10 Habits of Couples in Strong and Healthy Relationships

I have been in relationship before and it give me a history and I'm looking forward for the future. I had to admit it's been hard for me before. Well anyway, this article reminds me to be able to in love again.

Author by Sara Altschule

What makes for a healthy romantic relationship differs from couple to couple. Forming a trusting and positive partnership takes effort and time. And unfortunately, it doesn't just happen overnight. For any relationship to grow strong and stay strong, you need to put in some work. Below are some habits that will create and maintain a happy and healthy twosome.

Communication

Communication is key. It is one of the most important qualities in keeping a healthy relationship. However, not everyone knows how to communicate properly, or even communicate at all. Happy and healthy couples have their communication game down. They communicate the good. They vocalize their love for one another, saying "I love you" often and offering compliments to their partner. They also discuss the bad, instead of sweeping issues under the rug. In order to move forward and grow as a couple, you two need to be able to truly talk about your feelings. No matter how awkward or uncomfortable it feels, it will make for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship.

Respect

Aretha Franklin sang a while song about it, so you know it's got to be important. Respecting your partner comes in many forms. Maintaining a joyful relationship means respecting your partner's time, heart, character, and trust. However, there are many things people do in relationships that can break down respect between one another. Some of these include name-calling, talking negatively about the other to friends or family, and/or threatening to leave the relationship.

Quality Time, Not Quantity

It's all about quality over quantity. It doesn't matter how much time you and your partner spend together. The most important part is about the quality of this time. There's a huge difference between having dinner at a table while talking about your day at work, versus having dinner while sitting on a couch watching the latest episode of The Voice. It's fine to zone out together and enjoy distractions, but it's crucial to make sure you two are still engaging and spending quality time together to maintain a deep connection.

Time Apart

Spending time together with your partner is important. But just as important is spending time apart. Being able to do your own things and remain independent is vital. When couples spend too much time together, it can create an unhealthy codependent relationship. Maintaining healthy boundaries and some autonomy will make for a long-lasting partnership.

Love Languages

Gary Chapman created the notion that men and women have five love languages. The concept is that people have unique ways of feeling loved. The five love languages are: words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, acts of service, and physical touch. It's important to know what love language speaks to you, along with your partner's, and they might be different. Telling each other what makes you feel loved and special helps both of you stay connected. Furthermore, make sure you are attending to your partner's love language consistently.

Appreciation

Often, we forget to let other people in our lives know that we appreciate them. We think it, but we don't remember to show it. This occurs in our romantic relationships as well. Show your special someone that you love him or her. This could be done by words, cards, flowers, acts of kindness, or more. Remember, a flower a day keeps the relationship fights at bay. Okay, maybe not every day, but you get the point.

Positive Vs. Negative

Sometimes we get caught up in the negative. We hate our jobs, are annoyed with our friends and our boyfriend or girl friend is getting on our last nerve. Uh oh, have we been drinking too much of that half empty glass? It's vital that we look at our partner's positive qualities versus the negative. Nobody is perfect, and that includes our significant other. So instead of focusing on the bad in the other person, let's make a conscious effort to look at the good.

Pick and Choose Your Battles

There are arguments to be had in every relationship. It's crucial to bring issues to the forefront and work through the hard times together. However, I don't think arguing over your girlfriend using your favorite coffee cup should be one of those. You don't want to be the girl who cried "argument," do you? Pick and chose your battles wisely, because people in happy and healthy relationships do.

Sex

Let's talk about sex, baby. Let's also talk about how important it is in cultivating a flourishing relationship. Sex is simple. The more you have it, the more you want it. The other side of that is true as well. The less you have it, the less you want it.. And, unfortunately, the less you feel connected to your partner will follow. Keep your sex life alive and interesting. "Spicing it up" is not just meant for the kitchen.

No Comparisons

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Or even if it is, it might not be the kind of grass you would even like. We often compare our lives to others - what jobs people have, their homes, or their clothes. And with the help of social media, we tend to compare our relationships as well. But the happiest of couples don't look to see what the grass looks like on the other side. They are happy with the view out their own front door.

