Having a healthy and exciting relationship requires effort. A lot of it comes down to compatibility, of course, but that doesn't mean even the most perfect pair don't run into issues of their own.

Being a good partner will obviously depend on both your personalities, needs, goals, etc. But you also need to know how to overcome obstacles - big and small. Whether it be how to help your partner if she shuts down, how to argue properly with each other, how to prevent a sexless relationship, or even creative romantic ideas to keep things spicy.

Throughout this guide, we'll cover a number of topics:

• Surviving the holidays with your partner's family
• Ideas to spend quality time together
• How to have friends of the opposite sex
• Avoiding "tech" mistakes
• How to have a healthy argument in a relationship
• How to make relationships work long-distance
• Guide to helping your partner when they shut down

Surviving the holidays with your partner's family

For most couples, things get easier after the first time. For the unlucky few, things can even get worse as time goes on. But even if you're lucky and things get easier with time, it's probably not a walk in the park.

There's the in-laws, and maybe your partner's siblings are there with their partners, maybe lots of kids running around too. And if this is the first time for you, it's natural to feel extra-nervous about it.

Here's our full guide to surviving the holidays with your partner's family.

Ideas to spend quality time together

It’s difficult for couples to think of ideas for romance and spending quality time together as the years go on. It's not uncommon for one or both partners to prioritize career and not have enough time for each other. A lot of couples slip into a mundane routine as they can get too comfortable with the status quo.

It's important to prioritize spending quality time with each other and not take your relationship with each other for granted.

Develop common hobbies

Try to get involved in each others' interests/hobbies. You guys can even pick up new things together and have a shared learning experience which will bring you both closer to each other.

Take them to see your favorite band, or go see their favorite artist. Or hit up some music festival nearby and get new favorites together! Take up hiking so you can share walks through nature, just the two of you - maybe set up a picnic.

Maybe try taking improv classes together. It’s a great way to learn something new and build on experiences that you’ve already shared together.

Go on a weekend getaway

When you’re married, planning a long weekend together is the perfect set-up for a romantic adventure somewhere new, whether it’s a stay at a charming bed and breakfast or a camping trip. Whatever you choose for your getaway, just be sure to be prepared for romance by packing all of the essentials.

Treat yourselves to a spa day

Setting up a spa day with your significant other is a great way to unwind together. Getting professional massages together side-by-side is an incredibly intimate experience, and sets the stage for some steamy romance afterwards.

Plan a romantic vacation

When you’ve arrived at your happily ever after, you’ve graduated from weekend getaways and are ready for a full-blown vacation somewhere new and exciting. Exploring new restaurants, new local venues, and learning about new local customs with your partner has the effect of bringing you right back to when you were first dating and can be incredibly romantic.

Make a night of it at home

Some of the most romantic nights are spent curled up together on the couch watching your favorite movies or television shows. After being together for a while, and cuddle under some warm blankets can sometimes be the perfect avenue for romance.

Go on a road trip

A road trip is basically just a very long, extended date. When looking for romantic options to explore the world with your partner, nothing is more intimate than working as a team to plan out the stops you want to make and navigating the open road together. This could also be a great opportunity to dive into some of those new tunes you have been checking out together.

Check out the full guide on creative romance ideas for all stages of the relationship.

Having friends of the opposite sex

The title mentions the opposite sex, but it's just as applicable for same-sex friends if you're in a homosexual relationship. It's very common to find someone being jealous of their partner's friends.

Maybe you have a friend that your partner doesn't like you hanging out with. There might be valid reasons too. We're not saying that they're necessarily wrong. Regardless, it's important to have proper boundaries, ones that you're both comfortable with.

Honesty is the foundation of any relationship, and it's key to maintaining healthy friendships outside your relationship.

Check out our full guide on how to have friends of the opposite sex.

Avoiding "tech" mistakes

In the last couple of decades, technology has made a massive jump when it comes to communication. It's been so monumental, that it has changed how the average person interacts with the world and others around them.

This also means that there's a steep learning curve, and humans aren't fully prepared for it on a physiological level. Be it addictive mobile apps, issues with instant gratification, porn and videogame addictions, insecurity issues from social media, etc., there's a lot of things people have to deal with today that was totally absent just 2 decades ago.

And this strains couples too. Many relationships have failed for reasons that were impossible before contemporary technology appeared - Maybe you're glued to the screen all the time, or using social media to air disagreements instead of communicating with each other, etc.

Check out our full guide on digital communication problems to avoid in a relationship.

Having a healthy argument in a relationship

Conflict is unavoidable in relationships. Especially since you both have probably been together for a while now. In fact, if a couple doesn't even argue anymore, that relationship is not likely to last long. Indifference is the most surefire way for a relationship to fail.

And it's important to remember that couples can fight while still being compassionable and respectable towards the other person.

When you're in an argument with your partner, remind yourself that this is someone you love and trust. Someone whose opinion you value on most things in life. It is so easy to fall into the “I’m right, you’re wrong” mentality when we’re fighting, but remember that these feelings, while they may differ from yours, are valid and real to your partner, simply because they are experiencing them. So be curious about where these feelings stem from, what actions or words sparked them? How long have those feelings been stewing?

Check out our full guide on how to stop fighting and start arguing healthily

How to make relationships work long-distance

No one imagines a long-distance relationship when they get hitched, but sometimes a couple has to deal with it for a while. Maybe one of you has to move away to another city for a couple of years due to work, maybe one of you is in the military, maybe one of you works on an offshore facility and have to spend weeks and months away from your family, etc.

There are many reasons why a couple may need to learn how to make long-distance work, but whatever it is, the obstacles one faces are usually quite common.

Jealousy is one of the biggest reasons long-distance relationships are put to test. Both halves of the couple get to see their significant other far less than they would prefer and far less than they would be able to in a ‘normal’ relationship. Where a standard couple may be able to spend time together once a week or more, LDR couples may be lucky to see each other a few times a month, or even a few times a year.

Sometimes, this longing for quality time in-real-life can develop into a major pain point for the relationship - and when that pain point becomes projected toward another individual (usually a close friend or coworker), the pangs of jealousy you might feel can have very real impacts on your relationship.

Check out our full guide on how to make relationships work long-distance.

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