This document provides 17 tips for maintaining a long-term relationship. The tips include building the relationship on friendship, avoiding cheating, being spontaneous, making time for each other, expressing care and affection, prioritizing individual interests while still dedicating time to the relationship, experiencing new things together, communicating openly about issues, and appreciating the small gestures from your partner. Maintaining attraction, listening to each other, remembering why you became a couple, and not letting personal hygiene habits slip are also recommended.

1. 17 Tips
For Maintaining a
Long-Term
Relationship

2. Tip # 1
Base your relationship
on friendship!
Building your relationship on the basis
of a friendship can help you learn about
them without the added intensity of a
relationship.
You’ll learn a lot about each other’s
compass and whether you are
compatible as a couple or not.

3. Tips # 2
Don’t cheat!
If you have any respect for your partner
and the sanctity of your relationship,
then don’t play away.
It will ultimately eat away at your
relationship and the trust will have
gone.

4. Tip # 3
Be spontaneous!
When you get comfortable in a relationship, its
natural to fall into routine which can become
mundane over time.
To avoid this, surprise your partner every so
often, even if it’s something as daft as a fridge
magnet you thought they’d like.
The little things count and its gifts like these that
show you’re thinking about your partner when
you aren’t together.

5. Tips # 4
Make time!
Relationships need intimacy in order to
succeedso regular contact is essential.
If you don’t see much of your partner and
don’t feel like you miss them or need to see
them more regularly, then maybe it is time
to reassess whether you still have feelings
for this person. (This of course excludes
long-distance).

6. Tips # 5
Tell them you care!
After you’ve been together for a while,
the fact that you care for one another
becomes a given.
But not verbalizing your feelings for your
partner could lead to them to think you
no longer care for them and become
disillusioned with the entire relationship.
So make sure they know how strongly
you feel.

7. Tip # 6
Don’t hold back!
When you’re out with friends or in a
room full of strangers, make sure you
aren’t neglecting your partner because
‘people might see’.
If any thing, showing intimacy for them
in front of others solidifies your
relationship by showing you don’t care
what other’s think and you aren.t

8. Tip # 7
Keep your individuality!
Make sure you dedicate yourself
some ‘me’ time, even if it’s just
having a relaxing pampering session
of half-an-hour chilling in the bath
reading your favorite magazine.
Your relationship will do better for it.

9. Tip # 8
Make time for your friends!
One evening every week where you meet up
with friends for a girly catch up or a meal out
will give your relationship the space it needs
as well as giving your other half the
opportunity to catch up with their friends or
finish that book they’ve been reading for
ages.

10. Tip # 9
Make date nights!
Spending time together in a ‘date’ scenario
will remind you of the early days of your
relationship and keep that spark alive.
An occasional shopping trip, night at the
cinema, or meal out will bring back all the
feelings you had in the beginning and bring
you closer as a couple.

11. Tip # 10
Sitting down together and talking about
your future can be a daunting task,
especially if you’re worried you might not
want the same things.
But, explaining what you want and what
you want to be in 5 or 10 years will help your
partner understand what you want them
from a relationship and the longevity on it.
Set goals!

12. Tip # 11
Experience new things
together!
Going travelling, trying new things in the
bedroom, and even moving away to
university are experiences you can share
together.
This can be a bonding experience and can
make or break relationships but without
giving these things a go, how will you know if
your partner is truly the right person for you?

13. Tip # 12
Don’t wear rose tinted
spectacles!
Glazing over issues you have as a
couple is not a healthy way to deal
with them.
No matter how small or large the issue
is, it is best to air your feelings straight
away so that you can deal with it
together and give your relationship the

14. Tip # 13
Don’t be afraid to be
vulnerable!
Bottling up feelings never did anyone any
good, so if you have had an emotional
experience, sharing it with your partner can
be a great way to bond.
Showing your vulnerable side will make them
want to care and protect you, strengthening
the romantic side to your relationship.

15. Tip # 14
Remember why you got
together in the first place!
There are moments in every
relationship where you come to the
point of despair, often during an
intense argument.
But when the feelings of ‘why do I even
bother’ arise, remembering why you
initially got with your partner and all
the happy moments you’ve had
together can lift this feeling and help
you realize that all relationships have
their ups and downs, it’s how you deal

16. Tip # 15
Don’t forget to listen!
During an argument, It’s easy to see red and
scream obscenities at each other.
But calming down, and listening to each
other rather than having a screaming match
will help you resolve the problem much

17. Tip # 16
Appreciate the little things!
Whether its doing to washing up, cooking
your tea or surprising you with flowers,
learning to appreciate the small gestures
your partner makes to show that they
care can only be beneficial.
After all, if you don’t give any response at
all they might stop bothering!

18. Tip # 17
Don’t get sloppy!
Making sure you keep your hygiene and
grooming habits to the same standard
they were at the start of your
relationship, should be another obvious
one but it’s surprisingly common for
standards to slip.
Making an effort with your appearance
shows you want to remain attractive to
them and your commitment to the
relationship as a whole.

19. Sources:
• By Sophie Atherton @SophAthers
• http://relationships.femalefirst.co.uk/relationships/17-tips-for-
maintaining-a-long-term-relationship-286076.html