Relationships are the bonds of affection and attachment between people. They can be romantic or nonromantic, and can include kinship by blood, marriage, adoption or affinity. They can also refer to the social connections you have with people that are not necessarily considered a formal relationship, such as casual acquaintances or friends.
In healthy relationships, both partners are able to give each other space. They also make it a point to spend quality time together, whether it be going for a walk, watching a movie or reading a book. This helps improve communication and enhances emotional and physical intimacy, as well as friendship between the partners. It’s also important to have couple culture, such as making it a habit to watch one movie together a week or having your own mini-book club.
The foundation of a relationship is trust. In a healthy relationship, you trust your partner not to hurt you emotionally or physically, and they trust you to do the same. This includes being honest with each other, even about hard things that are difficult to talk about. It also includes communicating effectively about sex and intimate issues, especially in romantic relationships.
A relationship requires work, but not in the way that a lot of people think. It’s the kind of work that can be fun, inspiring or engaging, just like a hobby you love or a school project you really get into. And it’s definitely worth it – research shows that healthy, committed relationships bring many benefits, including lower stress levels, restful sleep and improved mental health.