Family, friends and loved ones come into our lives when we least expect it. That’s why it’s important to keep building relationships with these people, as we may never know what the future holds. Nurturing these relationships over time creates meaning and purpose in our lives.

For those who don’t know, relationship nurturing is a branch of social psychology in which people are encouraged to treat their relationships with others as if those relationships were living things.

This process helps people get closer to partners, family and friends. In addition, relationship nurturing encourages them to take steps to ensure the long-term survival of their relationships.

Here are seven tips to help ensure your loved ones know how much you care about them.

1. Appreciate your partner

Appreciating your partner is a way of showing love and respect.

It involves giving thanks, expressing admiration, and being grateful for what they do to help you. You can show appreciation by giving warm compliments, praising someone’s accomplishments or telling them how lucky you feel to be with them.

Appreciation is essential because it makes people feel good about themselves and helps promote positive relationships.

2. Be affectionate

You’re so used to doing things with and around your partner that it doesn’t feel as memorable as it once did. But touch is one of the most powerful ways to express love and affection! Touching someone important to you can help them feel loved, appreciated, cared for and more connected to you.

Touching your partner can also help break down barriers and make us feel closer, more connected and more open.

And when we think about what touches mean for us (like massage), we know that touching has physiological benefits, too. For example, studies show that massage helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost immunity.

3. Have more sex

It may seem cliché, but sex is good for your relationship and health.

Experts say that couples who have sex once or twice a week are happier than those who have it more or less often. This is because having sex releases hormones that make us feel happy, relaxed and connected with our partners.

Sex doesn’t always have to happen inside the bedroom. Try having sex while cooking, during a shower together or even on vacation if you’re feeling adventurous!

4. Set aside time alone together

Make time to spend with your partner. If you don’t schedule time together, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to make room for each other in your schedules.

Set up a date night once a month, even if you have been married for several years! Pick out a restaurant you’ve never tried before or do something new, like see the sunset from atop a mountain (of course, if you live near one).

Plan a vacation! Go somewhere new, see some sights, eat great food and explore an area of interest together. Vacations are perfect for couples to bond over shared experiences, create memories, and strengthen their relationship by exploring new places.

5. Take care of yourself

When you are overwhelmed by your job and family work, take a break from your partner and friends to look after yourself.

Self-care helps to ensure your physical and psychological well-being. As we all know, when you’re healthy, you have more energy to care for others. It gives more energy to get through stressful times.

6. Give each other space

Giving each other space is a must in a long-term relationship.

It’s not rocket science, but it can be hard to do in practice! One way I like to make sure my partner knows I’m still thinking about him or her when we’re apart is by sending them a daily text message with something that makes me think of them.

For example, if your boyfriend likes Star Wars, send him a picture of Chewbacca sleeping on his face along with the message: “I hope this made you smile.” This simple gesture will show him that even though there are miles between you during the day, your mind is still on him at night.

7. Surprise each other with fun stuff

Getting stuck in a pattern of repeatedly doing the same things can be easy as a relationship grows.

If that’s been happening in your life, it’s time to shake things up! You can surprise each other with fun stuff that will bring a smile to both of your faces. For example, they surprise each other with a romantic getaway and gifts they’ve always wanted but couldn’t afford, or they leave little notes or cards around the house for them to find.

If you want to keep the spark alive in your relationship, try surprising each other with something new once in a while!

8. Show Gratitude 

Show gratitude for the little things. Expressing your appreciation can be as simple as saying thank you for a date night or doing something you like. It can also involve saying thank you for supporting your partner through times of stress and difficulty.

Thank your partner for supporting you. This is especially important if they have been there to help you through difficult times, such as when the kids were sick or when one of you lost a job (or both!). Nurturing your relationship involves consistent gratitude and appreciation for each other. 

9. Keep a little mystery

In a relationship, there should be room for mystery.

You shouldn’t feel like you have to share every detail of your life with your partner, nor should they. When you have something important going on, keep some things to yourself until the right time comes. Don’t overshare on social media, and don’t immediately talk about all your problems with someone new to get their sympathy or attention (this goes both ways).

Love thrives on mystery! It keeps us coming back for more because we want to know what’s going on in the minds of our partners and how they think about themselves and their lives. On the other hand, we want them to hold onto some parts of themselves and keep those private so we can discover them together as part of our journey.

10. Accept your partner’s flaws

Accepting your partner’s flaws means not putting them on a pedestal.

You know they have the same weaknesses and limitations as anyone else, so you can loosen up and be less critical of yourself. It also helps you relax about what bothers you about your partner, so things flow naturally for both of you instead of fighting about what he does or says.

The Bottom Line

If you want your relationship to flourish, you must consider the other person first. You have to open up and trust the other person to be there for you just like you are for him or her.

You do not only focus on your goals but also contribute and develop yourself together with your partner. It is all about commitment, respect, and understanding. The longer you keep nurturing these things in your relationship, the more happiness you will get.