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3 ways to overcome challenges in a relationship

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Breakups and divorces become more frequent during difficult times, but these tips could help you stay strong and tackle life together.

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Ah, the ideal of having someone who cares for you and has your back in these challenging times. (Envato Elements pic)

It’s both a good and bad time to be in a relationship. The world is in a messy state, and the challenges humans face are more complicated than ever.

The chances of divorce become even more during tough times, but this doesn’t mean being in love is impossible – or even undesirable. Quite the opposite: when you’re with someone who cares about you, who has your back and who wants what’s best for you, it can feel like an oasis of calm in a chaotic world.

That said, there are definitely times when it can be difficult to stay strong as a couple and tackle life together. Here are three ways to help you ride out stormy weather when it arises.

1. Identify your roles

It’s easy to get caught up in the stresses of everyday life, so make sure you and your partner are on the same page. This means taking the time to identify your roles in the relationship.

You can do this by talking about what each of you does for the other person. For example, one partner might take care of finances, while the other manages household chores and errands. Identifying these responsibilities helps couples understand what is expected from each other, so they can work out issues quickly before they get too big.

Couples may have different ideas about how relationships should work and what their individual roles should be. It’s important for partners at all stages to talk openly about what they expect from each other, so there aren’t any surprises down the line when things don’t go as planned.

2. Deal with challenges head-on

When you’re in a committed relationship, it’s easy to fall into the trap of letting your partner do all the heavy lifting. Or you might think you can solve all problems by yourself and only let them know when things are going well.

If you’ve ever been through a rough patch with your significant other, then you’d know how important it is to face these challenges as a team. There are many ways for couples to help each other during difficult times, but when one person takes on too much responsibility for handling problems on their own, it can cause resentment and hurt feelings over time.

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To minimise conflict, couples need to deal with challenges together while recognising each other’s strengths and weaknesses. (Envato Elements pic)

As such, it’s important to:

  • be honest about what’s going on in your relationship, no matter how painful it may be;
  • avoid trying to solve everything yourself – instead, ask your partner for help or give them space if they need it; and
  • talk about what makes each other happy and what doesn’t, as this will help both of you feel more secure about where things stand, so no one feels like their needs aren’t being met.

3. Recognise your partner’s strengths and weaknesses

Life together can be challenging, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn more about your partner and how they operate, and to use this knowledge to help you both achieve your goals.

One of the best ways to do this is by recognising your partner’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, one partner might be better at organising, while the other might excel at problem-solving when it comes to logistics or finances.

Studies show that knowing your partner’s attitude and abilities is linked with improved functioning between couples in daily life. This also contributed to their overall reduced blood-pressure levels.

So, if your partner is great at organising but isn’t as good at logistics or finances, you might want to step up and handle those tasks for them so they can focus on what they do best.

The key is knowing what makes a person tick so you can work with them in a way that helps them thrive, rather than feeling pressured into doing things their way if it doesn’t fit with your personality or skill set.

Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.

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