Relationships are complicated, but important, parts of our lives. These relationships can be intimate, romantic, or casual. They can involve a variety of sex and physical intimacy, and they can be monogamous or polyamorous.
Depending on your relationship goals, you may choose to categorize your connections with people into one of several categories: casual acquaintances, friends, or significant others. In relationships, it’s important to balance giving and taking — that is, how much affection, energy, and attention are you giving your partner and receiving from them? What looks balanced to you will vary, but you can gauge it by paying attention to how happy and satisfied you feel in each relationship.
Many relationships start off great and can last a long time, but eventually people’s needs change, their desires evolve, and they may find themselves in relationships that don’t meet those needs. If you notice that your relationship is no longer fulfilling for you, talk to your partner about it. Try to find a way to work through the problem without blaming each other or getting into fights over little things. If it’s a persistent issue, it might be time to call it quits.
Healthy relationships require a good amount of time together, but it’s also important to spend some time away from each other. That can mean engaging in exciting hobbies, spending nights out on the town, or going on quick coffee/ice cream dates. Having these activities can be a great way to reconnect with your partner and keep the conversation flowing.
