10 Innocent Habits That Could Hurt Your Relationship, and Ways to Fix Them

Many people still believe that a relationship is something that just happens to us. A survey showed that most people think soulmates exist. However, achieving long-lasting love isn’t usually easy, even when we meet the right person.

But since love is what we all need, we at Bright Side decided to touch on some common behavior that can destroy your relationship so that you can be aware of them.

1. You always compare your partner to others.

There are several reasons why comparing your partner with your exes can harm your relationship. First of all, it sets unrealistic expectations for your partner. Moreover, it certainly will make your partner feel worthless.

Try to focus on the appealing qualities of your partner instead of the flaws, which, humbly speaking, we all have. And always keep in mind that there is a serious reason why you and your ex aren’t together anymore.

2. You do everything together.

Even though doing different activities together makes a couple closer, it’s all about balance. In fact, experts advise couples to have time for themselves to pursue their own interests or just relax. Spending some time on your own can actually help to keep a relationship fresh and less stressful.

3. You display “loving” jealousy.

Jealousy always has a poisonous effect on a relationship. Thinking that it comes out of love for your partner, somehow justifying it, is not correct. Jealousy will not only make your partner think that you don’t trust them and want to control them, but it will also make you suffer. You’ll probably feel insecure and isolated all the time.

Specialists advise trying to acknowledge your jealous feelings, even if it may feel embarrassing. However, being able to understand why you feel the way you do will definitely help to overcome it and keep your relationship happier.

4. You try to be perfect.

You don’t need to be perfect to be in a happy and secure relationship. Concentrating too much on trying to always be in shape and looking perfect won’t do anyone any good. Instead, focus on yourself and your comfort so that you can become a more secure version of yourself.

5. You don’t feel confident.

When we aren’t confident in ourselves, we always wait around for our partner’s approval. But this really isn’t good for your relationship. In fact, feeling good about who you are and how you look is great for the relationship. Psychologists say that self-confidence is an attractive quality that will make your partner want to be closer to you.

6. You over-compromise.

It’s healthy for couples not to shy away from disagreement. Instead of compromising to avoid a conflict, you should feel safe to express things that bother you without fear of retaliation. In strong relationships, couples should learn to resolve conflicts without insisting on being right and with mutual respect.

7. You spend all the time before bed watching TV.

As research shows, even an additional hour in front of the TV can greatly harm intimacy between couples. It leaves less time for sleeping and relaxing and cuts off the time couples could’ve spent on more private things.

8. You try to solve your partner’s problems.

Even if you know how to solve a problem for your partner, it may not be the thing they need at the moment. As psychologists say, both emotional support and practical help are very important. So your partner may just need you to listen to them if they’re upset with something, not come up with a solution.

9. You don’t have a meal together.

As research shows, couples who eat together are much happier in their relationship. Moreover, such couples turned out to enjoy their meals more. So, if you want to be happy both with your partner and your dinner, just eat together as much as possible!

10. You wait for your partner to show affection.

If you want to keep your relationship happy and healthy, you should be able to express your love. And showing affection is the most straightforward way to do it. Experts say we should stay in touch with the part of ourselves that wants physical contact and is willing to give and receive affection.

What behaviors do you think can ruin a relationship?