Sara Altschule

Sara Altschule is a dating coach, relationship expert and blogger of all things love. Sara received her Master's in Counseling Psychology with the goal of helping others in the dating and love department. She is on a love mission, one heart at a time. Sara enjoys a bagel or two, watching Real Housewives until her brain explodes and puppy pictures. Don't judge.

Snoring, how do we stop them?

I'm a big snorer myself. I hate to snore but when i snore I know that i rest well. I don't want this to effect my partner in future. So i found an article about solutions to stop snoring.

Suffer From Snoring? This New Doctor Trusted Solution Stops Snoring and Lets You Sleep

Article by MySnoringSolution

If you constantly feel exhausted, experience headaches for no obvious reason and have high blood pressure, it could be the result of snoring.

More than a simple annoyance, snoring is also the most common symptom of a potentially serious health problem - obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Over 18 million Americans snore, and it's related to OSA. People who suffer from OSA repeatedly and unknowingly stop breathing during the night due to a complete or partial obstruction of their airway. It occurs when the jaw, throat, and tongue muscles relax, blocking the airway to used to breathe. The resulting lack of oxygen can last for a minute or longer, and occur hundreds of times each night.

OSA has been linked to:

• Acid reflux
• Frequent night time urination
• Memory loss
• Stroke
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Heart attack

People over 35 are at higher risk.

OSA can be expensive to diagnosis and treat - up to $5,000 - and those treatments can sometimes be quite painful. Plus, they're not always covered by insurance.

However, a recent study published by Eastern Virginia Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine concluded that wearing a simple chinstrap while sleeping can be an effective treatment for OSA.

7 Ways to Always Do What You Say You'll Do

No one likes to admit they aren’t a superhero. I’m no exception. I’ve often agreed to “one thing too many,” only to turn around and find that pleasing everyone just wasn’t possible because of something else I’d already said I’d do. If this sounds familiar, chances are, you’ve had at least one person close to you tell you how much you disappointed them or how badly you screwed up their plans. The good news is, there really is a way to get more organized and make sure you can always keep your promises. 7 ways, to be more precise. Use these 7 ways to always do what you say you’ll do to keep your life more organized and balanced.

1) Don’t agree to or promise anything you’re not absolutely sure you can deliver.

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This seems simple, but it may actually be the hardest thing on this list. You agree to a favor for a friend. Then your boss nails you with a big project that has a tight deadline. Next, your spouse asks you to undertake a repair job that goes from “fifteen minutes and a screwdriver” to “four hours, no end in sight, and every single tool in the toolbox.” Finally, your college professor wants to meet with you about your performance, all in the middle of Pluming-geddon. What do you do? Some things can’t wait. We understand this. So the things that can may have to, but once you’ve agreed to it, you had better provide. You owe it to yourself and those around you.

2) Keep a reasonable schedule.

A reasonable schedule doesn’t mean working for 48 hours straight and then sleeping for 12. A reasonable schedule involves making time for your obligations, your family, and yourself. If you find yourself buried under a couple of big projects, or a plethora of smaller ones that threaten to interfere with that, it is time to stop and reevaluate what you’re doing.

3) Be honest, to yourself and the people you make promises to.

Honest Tea Cap (Photo credit: Dome Poon)

“Oh, sure, that’ll be easy!” “I can do that in two shakes, no problem!” “Pffffft….of course I’m sure!” (All the while, your inner voice is screaming, “And just where are you going to find the time for all that, Chuckles?”) We all want to appear confident and capable in front of our peers, our employers, or our families. Nothing shreds that perception faster than trying to bluff about how much you can do in a day. You’ve only got 24 hours. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. You’ll get more respect by saying, “I can’t, because…” than you will by getting yourself buried in projects with no end in sight.

4) Don’t make excuses.

If you’ve gotten yourself in over your head, don’t make excuses or try to pass the blame off on someone else. You got yourself in too deep, and need to own this. Just be honest and let the chips fall where they may. You might be surprised at how understanding most people are, if you only give them the chance to be.

5) Say no to things.

