Tips to nurture your relationships

Love and relationships come sharply into focus at this time of year, so we wanted to look at some ways you can nurture your relationships.

This could be a relationship with a partner, a relationship with a family member, a friend, or even with yourself. Below are a few hints to help you strengthen your relationships.

Disconnect to connect

Be honest, how many times do you find yourself with other people… while you’re on your phone? You’re there, but not really. Don’t worry, we all fall victim to this.

When you’re spending quality time with someone, try imposing a phone/device ban. This shows that you’re fully ‘there’ and listening to everything the other person has to say without getting distracted.

This includes when you’re spending time alone. It can be tempting to while away hours on social media, but try to have a few phone/device-free evenings and reconnect with yourself and what makes you happy. Try reading a book, journaling or even drawing.

Try something new

We can fall into routines, getting stuck in a rut with what we do with our partner/friends. Perhaps you and your partner always go to the same restaurant on date nights, or maybe you and your friends always meet at the same coffee shop.

Try mixing things up a bit and try something new. Go somewhere you’ve never been before or have a go at a new activity. We bond with people when we share new experiences, so this is a simple way to feel closer.

Remember the small gestures

Often it isn’t the grand declarations that we rely on to feel close to another person, it’s the little things. A text to your partner during the day reminding them you love them. A phone call to a friend after they’ve had a job interview. A card to your sister to let her know you’re thinking of her.

These small gestures go a long way. Again, this can be applied to your relationship with yourself – treat yourself to a pamper evening, congratulate yourself when you’ve kicked butt at work. If you can’t appreciate and love yourself, who will?

How do you nurture your relationships? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!