One of the reasons my relationship is so strong is because we have an open door policy in every aspect of our lives, including the bathroom. We’ve chosen to be open about everything at all times, even if what we have to say is ugly and sometimes rude. In addition to pooping with the door open, we do these things together too.
- Get monthly pedicures Every couple needs their thing. My boyfriend and I get pedicures. It’s a vibe. The first time I took him to the nail salon, he was beyond uncomfortable. He didn’t know how to act or what to ask for. It was actually pretty dang hilarious, but the more we went, the more he turned into quite the pedicure advocate. I couldn’t have been more proud that he tried something out of his comfort zone and liked it.
- Practice empathy I’m not perfect and my boyfriend is most definitely not perfect, so there’s no reason why I should expect him to be my idea of the absolute best person at all times. It’s incredibly important that I put myself in my boyfriend’s shoes and appreciate all of his efforts because he does try to be a fantastic dude.
- Act interested in stuff we don’t care about I couldn’t care less about half the stories my boyfriend tells me. Hey, I’m just being honest here. Not only is he the worst storyteller but the information is always about cars, camping, hunting, and other topics I truly don’t want to talk about. I listen anyway. Why? Because not letting him talk would be messed up and rude. I act interested the same way he acts interested when I go on and on about the Hadid sisters.
- Avoid getting drunk I don’t drink and my boyfriend has seriously dialed his drinking down since meeting me (bless up). Ever since college, I’ve been incredibly turned off by people drinking and getting drunk. I just don’t like it and so many of my friends use drinking as a way to cope and forget. Seems like a slippery slip to me. My boyfriend and I don’t drink when we’re together. We have a 100% sober relationship.
- Ask for each other’s advice If I can’t talk to my boyfriend about important things, what’s the point? In order for my relationship to make it to the point it’s at now, we had to rely on each other. We had to talk to one another and help each other make those tough decisions. We still do now. My boyfriend and I have made the decision that we’re in this together, so our problems always revolve around “we” instead of “I.”
- Keep our drama off social media If someone who didn’t know me looked at my social media accounts, they would assume I wasn’t in a relationship. That’s because I have ZERO traces of him anywhere (besides the photos on my phone) and that’s how I’m going to keep it. I don’t want people thinking they know anything about my relationship simply because they can look at my feed and see a few pictures.
- Check in regularly Relationships change because the people in the relationship change. My boyfriend and I have both changed throughout our relationship. It was inevitable. That’s why we check in on each other to not only see how we’re doing in our personal lives but how we’re doing in our relationship as well. We ask if there’s anything new the other person wants to try in bed, if there’s anything about the other we wish was different, etc. The point is, we check in to make sure we’re both on the same page at all times.
- Touch without having sex Sex and touching don’t have to go hand in hand. I’ve been in relationships before where the only time we touched each other was when we were about to have sex. I didn’t think anything about it until I was in a relationship where touching wasn’t exclusively a sexual act. It’s very comforting to be intimate with someone without it leading somewhere.
- Give each other space Although we like spending time together, we know the importance of taking a break every now and then, not just so we can avoid smothering each other but so we can make time for the other people in our lives. We both have our own friends and families and we should make sure we’re spending time with them, separately.
- Ask too many questions I’m incredibly curious by nature. I ask a million and one questions usually when only one or two questions are really necessary. That’s just something I do. Thankfully, my boyfriend is accepting of my constant questioning even though I’m sure they get annoying. They help me in the relationship because I’m never left guessing or wondering.
- Provide too many updates There’s no such thing as talking to someone too much. My boyfriend and I aren’t addicted to each other or anything borderline creepy like that. We both just value communication in the same way. Our previous relationships have taught us what we need in a relationship, and one of those needs is security. We feel the need to update each other throughout the day on what we’re doing, where we are, and who we’re with. Whoever said there’s something wrong with keeping tabs on the person you’re dating?