Sometimes, there’s only one way to deal with someone who’s trying to add that last straw onto your back. The word “no” exists in every language on Earth for a reason, folks. If you’re about to hit that “one straw too many,” this is what the word “no” is for! It’s better to refuse something than to put your entire schedule in jeopardy and derail all the promises you’ve made because you tried to do too much.

6) Suggest compromises or alternate suggestions.

If you can’t drop everything to deal with something right now, maybe you can think of a compromise or the name of someone else who can do it better, faster, or who’s just less busy. Rather than a flat “no,” this is a productive alternative for showing that although you’re busy beyond any reasonable definition of sanity, you’re still willing to take time to help out. Even if it’s not in the way the other person or people hoped for, that counts for something.

7) Understand that you are only human, and expect the same from others.

I very much doubt you’re wearing an S on your chest, hail from a planet with a red sun, or have an allergy to glowing green crystals of extraterrestrial origin. While it can be tempting to try to impress the people around you by doing more by 8am than they’ll do all day, it’s not really necessary. If you have people around you who don’t seem to understand that you’re only human, it’s time to have a talk with them and explain it to them in a way that cannot be misinterpreted. If YOU don’t understand that you’re only human, you need to take a time-out and a reality check. You’re going to hurt yourself if you don’t. You’ll be more productive, healthier, and happier for it!

14 Signs You're Really Happy (And How To Stay That Way)

If someone on the street asked you if you were happy -- what would you say?

Many factors influence how we feel on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s a struggle at work or an issue in our personal lives, and most of them can decline our feelings of positivity and well-being. And we aren’t alone -- according to the 2013 World Happiness Report, North American countries are less happy now than they were five years ago. But, as scientific research has discovered, happiness, to some extent, is a choice -- so why does it sometimes feel so hard to choose it?

One answer is a bit surprising: As it turns out, we may be more joyful than we realize -- we just aren't mindful of the signs. While no one can escape the pressures of jobs, inevitable conflicts and even bouts of depression and anxiety, much of our emotional well-being isn’t entirely dependent on external circumstance. To find more happiness, you might just want to look on the bright side. Below find 14 signs you really do have a sunny disposition -- and how to keep it that way.

You want others to share in your happiness.

Whether it’s paying someone a compliment or performing a random act of kindness, when you’re really happy, you want others to be happy too. And sharing that joy can help continue those positive feelings -- studies have shown that being kind to others can actually help increase your overall happiness levels.

You don’t sweat the small stuff...
Just miss the train? Spill your coffee? It doesn’t matter. If focusing on what’s important and not obsessing over minor annoyances is a priority of yours, it may be a sign that you’re in a good place. Research has shown that those who swap focusing on the small, everyday negatives for emphasis on brief, joyful moments tend to be happier overall. Happy people don’t deny that there are peaks and valleys in life -- but by concentrating on what goes right instead of what goes wrong, you set yourself up for longer-term contentment and greater resilience when dealing with negative events.

...In fact, you appreciate the little things.
Nothing is greater than hearing your favorite song come on the radio or being outside and hearing a few birds chirp. The little things are what contentment is composed of -- and you recognize that. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude is a key component to a happy life, and if you’re thankful for the little things that make you smile, then it’s a good sign you’re on the right path.

You’re proud of other people’s successes.

When you’re happy, not only do you revel in your own accomplishments, you also bask in the success of others as well. You know that celebrating other people’s victories connects you to others and offers a bit of good karma in the form of maintaining your own sunny outlook. As motivational speaker and coach Tai Goodwin explained in her blog on The Huffington Post, expressing genuine joy for other people can really pay off when it comes to your own happiness:

Rejoicing with others creates an opportunity to multiply the good times you get to celebrate. By seizing every chance to sincerely congratulate other's on their success, you are creating an atmosphere for others to be willing to celebrate your successes.

Living in the moment is very important to you.
Happy people know that living in the here and now is key to perpetuating a positive disposition. In his TED talk on how to be happier, happiness researcher Matt Killingsworth detailed how getting lost in the present moment actually increases our feelings of joy. After developing an app that measures happiness in real time, Killingsworth found that most people were at their happiest when they were focusing on the current moment.

