Healthy relationships are good for you. Supportive and loving relationships are more likely to make you feel happy and satisfied. A healthy relationship with your partner and family members can improve your life, wellbeing and make everyone feel good about themselves.

What are the signs of a healthy relationship?

People in healthy relationships love and support each other. They help each other practically, as well as emotionally. They are there for each other in the good times as well as the bad times.

Healthy relationships are commonly based on:

• respect, honesty and trust
• open communication
• equality
• both shared and individual interests
• understanding
• care
• shared values around finances, child raising and other important matters

  How can I maintain healthy relationships?

  Maintaining healthy relationships is important and takes time and commitment. No relationship is perfect, but it is important that relationships brings you more happiness than stress.

  Here are some tips for a healthy relationship.

  • Be clear about what you want — It helps you make your point clearly and honestly while respecting the other person's point of view. Try using 'I' statements instead of critical 'you' statements. For example, say 'I really hate it when you don't clean up the dishes” rather than 'You never help me in the kitchen”.
  • Say sorry when you're wrong — This is really important, as it helps heal relationships and make them stronger.
  • Be affectionate and show appreciation — Relationships can become routine after a while. Make special time together and continue to show your affection. Even just snuggling on the couch after work helps show intimacy.
  • Make your relationship a priority — It can be hard to balance relationships, work, family and friends. You can help establish a work-life balance by setting limits at work and learning to say 'no”. This will ensure you make time for your relationship.
  • Find shared interests — Finding hobbies you both enjoy allows you to spend time together. This could be as simple as doing a night class together or taking up a new sport.
  • Find solutions that work for both of you — Conflict occasionally occurs in any relationship. It is essential that you both respect and accept your differences and similarities. Finding solutions that work for both of you will probably require compromise at different times.
  • Make time for family time — Finding time together as a family can be difficult. However, even one family meal a week gives everyone a chance to catch up, connect and communicate with each other.