Whilst having a significant other and being committed to a healthy, long-term relationship or marriage can be one of the most fulfilling ways to gain love, support, and happiness, they can also be tricky to navigate in times of stress. We all naturally crave these feelings of comfort and that’s why, at About Town we’ve put together some of the most effective ways to de-stress and enjoy spending time in your relationship again. 

 

Take a Trip Together

Whilst a change of scenery should not be used as a way to run away from problems, the external world of work and family obligations can sometimes start to take a toll on the time you spend with your partner. The honeymoon phase of spontaneous adventures, romantic outings, and delicious food can seem like a happy bubble which was burst long ago, but sometimes a friendly reminder to go that extra mile is all we need to spend some quality time together. Admittedly, whilst a whole vacation is hard to fit into busy schedules, there’s nothing stopping you from taking the occasional weekend trip away to relax and catch up, or from booking an evening dinner reservation at your partner’s favorite restaurant. Taking an afternoon stroll together has also been proved to be a great way to clear your mind and have an open conversation about the problems of everyday life. 

 

Talk To a Trusted Friend

Sometimes it can be hard to open up in your relationship, especially when you’re already feeling stressed and don’t want to face the reaction of your partner. Talking to a friend or family member that you trust can be a much less stressful way to ensure that you don’t get too caught up in your own emotions before you speak to your boyfriend/ girlfriend. Spending some time outside of your relationship can also be a fun way to de-stress and distract yourself with friends and to remind yourself that everybody has worries, so you’re definitely not alone. This is also a great opportunity to get advice from those who understand you best, so that you can return to your relationship with more of a care-free attitude. 

 

Prioritize Putting Your Phone Away

In a time when everything is on our phones, it can be easy to become absorbed with how our digital life looks instead of what’s going on in our real lives. By making a conscious effort to put our phones away at the dinner table or for an hour or so before going to sleep, we allow a better chance at letting ourselves to be more present in our relationships. This is something that your partner will most definitely appreciate and is a simple way to ensure that you can detach from online work emails in order to relax in each other’s company. This precious time spent together is also an important way to ensure that you can experience the small things in your relationship that make you smile, whilst you actively continue to create new memories with the person you love! 

 

Treat Yourself

Whilst the phrase “you have to love yourself before you can love someone else” is definitely a cliché, there is some truth to the idea that you have to de-stress yourself before you can de-stress your relationship. Being able to spend time with your partner is definitely an integral part of being able to move forward together, but by investing some well-deserved time in doing activities that you love, you simultaneously give your relationship the best chance at happiness. An easy way to do this is to perhaps think about things that you loved doing before you were in a relationship. By taking the time to go to that yoga class, read your favorite book or spend a few hours painting, you give your mind and body the space to decompress. This especially applies to those who have perhaps been in a long term relationship for several years, as these external activities allow you to share personal experiences about topics that genuinely excite you, rather than falling into the trap of constantly talking about work or stress. Remember, you deserve to treat yourself too!

 

Make Communication a Priority

And finally, whilst speaking openly and honestly with your partner about how you are feeling may sound obvious, finding the right way to communicate is sometimes less straightforward than it seems. However, if you can remember the ease of what it felt like to freely express your emotions at the start of your relationship, this may help you to feel more relaxed when having difficult conversations. Communication allows us to feel closer to each other, and so sometimes confronting stress head on, is the most effective way to move forward in your relationship as a team. This stress may not even have anything to do with your partner but allowing yourself to talk about how this affects your relationship is extremely important. There’s also no shame in attending couples counseling together, as a mediator can help you to express the troubles of everyday life which we all undoubtedly feel.

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