Your health is a significant factor in your relationships. Good health means good communication, intimacy, and energy levels. Conversely, poor health can lead to fights, distance, and resentment. Hence, you should take good care of yourself first before you start caring for anyone else.
When one or both partners are unhealthy, having a positive and fulfilling relationship can be challenging. Here are some tips on maintaining good body health so that you and your partner can enjoy a healthy and happy relationship.
Physical Health
Maintaining good physical health is essential for having a happy and healthy relationship. When you’re physically fit, you feel better mentally and emotionally. You have more energy to enjoy life and spend time with your loved ones. And you’re less likely to get sick, meaning you can stay together without interruption.
You can maintain your health by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking plenty of water.
You might also consider taking vitamins like vitamin C for immunity and energy and Omega-3 for heart health. Suppose your partner’s lifestyle further encourages you to maintain these healthy habits. In that case, it’s a good indicator that having them around is also suitable for you.
Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health because they are interconnected. When one is out of balance, it affects the other. Mental health includes our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is not just about being diagnosed with a mental illness.
Just like physical health, you must take care of your mental health by eating right, exercising, sleeping well, and managing stress. There are some things you can do to improve your mental health:
- Connect with loved ones: Spending time with loved ones helps reduce stress and improves moods.
- Get outside: Spend time in nature, go for walks, and get some fresh air.
- Be active: Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
- Reduce stress: Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
Moreover, you should also have healthy coping mechanisms. If you think you’re on the brink of a meltdown or burnout, you can try writing in a journal, listening to music, or talking to a therapist you can trust.
Avoid Unhealthy Vices
This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. Unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking excessively, and overeating can affect your body and your relationship. If you’re trying to maintain good body health, avoiding these unhealthy vices is essential.
If you’re already engaged in smoking or drinking, you can get help to stop by visiting your doctor. You can also go to a local quit smoking or alcoholics anonymous group. If you’re struggling with overeating, try seeking help from a therapist or nutritionist who can help you develop healthier eating habits.
You can further these efforts by refraining from meeting anyone who may influence you to drink or smoke. Additionally, if they’re a smoker, hanging out with them while they smoke will be the same as you smoking as a second-hand smoker. Hence, it’s essential to be mindful of the company you keep if you’re trying to improve your body health.
Strengthening Your Relationship
One of the best ways to have healthy relationships is to avoid toxic ones from the start. If you start noticing red flags in your partner, it might be time to move on. These red flags might be things like your partner being possessive or jealous, not allowing you to see your friends, or making you feel bad about yourself.
However, there are also green flags in a relationship you can look out for, which include trust, communication, healthy conflict resolution, and mutual respect. If you’re in a good relationship, you should feel comfortable communicating with your partner about anything, including sex.
When it comes to sexual health, there’s no room for complacency. Protecting yourself and your partner is essential to having a healthy and happy relationship. You can do this by using contraceptives and getting regular STI (sexually transmitted infection) screenings.
It’s also important to talk about your sexual history with your partner and get on the same page about any risks involved. For example, if one of you has an STI, it’s important to tell your partner so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to have sex with you.
Reduced sexual desire can also cause tension and problems in a relationship. Having sexual desire differences is not unusual for couples, but according to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), low sex drive is more common in women. However, there are female arousal enhancers to increase low libido. This can help to bring back the spark and excitement in the relationship.
You should also be able to trust your partner. This means trusting them to be faithful and not cheat on you. It also means you can trust them with your heart and secrets. If you can’t trust your partner, likely, the relationship won’t last.
Maintaining good body health is critical for having a happy and healthy relationship. When you’re feeling good about yourself, it shows in your interactions with your partner. Not only will you be more likely to take care of yourselves and stay active together, but you’ll also feel better mentally and emotionally when you’re around each other.