Student Health Services

How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship

• Keep your expectations of the other person realistic.
• Talk with each other, as communication is essential.
• Take the time to be there.
• Listen genuinely with your ears and your heart.
• Show interest by asking questions that are appropriate.
• Share information without overwhelming the person.
• Be flexible to change.
• Take care of yourself, as well.
• Be dependable to the person who is in your relationship, as well as others who you have commitments to.
• When there is conflict take time to talk about it. Don’t be critical of the person; it is the problem you want to tackle. Saying you are sorry when you are wrong is a good start. Be prepared to compromise or disagree about something. You can always move out of a relationship because healthy relationships are in the now, not a hoped-for future.
• Show emotional warmth.
• Keep your life balanced.
• Know that it is a process and can be learned and practiced to keep getting better.
• Be yourself as it is easier and more fun than trying to be somebody else.