Now that Valentine’s Day has passed without incident, the red roses are wilting and the cursory card binned, it’s time to get back to the important stuff; being a better partner with each and every day.
Generosity, compromise, time and understanding; all ingredients of becoming a better man or woman for your family. But as we’ve all painfully experienced, life can sometimes get in the way of these lofty intentions. Don’t let it; even with a busy work schedule, the demands of keeping a house a home and whatever else this crazy ride might throw at you, there’s also room for improvement. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL tips for becoming a better partner.
MAKE MORE TIME FOR FAMILY
Yours, your partner’s and your own. Sure, it can be difficult to find extra time to spend with your loved ones, but we could all do with a redress of our work/life balance, right? Learn to prioritise, and to say no to commitments which don’t bring your joy and add value to your familial relationships. When the elderly express their life regrets, a wish to have worked more never gets mentioned. Just sayin’.
LEARN HOW TO LISTEN
Sure, we all hear stuff. But how often do we truly listen? One of the best ways to improve your relationships is to become a better listener. Reframe how you think about conversations; we’re all waiting for our turn to speak and so often pay little attention to the bits up until that point. But there’s so much value to be gained from taking a moment and really, truly opening your ears. You don’t always have to provide the answers – in fact, feeling you need to is the opposite of being a good listener. Instead, it’s that ear you’re offering that’s most important.
WORK ON THOSE MEANINGFUL MOMENTS
After years together as a couple, it can be so easy to settle into a routine; something comfortable – quaint, even. While admittedly lovely, such situations can risk you both taking the other – and your union – for granted. Make sure you try to inject a little spontaneity into proceedings from time to time, with thoughtful gestures and reminders of your love for one another, to keep that fire burning.
WORK ON BUDGETING
We got this far without mentioning one of the biggest romance killers around; money. When striving to be a better partner, the rather functional matter of finances can often be neglected. However, a financial sense of well-being, and a responsibility exacted in this department, can have a positive effect on that overall sense of household harmony. It’s a smart idea, then, to take your finances into consideration and create a sensible, sustainable budget so that you’re able to save when appropriate and spend when needed.
DIGITAL DETOX
Mobile devices are a great way to stay connected with your loved ones, sure, but they can also cause a huge problem if you’re on them too much. If you’re spending time with your family or are sitting in bed with your spouse, ditch the phone and avoid using it unless it’s absolutely necessary. By doing so, you’re better able to connect with the world around you and prevent unnecessary barriers being put up between you and your loved ones.