Dating someone means you enjoy being around them and you connect with them deeply than anyone else—so it shouldn’t be that hard to make things work, right? Wrong. Let’s face it, every couple go through many ups and downs. A strong relationship is not just a one-time victory, but it’s a work in progress. How long-standing couples conquer everything? Love experts let us in on the secrets of happy couples in maintaining happy relationship with their partner.

1. Healthy Communication

Communication plays a crucial role to develop the capacity to relate. A healthy communication between you and your partner makes resolving conflicts a lot quicker and easier.

2. Quality Time

When in a relationship, it’s important that you feel each other’s commitment, physically and emotionally. Once in a while, find time to go on a romantic date or to just stay indoors, watch your favourite movie, and enjoy each other’s company.

3. Time Apart

Spending time together is important, but spending time apart is just as important as well. Being in a relationship doesn’t mean you have to do everything together. Maintaining healthy boundaries and independence will create a healthy environment for a long-lasting partnership.

4. Moral Support

Couples in strong relationships support and encourage one another in their individual pursuits, and most especially in their lowest times. Make sure to affirm your beloved’s goals, dreams, and existence. Treat your relationship as a chance to bring out the best in each other.

5. Appreciation

Oftentimes, we forget to let the important people in our lives know how much we appreciate them. While this gesture is so simple, it can significantly boost a person’s confidence, inspiring them to do better. Show your appreciation to your partner by words, letters, acts of kindness, or anything that you think the best person in your life deserves.

6. Choosing the Right Battle

Not all issues have to turn into a fight. Although it’s crucial to bring issues up and work through it, choosing the right arguments save you the heartache and hard times. Arguing with your partner about where to have coffee should not be one of those.

7. Kissing Slowly

Share some time and space with your partner. An intimate time together makes each other feel secured despite all the fights and the crazy schedules. Kiss your partner slowly and mindfully, and enjoy every second of the experience.

There are no perfect relationships, so there’s no need to strive for perfection. If you embrace each other’s imperfections and learn to deal with them, that’s how you’re likely to have a long and happy relationship.