Keep things interesting
No one wants to fall into a dreaded relationship rut, and although
you don't have to worry about that happening in the beginning stages,
it's still a good idea to do what you can to ensure you steer clear of
monotony (like getting takeout from the same place
every Friday
night). The best way to avoid a rut is to keep things as interesting as
possible and consistently try new things together. Routines aren't all
bad, but it's when you find yourself doing the same things week in and
week out that you run the risk of relationship boredom.
- Try new places to eat and go for coffee.
- Try at least one new date idea every month (something that neither of you has done).
- Make meals you've never tried.
- Take day trips to towns or cities you've never been to.
Give each other space
When you're first in a relationship, all you want to do is spend
every waking minute together (often in bed), but despite your new love,
it's also important to have interests outside of each other. The time
you spend apart allows you to reflect on what's happening and gives you
time to fully process your feelings. Spending too much time together
doesn't give you any time to miss each other and can eventually be a
drain on the relationship. Carve out some solo time by hitting the gym,
going for a long walk or jog, seeing your own friends and doing the
activities you love that your guy may not be into.
Be open to discussion
Communication and being willing to discuss anything that comes in the
relationship is key to making a new relationship work. If you don't
talk about what's bothering you, it won't go away – it will just get
bigger and more frustrating. Whether it's sex, family, finances or just
his inability to let you finish a sentence, if it bothers you or you
feel it's hindering the relationship, you need to be able to discuss it
openly and honestly.
Be generous
Generosity is usually something that comes easily in the first blush
of love – he's taking you out, buying you flowers, calling all the time
and you're making him dinner, stocking your fridge with his favorite
foods and agreeing to watch more baseball games than you'd like. But
somewhere down the line, the generosity seems to wane. Keep your new
love strong and vibrant by continuing to be generous. You don't need to
spend a fortune, though. Generosity can be as simple as rubbing his back
after a hard day, knowing when he needs a sounding board or spending
the day doing something he wants to do because you know he needs a
boost.
Fight fair
It's inevitable that if you're in a relationship, you're going to
fight, but if you want yours to last, you're going to have to fight
fair. This means listening to each other, being open to discussing even
the more uncomfortable or frustrating topics and being flexible when
things don't go your way. If you can't resolve your arguments in the
early stages of a relationship, you aren't going to have much luck doing
it as time goes on. Fight fair now so you can learn from each other and
figure out the best ways to compromise when disagreements arise.
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Keep things interesting