How to Make a New Relationship Blossom

So, you’ve got the guy! Well done, the arduous game of deciphering whether they’re interested is over. Assuming he’s worth the effort, now comes the challenge of keeping the guy.

I’ve learnt a few of these along the way, and I try to bear them in mind in the hopes that my relationship will last.

Communicate. I’ll say that again: communicate. Talk to one another, about your days, your worries and your plans. Include each other in the minutiae of each other’s lives and they will grow together.
If the start of your relationship was characterised by good sex, try and maintain it. Put in the effort and you’ll feel much better for it.
Make time for each other. I used to cringe when couples posted “Date Night!” on social media, but it’s important to have some time together that doesn’t involve friends or housemates.
Try and learn something together. Take up a hobby, share existing interests, or read together. Whatever it is, sharing knowledge and helping each other grow will help to strengthen that bond between you.
Plan ahead, but not too far ahead. It’s likely to be safer to assume your partner will still be keen to go to the festival with you in three months, but booking flights for a wedding next year or the year after, might be a little risky.
Learn to compromise – seek help with this if needed. Speak to people who seem to excel in compromising, or speak with a professional.
Find out what your partner loves and dislikes about you. Aim to do more of the former and less of the latter.
Escape day-to-day life. If you can, book a little trip away. We’re easily stressed by life admin, so remove the catalyst and treat yourselves to quality time together.
Engage in each other’s passions. Take time to talk about and listen to what makes each other tick and share an experience together.
Maintain your sense of self. Ensure you take time to reconnect with yourself. Before this relationship, you were an ‘I’. After this relationship, you will be an ‘I’. And within this relationship, you are still an ‘I’. It’s not selfish to take time out and indulge in what you want to do. Your relationship will be all the better for it.

Photo by Dương Hữu on Unsplash