20 Self-Care Practices That Make You a Better Partner

When you love someone, you end up caring for them more than you care for yourself. But this is a habit that can affect your relationship negatively in the long run because you no longer value yourself and think that you only have value if you are in a relationship with your partner. So to make sure your bond stays strong, you should also learn how to take care of yourself. Read on to find out the best 20 self-care practices that can make you a better partner.

1. Exercising regularly

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Exercise is a popular self-care method that can improve nearly everything other than your relationship. It keeps your mind and body healthy, active, and stimulated, helping you maintain a positive energy for your relationship while keeping you physically fit.

2. Following a proper diet

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When your body is eating well, your mind can stay sharp and in the best condition, too. This helps prevent fighting with your partner because you feel physically exhausted or lack the energy to do things together. Plus, you’ll avoid making your partner worry about your health when they see you following a healthy diet.

3. Getting enough sleep

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When we lack sleep, our body becomes more prone to problems like irregular emotions, depression, diseases like heart problems, kidney diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. As you can tell, getting enough sleep is a severe thing to avoid having poor overall health in the long run. The better the quality of your sleep is, the more you can start your day in a positive mood, which can also improve your partner’s mood.

4. Meditation

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Meditation can help eliminate stress and other emotional burdens. Take the time to relax and meditate, something you can do even by yourself at home. It can clear your mind and free you from negative thoughts, giving you more mental strength to navigate your relationship.

5. Facing your emotions

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It’s never healthy to bottle up your feelings until you randomly explode, which can potentially cause a massive fight in your relationship. So whenever you feel emotionally burdened, it’s a good idea to open up and communicate with your partner instead. Contact them first for emotional guidance if you have trusted friends or a therapist.

6. Therapy

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Sometimes, it’s hard to open up to others, and it might take a while to do the same with your partner, especially if your relationship is new. So, if you’re comfortable with seeing a therapist, you should try this option to address your emotional and mental struggles. The less burden you have on your mind, the better partner you can be.

7. Resting when needed

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You may hear your partner or loved ones telling you constantly, “Don’t push yourself; rest whenever you can.” That’s advice you must follow to avoid overworking yourself; it’s hard to be in your best shape around your partner when you’re also highly burned out. That’s why you should get a vacation, take breaks whenever possible, and give yourself time to rest until you’re ready to take on the world and your relationship again.

8. Enjoying your hobbies

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Just because you’re already dating someone doesn’t mean you have to neglect your hobbies. It would be best if you tried to enjoy your interests again so you won’t lose your sense of individuality. When keeping in touch with your identity, you can avoid overly depending on your partner to keep yourself happy or stable; this creates a healthy balance in your relationship.

9. Spending time alone

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As sweet as it sounds, always be clingy and around your partner all the time; one or both of you will eventually need time alone away from each other. This isn’t because you’ve gotten sick or tired of each other but simply because your mind needs occasional peace and silence. So take a moment to do activities yourself until you’re ready to spend time with your partner again.

10. Have a safe space

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Curate a space for yourself that can feel like a second home, a safe space you can retreat to when you need to be by yourself. This may help you avoid feeling suffocated in your relationship while giving your partner space when both need it. At the same time, you can use this safe space to devise plans to avoid relying on your partner at all times unless you truly need their support.

11. Keeping up with your interests

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It’s easy to let our partners take over our world when we’re too obsessed with their existence. However, this can leave you feeling drained or empty in the long run when you no longer engage with your interests. So, to be a good partner, you should maintain a healthy balance between your interests and your romantic life.

12. Relaxing in nature

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Reconnecting with nature is one way to revitalize your spiritual energy. Whether you’re religious or not, simply admiring the scenery around you is the most natural way to regain some peace of mind. It helps you think clearly about life and what kind of plans you should make, giving you a chance to make better choices in your relationships.

13. Give yourself a makeover

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It’s normal to forget about maintaining your physical appearance when you’re too busy and trying to be a better partner. But that’s why you should also treat yourself, buy new clothes, set a fitness goal, or enjoy a simple makeover that refreshes you. This positive mood can positively affect your relationship, and you can surprise your partner with your new look.

14. Maintaining your social life

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Healthy couples often have lives outside of their relationships, meaning you should also maintain your social life. Don’t neglect your inner circle, the friends who’ve been there for you like family, just because you’re now in a relationship. Spending time with your friends is great for your sense of individuality and can strengthen your relationship.

15. Focusing on your career

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A stable career is also critical to a steady lifestyle. This means you’ll have fewer financial burdens and other troubles related to self-satisfaction. When you’re happy in your career, you can also have time to focus on your relationship and become a better partner. That’s why balancing your love life and career is necessary to lead an overall happy life.

16. Treating yourself

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It’s okay to spoil your partner with treats and other surprises at all times, especially if gift-giving is one of your main love languages. But before you shower someone with affection, don’t forget to give some of that energy to yourself, too. After all, you may be unknowingly neglecting yourself, which can eventually affect your relationship in the long run. 

17. No overworking

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Some people are just natural workaholics, which can lead to a concerning burnout. They’ll eventually crash with no energy left to offer in their relationships. That’s why you should avoid tiring yourself out at work, especially when you have a worried partner waiting for you to come and rest by their side.

18. Social media breaks

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A digital detox can help clear your mind, especially when you’re dealing with stress, pressure, and other negative thoughts that social media can worsen. If you’re going through this, consider a social media break right away to shift your focus on brighter things and improve your relationship with your partner instead. When you’re ready to bounce back, that’s the only time you should use social media again.

19. Clean your spaces

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Cleaning can be therapeutic for some people, which is why you should consider trying it out. So, if you have a lot on your mind, start getting rid of them one by one as you clean your room or reorganize your living room, whichever your mind wants to focus on instead. Not only will it improve your living space, but you’ll also feel mentally lighter afterward.

20. Accept help

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Taking care of yourself also means you must learn to ask for help and accept help when your partner or loved ones offer it. Don’t be afraid to rely on others instead of shouldering everything yourself. Otherwise, you’ll eventually collapse from feeling tired and alone. Show your partner that you trust them and know how to rely on them by accepting their attempts to show they care for you.

• Tags:
• love
• Self-Care
• Relationships
• Romance
• Dating