Keeping Your Relationship Alive All Year Long

By Cara Murray, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor

April is National Couple Appreciation Month, a reminder to celebrate and strengthen relationships. However, healthy partnerships require ongoing attention, not just on special occasions, but through everyday habits that support connection, communication, and shared growth.

Relationships take ongoing effort. Early in a relationship, novelty and excitement often make connection feel effortless. Over time, daily stressors, changing roles, and competing responsibilities can reduce opportunities for meaningful interaction. Research suggests that relationship quality is shaped less by the absence of challenges and more by how couples respond to stress together (Feeney & Collins, 2015). When partners develop shared skills to manage stress and navigate life challenges as a team, they are more likely to maintain and even strengthen their relationship over time (Lavner & Bradbury, 2017).

Tips to Keep Relationships Strong

1. Be Intentional

One key strategy for maintaining a strong relationship is being intentional about time together. This does not require elaborate dates or significant financial investment. Research indicates that frequent, positive interactions, such as shared routines, brief daily check‑ins, and small gestures, help couples maintain emotional closeness and a sense of partnership (Feeney & Collins, 2015). Studies also show that expressing appreciation and gratitude for a partner’s everyday actions can boost relationship satisfaction, commitment, and relationship stability over time (Gordon et al., 2012). Even short periods of focused, uninterrupted time can reinforce connection when practiced consistently (Feeney & Collins, 2015).

2. Talk Openly and Often

Communication is a core part of every healthy relationship. The connection between communication and marital satisfaction is bidirectional: how couples communicate can influence how satisfied they feel in the relationship, and their overall satisfaction can also shape communication patterns (Lavner et al., 2016). While it is important to address concerns and solve problems together, communication does not need to focus only on serious or difficult topics. Sharing everyday experiences, humor, and light‑hearted conversation helps couples stay emotionally connected and feel understood (Feeney & Collins, 2015). Maintaining a sense of friendship and enjoying time together can make it easier to navigate stressful periods and feel supported (Lavner & Bradbury, 2017).

3. Navigate Stress and Challenges Together

Stress is a normal part of life and can place strain on relationships if it is not addressed intentionally. Rather than managing stress separately, couples who approach challenges as a team are often better able to protect their relationship from the negative effects of stress (Lavner & Bradbury, 2017). This can include checking in with each other during busy or difficult seasons, offering emotional support, and working through problems together. Viewing challenges as shared experiences, rather than individual burdens, can foster resilience, trust, and a stronger sense of partnership (Feeney & Collins, 2015).

Healthy relationships are built on everyday habits. Taking intentional time to connect can strengthen your relationship. Partnerships grounded in mutual respect, open communication, and shared support can provide stability, connection, and support (Feeney & Collins, 2015). As National Couple Appreciation Month serves as a reminder to celebrate relationships, couples are encouraged to carry these intentional practices forward throughout the year to build a caring and supportive partnership (Lavner & Bradbury, 2017).

References

 Feeney, B. C., & Collins, N. L. (2015). Thriving through relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1, 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2014.11.001

Gordon, A. M., Arnette, R. A. M., & Smith, E. L. (2012). To have and to hold: Gratitude promotes relationship maintenance in intimate bonds. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(2), 257–274. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028723

Lavner, J. A., & Bradbury, T. N. (2017). Protecting relationships from stress. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 11–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.03.003

Lavner, J. A., Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2016). Does couples' communication predict marital satisfaction, or does marital satisfaction predict communication? Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(3), 680–694. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12301