“As human beings we have this unique ability to have our minds stray away from the present,” Killingsworth said in the November 2012 talk. “Maybe to really be happy we need to stay completely immersed and focused on our experience in the moment ... as it turns out, people are substantially less happy when their minds are wandering than when they are not.”

You’re in a healthy relationship (and not just with your significant other).

As a happy individual, you know that people -- not things -- are the true keys to a joyful existence. Physical and emotional intimacy are both important contributors when it comes to maintaining overall happiness levels.

In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Research in Personality, researchers found that marriage can protect against the normal declines in happiness levels that may occur during adulthood -- but you’re also deeply aware that’s not the only critical component to building a happy life. By making sure you have an extended social circle, you open yourself up for more joy -- especially as you get older. According to a study published by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, being surrounded by a larger social circle during midlife has a positive impact on psychological well-being. By keeping healthy, interactive relationships -- with friends and significant others -- you’re making a large contribution to your overall happiness.

When something is stressing you out, you know how to calm down.

Keeping stress at a minimum is key to a happier lifestyle -- and if you’re really happy, chances are you’ve found some stress-relieving practices that work for you. As Heidi Hanna, a fellow at the American Institute of Stress and author of the book Stressaholic, points out, having go-to tricks helps you fight off everyday stressors that you may not even know are affecting you.

“It’s important at the first sign of stress that you have go-to strategies because it allows your brain to stay more flexible,” Hanna tells The Huffington Post. “By having certain tricks like taking a break, or meditating, you can think more positively and practice things like gratitude because your brain is more open to seeing the positive around you.”

Studies have shown that practicing meditation or spending a chunk of time exercising each day can not only lower your stress levels, but it can also make you a more positive individual.

Burning off some steam with your best friends can also help reduce anxiety and increase your happiness levels. Whatever method it is, you know what works for you in times of distress -- and you use it whenever necessary in order to keep those bad vibes in check.

You’ve gotten your “affluenza” shot.
Happy people know that money isn’t the influencer of joy -- in fact, after a certain point, it may even hurt their well-being. Recent data has suggested that people who pursue material goods -- as opposed to the pursuit of emotional fulfillment -- tend to be less satisfied and express fewer positive emotions each day. Instead of seeking the latest gadget in the store, you’re seeking other things (like good relationships) that have a positive impact on your life -- and that is making a significant contribution to your overall happiness.

You’re constantly adopting a glass-half-full mentality.
When you’re happy, you want to do everything in your power to make sure you’re capitalizing on those emotions. So when life throws you a lemon, you throw a party. Adopting a realistic optimistic attitude has been linked to greater success and overall happiness, and optimists even have healthier hearts and stronger immune systems. If you’re constantly looking on the bright side -- even when it’s a challenging situation that would normally get you down -- you know overall you’re really happy with life (because you intend to keep it that way).

You have a sister.

You may not think of your little sister as the key to your happiness or your older sister as an optimistic influence, but research conducted by the University of Ulster suggests otherwise. The 2011 findings showed that having at least one female sibling made both young men and women more able to communicate effectively and maintain positive emotions.

Making new friends seems to come easy for you.

People want to surround themselves with those who make them feel good, so others are easily drawn to you. In a study published by the British Medical Journal, people naturally choose to connect with those who are happy because it improves their own happiness levels. Researchers found that if a social contact is happy, it can increase the likelihood that you are happy by 15 percent.

You’ve reached a goal (and you have more you want to accomplish).
If you’re really happy, chances are your feelings have been reinforced by obtaining goals you’ve set for yourself -- and you’re not stopping there. A 2011 study published by the the Journal of Consumer Research found that those who set themselves up for higher goals tend to be more satisfied with their lives than those who keep lower expectations. And it makes sense. Having something to work toward -- and then ultimately achieving it -- can help boost our feelings of personal worth. As Carleton University psychology professor Timothy Pychyl explained in a 2008 Psychology Today essay, pursuing our passions just makes us feel good.

