getting out of this tricky situation? “Feed them instead.“
Celebrate what you love about your partner
When the going gets tough, you have to remind yourself why you’re together. “Don’t ever take your partner for granted! Take time daily to reflect on why you love them,” says Caitlin McCormack Wilson, via Facebook.
Just the two of us
“Have a date night once a week, just the two of you, suggests Lisa Seifert Raco, “No friends, no kids.”
Rhonda Winsor echoes Lisa’s advice: “Plan a night away just the two of you-often!”
Remember that it takes work
It’s not always going to be a walk in the park. Lois McDonald says the key is respect: “Respect each other for your differences as well as your similarities!”
A relationship needs tending, says Laurie Flynn. “Remember to always take care of each other. A happy marriage requires constant attention. You cannot plant a garden and not water it. And remember that it will not always be perfect-there will be ups and downs and highs and lows, and that’s okay.”
Above all, follow this one simple piece of advice…
“Never yell at someone with access to your toothbrush,” says @Staedtler, via Twitter. We definitely can’t argue with that!
What’s your best piece of relationship advice? Share it with us in the comments below!
Related:
• How to baby-proof your marriage
• 5 myths about love
• How to build a healthy relationship
(Photo courtesy of jonrennie.ca)
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