A healthy partnership is made up of two healthy individuals. Whether newly engaged, recently married, or a seasoned spouse, prioritizing your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing is vital to ensuring the health of the relationship. Taking care of your own needs will cultivate resilience as an individual and as a partner throughout the peaks and valleys of life.
To bolster your inner strength and safeguard the resilience of your relationship, try implementing these 14 habits.
Take care of yourself
1. Treat yourself to foods that will support both your physical and psychological health. Making sure your diet consists of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is a key component to investing in your wellbeing.
2. Exercise regularly. Make it part of your routine to work out at least a few days a week. Fit additional movement into your days whenever possible.
3. Prioritize sleep. If possible, go to bed at the same time each night. Be sure your room is conducive to rest, investing in pillows or a mattress that will support your back or black out drapes to keep out the streetlights.
4. Plan for fun. Amid life’s responsibilities, take breaks to laugh and play games to lift spirits and improve your mental state.
5. Adjust your inner dialogue. If you find often that your self-talk is discouraging or depreciating, replace those negative phrases with motivational ones. Build the habit of speaking to yourself as you would a friend.
6. Develop a grateful outlook. Keep a gratitude journal and express appreciation to those around you at home, church, or the workplace. Thankfulness increases self-esteem and joy.
7. Nurture your relationships. Connect over dinner regularly with your family or schedule weekly coffee dates with friends.
8. Reach out when you are in need. Utilize those relationships! When you are struggling, call or text family and friends; let others know just how they can help you in a difficult season.
Believe in yourself
1. Follow through on your commitments. Demonstrate that you can handle the ebbs and flows of life and stand strong. Recognize and appreciate the unique gifts, strengths, and talents God has instilled within you to use within this life.
2. Commit to forgiving yourself and others. Release those that have hurt you of their debt. Accept that everyone makes mistakes and choose to use moments of disappointment as opportunities for growth.
3. Outline personal goals that are well-defined, challenging, and achievable. Writing down and sharing goals can motivate you to reach for dreams you might otherwise not achieve.
4. Strive to walk in honesty and authenticity. Demonstrate the humility needed to receive input from others, while maintaining the inner strength to trust your instincts.
5. Find fulfillment in meaningful work. Whether at your day job, or through hobbies and volunteer opportunities, make time and energy to take part in activities that agree with your core beliefs and purpose.
6. Explore your faith and ask questions. Just as nurturing your mental state and physical body is crucial to resilience, faith can play a key role in understanding and making peace with yourself.
Do you prioritize your physical and mental wellbeing?
Which habits will you implement to cultivate resilience in your life and relationship today?