“Progress on our goals makes us feel happier and more satisfied with life,” Pychyl wrote. “Interestingly, positive emotions have the potential to motivate goal-directed behaviors and volitional processes that are necessary for further goal progress or attainment.”

You say cheese.

Can your yearbook photo offer insight into your happiness? Possibly. According to a DePauw University study, adults who fashioned big grins in their school photos were actually less likely to be unhappily divorced decades later. “The explanation with the most support, is that people who smile in their photographs have a more positive disposition and more extensive social network. When life throws us inevitable curveballs, those with a positive emotional disposition and strong social support tend to thrive,” explained study researcher Matthew Hertenstein in his book The Tell: The Little Clues That Reveal Big Truths about Who We Are. If you can’t stop grinning from ear-to-ear whenever there’s a camera around, there’s a good chance you’re actually boasting a positive disposition.

There’s nothing keeping you tossing and turning at night.
You may not think that you’re feeling content -- but if you’re not tossing and turning, it may be a sign that you’re living a life of happiness. A 2013 Cornell University study found that those who have consistent positive emotions tend to get a better night’s sleep. Researchers studied 100 participants and found that those whose reactions vary to life’s daily ups and downs tend to suffer in sleep quality compared to those who have stable, optimistic outlooks.

8 Reminder to avoid being late for your appointment, meeting, or interview.

Do you find yourself running late to appointments and meetings? Wondering how you can successfully get a grasp on your time and schedule?

Here are eight ways to help you arrive on time for appointments, every time.

1. Make a list of items you’ll need for regular appointments.

Do you waste time every week trying to think of all the different items you’ll need to bring with you for a recurring appointment? Save time by writing out a list of all the different items you’ll need to pack. If you’re meeting your personal trainer at the gym, you might list workout clothes, sneakers, towel, water bottle, gym membership card, and gym bag. Drop this list into your calendar for easy reference.

2. Pack your bag a few hours in advance.

Your mind is super-busy and occupied when it comes to leaving on time for appointments. Instead of waiting until the last minute to pack up your belongings, start early and pack things up a couple of hours in advance when your mind is still cool, calm and collected. Of course, you might not be able pack everything all at once, but you can rest a little easier knowing a good chunk of your packing is already completed.

3. Stop multi-tasking before leaving for an appointment.

Do you check email, text, watch TV and play with your pets as you get ready to leave for your appointment? Declare a ban on multi-tasking and focus your efforts on getting ready to leave and only getting ready to leave.

4. Get out of the habit of doing “just one more thing” as you’re getting ready to leave.

Stop! Back away from that stack of papers that needs to be filed and that pile of laundry that needs to be folded. Just like multi-tasking, starting “just one” new task as you’re getting ready to leave for an appointment is disruptive to your schedule and often takes over your initial goal of leaving on time. The next time you feel yourself reaching to complete an extra task, stop, take a deep breath, and fix your mind on getting yourself and your belongings ready for your meeting.

5. Don’t schedule back-to-back appointments.

Scheduling appointments back-to-back is a recipe for lateness. If any one of your appointments runs late or is delayed, you’ll be behind schedule and will have to make up for lost time.

6. Schedule travel time in your calendar.

Penciling travel time into your calendar makes it crystal clear as to when you need to stop your work, pack up, and hit the road. Once you start dropping travel time into your calendar, you’ll become more and more aware of how much time you actually need to get from point A to point B.

7. Create a time buffer for yourself.

Going from appointment to appointment can be fraught with travel delays, communication snafus and other headaches. Make things more comfortable for yourself by adding a buffer of more time in addition to your travel time. At the very least, you’ll have enough time to arrive at your destination and get settled in comfort, and if you do find yourself running a bit later than usual, you’ll have this buffer of time to cover any unforeseen delays.

8. Plan to catch a specific train, bus, ferry, plane, etc.

Don’t expect there to be a public transportation connection when you need it! If you’re not careful about how you plan your travel, you might arrive thirty seconds too late for a bus that would have taken you to your destination on time. In malaysia, waze is only closest to plan your travel schedule. 

What type of time management tip are you going to use to arrive on time for appointments? Please leave your comment to us below.