Expert Relationship Advice: 10 Best Tips for Couples

Expert-Recommended Tips to Build a Stronger Relationship

All relationships have the potential to grow and evolve. The relationship help offered here shows you how to enhance communication skills, deepen emotional connections, and learn to collaborate more effectively.

Here are the 10 best relationship tips for couples who want to repair or strengthen their connection. 

1. Communicate openly and honestly

For decades, studies have consistently shown that healthy communication is a predictor of future happiness in a relationship. Communicating in straightforward, intentional ways ensures partners feel safe when sharing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns openly. It also helps prevent misunderstandings, so resentments don’t start building. This is particularly important when navigating the common challenges of interracial relationships, where different cultural norms might add complexity to communication styles.

“It is important to address issues as they arise. Asking our partners for consent to share—ensuring it’s the right time—and focusing on our own feelings rather than blaming them increases the likelihood of working through difficult emotions together.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

Expert tip: It helps to use effective communication tools, like active listening, where you listen more than you speak. There’s also power in “I” statements, which eliminates blame and reduces the chance of defensiveness.

2. Prioritize quality time together

When life gets busy, it can feel challenging to make time for your partner. Spending intentional, dedicated, distraction-free time together is crucial for maintaining a strong bond. Quality time deepens emotional intimacy and helps you reconnect on a raw, meaningful level.  

Expert tip: Plan a non-negotiable weekly (or bi-weekly) date night, take a walk together, hold hands, or share a meal — commit to doing any (or all!) of these things to nurture your relationship. 

3. Practice gratitude regularly

Expert tip: Make a conscientious effort to show that you’re grateful for your partner. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture — give them a card or sweet note, grab their favorite treat or snack as a “just-because” gift, or say, “Thank you, I see and really appreciate all that you do.”

4. Resolve conflicts with empathy

Expert tip: To prevent minor issues from escalating into major sources of tension, approach them with empathy and patience rather than blame or anger. In a tumultuous relationship, mastering empathetic conflict resolution can help you both navigate difficult times more effectively.

“The first step in any hard conversation is to understand our role in why things went wrong. Closely behind that is the need to genuinely listen to our partners rather than develop our next argument when they are talking. Supporting everyone’s feelings and making space for them is significantly more important than arguing content.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

5. Maintain individual identities

Being in a healthy relationship means not losing yourself or your identity to your partner. Spending all your time and energy on the things that are important to them means you’re neglecting your own self-needs. Prioritize doing things that fulfill you and offer opportunities for self-growth.

Expert tip: Find your interests and hobbies. Focusing on self-growth can enhance your sense of fulfillment, making you a better partner.   

6. Set shared goals as a team

When couples work together toward mutual goals, they foster collaboration that strengthens their bond. Saving for a home or retirement, planning a vacation, or building a healthier lifestyle are all goals that can give you a sense of purpose and unity. 

7. Support each other’s mental and emotional health

Partners should be each other’s safe space, where both people feel heard and understood. Especially during challenging times, prioritizing each other’s mental and emotional health is one of the best relationship tips for couples who want to improve their relationship.

Expert tip: Check in with your partner regularly about how they’re doing — even if things seem fine. Asking can lighten their load and open the door if they need help. Don’t hesitate to suggest they seek professional assistance if they’re struggling. Sometimes, therapy is necessary to overcome mental health concerns. 

8. Keep the romance alive

Over time, the romance in a long-term relationship can fade and one or both partners can start feeling lonely in the relationship. If you’re feeling disconnected from your partner, there are several simple but effective ways to reignite the passion and romantic love you once felt for each other. 

Expert tip: Regularly showing affection with words, touch, and acts of kindness can help keep intimacy alive. Leave a surprise love note, plan a special date, or make them their favorite meal or treat as a reminder that you’re still in love with them and willing to work on your relationship. 

9. Invest in relationship education

Relationships depend on both partners putting in the work. Investing in your relationship shows you’re willing to learn, improve, and grow together while enriching your lives. Reading books, attending workshops, or going to couples therapy are all places you can find tools for growth. Relationship education can also provide strategies to cope with relationship stress, giving you the skills to manage tough situations and improve communication, ultimately helping you build a stronger and more resilient connection.

Expert tip: Developing communication and problem-solving skills will improve your relationship. Invest in resources that offer new perspectives and strategies to deepen your understanding of each other and foster love. 

10. Build a foundation of trust

Trust is fundamental to healthy, long-term, successful relationships. It’s built through honesty, reliability, and transparency that shows your partner they can depend on you. Keeping your promises and being fiercely honest builds a sense of security and stability that can carry your relationship during the more difficult patches. 

Expert tip: Trust is cultivated through consistency, reliability, and transparency and is crucial for a happy and healthy marriage. When your partner believes they can trust you, they’ll feel secure and valued. Trust issues can damage relationships if not addressed with love and care. If trust has been broken, start healing by showing up for the tough conversations, following through on promises (even small ones), and staying committed to overcoming challenges when they arise. 

“Words are cheap. However, someone who can acknowledge where they messed up and commit to doing better in the future is everything. Our partners want to see the change applied rather than be told that the change is on its way. Walking the talk is the best way to work through trust issues in a relationship.”

– Talkspace therapist Dr. Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC

Putting These Tips into Action

It’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed when trying to rebuild or reconnect with your partner, but with love and perseverance, growth is achievable. Remember that improving a relationship won’t happen overnight, and you don’t need to make any immediate, drastic changes. Focus on 1 or 2 relationship tips that resonate with your needs. Then, you can gradually incorporate others over time. 

The keys to improving your relationship are:

• Being patient
• Having reasonable expectations for the outcome of your efforts
• Staying committed to growth and change

Strengthening Your Relationship, One Step at a Time

No relationship is perfect, but there’s always the potential to grow stronger — using expert-backed relationship tips can help. When you’re intentional and have mutual respect, your partnership can thrive, even when it’s hard.