Significant others can bring you joy and companionship, but it’s no secret that maintaining a happy, two-sided relationship can be hard. When two people come together, they often have different opinions, different schedules, and different ways of doing things. This can cause problems, particularly in newer relationships in which couples have not yet established an adequate system of communication. The good news is that no matter where you are in your relationship, you can always improve your communication! Here are some ways you can implement better communication right now in your relationship:

Keep a Shared Calendar
Whether it’s for your work schedules, your date nights, events with friends and family, or planned time for your personal hobbies, keeping a calendar that you both have easy access to at all times can keep you on the same page and limit scheduling surprises or mismatched dates. My favorite way to keep a shared calendar is via iCloud (if you have iPhones); however, pen and paper work just as well! If you go the old school written calendar route, make sure the calendar is placed somewhere that you both have easy access to, such as on the refrigerator or the wall leading outside. If you feel you’re never sure when and where your significant other is, try using a shared calendar to cut back on the frustration.

Planned Date Nights 
Something I hear very frequently from my friends is that they don’t have time to date anymore. Whether you are dating, engaged, or have been married for 60 years, one way to a healthy and happy relationship is to keep dating! Becoming complacent in your relationship can lead to boredom and, thus, unhappiness. Going on new (or old) adventures together can be fun for all and is great bonding time for you and your significant other. When you feel that you are too short on time for dating, it’s time to take a look at your (shared) calendar and intentionally carve out some time to prioritize your partner. Planning early can help with this so that you don’t have other plans that will interfere. Sit down together and identify a day that you are both free, and get something on the calendar! For bonus points, plan a weekly, recurring date night. Once this becomes a regular part of your routine, you will realize the benefits a weekly outing has not only on your relationship, but also on your overall happiness.

Make Time
Building on our last category of planning date nights ahead of time, the next tip for improving communication with your significant other is to make time for him or her. I know that we are all busy, but we all have the same number of hours in the day. Making time for your loved one will show him or her that he/she is valued. So, how do you make time? If you spend every day of the week doing a personal hobby, consider foregoing the hobby for one day. Alternatively, if your day is fully booked, consider hiring some help around the house if you are able to. This will free up the time you spent cleaning, moving, taking care of family members/pets, etc. for you to spend with your SO. If you are moving, save some time with a moving company! Try looking into Consider it Moving. They are local movers Long Island who can help with everything under the sun, when it is related to moving. They can help with commercial moves, residential moves, labor only moving services, packing, and more. Moving your furniture out is important, but it isn’t terribly easy. With a moving company, the process becomes much less of a chore and it saves you so much time and effort, allowing you to connect with the people around you more.

Shared Hobbies (but have your own, too!)
Having hobbies that you enjoy are so good for you! Similarly, having shared hobbies with your significant other that you can both enjoy together are so good for your relationship. Shared hobbies mean you both can do something you enjoy, but you can enjoy the activity while spending quality time with each other. It’s a win-win! Make sure you continue with your own personal hobbies, as well. Alone time is also important!

Small Communications
Communication doesn’t have to mean you are talking all day everyday; in fact, this can often be too much communication for partners in a relationship. Sharing small communications throughout the day can be a healthy and effective way to communicate. For example, if you don’t see your SO in the morning, a quick text saying good morning can mean a lot. Similarly, in the afternoons, a quick message to say you’re heading home is a great small communication. If you think of something in the middle of the day that you’d like to chat about, shoot your loved one a quick text to say you’d like to chat about it later. Small communications can be incredibly effective.

In sum, there are many ways to improve your communication with your significant other without making huge changes in your life. Try keeping a shared calendar, planning date nights ahead of time, making time for each other by canceling personal events or hiring help such as a moving company, having shared hobbies, and utilizing small communications. Communication is the key to a long and happy relationship!

Thank you MoversBoost for the collaboration. MoversBoost is a digital marketing agency providing website design, SEO for movers, and Google Ads management.