-Mayah Taylor, MA

Relationships can be complicated. They require a lot of attention and nurturing. Often, we can get caught up in everything that life throws at us and forget to nurture and tend to our relationship. In this blog, we’d like to share with you tips that you can use to check up on your relationship, identify any major problems that need a fix, and together with your partner work to fix the problems.

Communication

The first step in your relationship check-up is to evaluate how you and your partner communicate with each other. Communication allows you and your partner to connect with each other as well as continue to relate to each other. A healthy relationship with healthy communication also means that you and your partner can tell each other what you want and need. Good communication is essential to any relationship and is key to being able to work through any problems or disagreements that may arise during the relationship.

Do You Spend Quality Time With Each Other?

It’s important that as life gets hectic you both make time for each other. Having that one on one time with your partner allows for you to stay close. Find things that interest you and your partner that you both can engage in together. Try to add some new things that interest you both, this way you can also keep things fresh in your relationship. Expose yourselves to new adventures and challenges that you can do together.

Keep the Love and Intimacy Alive

Assessing your sex life and intimacy with your partner is important. Notice any changes in the quality of your sex life as well as the frequency. Ask yourself if you still feel emotionally close your partner. Ask yourself if the current status of your sex life acceptable. Do you and your partner have sex as often as you like? Also, ask yourself if you the quality of sex meets your needs. If you feel that your needs are not being met then you need to own it and take responsibility by communicating your needs to your partner. Have an open and honest conversation with your partner where you not only communicate your needs for sex but also what you do like and what you don’t like during sex. Teach your partner and let them teach you.

Additionally, while we have spoken about the importance of sex, there is also the aspect of emotional intimacy. When we use the word intimacy, we aren’t talking about just sex. Intimacy also speaks to the emotional closeness that you feel with your partner. More specifically the physical touch and contact such as holding hands, cuddling, hugging, warm embraces, and kissing. This level of intimacy allows you and your partner to connect on a much deeper level. When you are doing your relationship check-up evaluate the emotional intimacy in your relationship. Think about what you like and don’t like about emotional intimacy. Also, think about what your partner likes and dislikes about emotional intimacy. Both of you can make a list of your turn-ons and turn-offs -give it to the other to start a dialogue. Everyone is different and may not be comfortable with some forms of emotional intimacy like holding hands. It is important that both of you be sensitive to each other’s likes and dislikes, turn-ons and turn-offs.

The Takeaway

We hope this blog helps you in your own journey of doing a relationship check-up. Relationships are complex and require hard work and dedication.  Which is why it’s important to frequently do a relationship checkup in order to maintain your relationship, nurture it, and promote growth within your relationship. Let us know what’s in your relationship checkup toolkit by posting on our various social media sites or by contacting us here! We want to hear your successes and your struggles.