Every individual must deal with daily stressors at varying degrees. Some may have more taxing occupations or even be dealing with chronic health ailments. Some individuals may be battling through anxiety or depression in their lives. This article will help to lay out a couples guide to relaxation.

Depending on how you respond to some of these daily encounters, it could lead to being more relaxed or more stressed out. Your home should be your sanctuary where you both can feel relaxed. It could potentially add more stress to your relationship in regards to tension if it is not. Some individuals home environments may actually be an added stressor which they may be seeking refuge.

Learn how to manage your stress and not allowing it to intervene in your mutual health and wellness. You can start by trying to implement these tips to practice together as a couple to relax more effectively.

Benefits

1. Acquire new skills. Educating is an wonderful way of continual learning. While you would be showing your loved one how to be relaxed, you will be  strengthening your own capacity to be more relaxed as well. You and your loved one can switch roles at times explaining or demonstrating different relaxation techniques like massage or mindfulness practices.
   
2. Teamwork makes the dream work. Develop your own personal routines to help practice the best self-care practices for yourself. It can make situations more challenging if you do not fully understand what your rituals are to be more relaxed.
   
3. Live with purpose. Chronic stress in our lives can suck out the energy and put yourself at more risk for chronic health issues. As you become more mindful and aware at maintaining your peace of mind and living in the moment, the world may start to seem more approachable, and you will feel more content to living your best life.

Communication Tips

1. Pay attention to the small moments. Take that moment when your partner is trying to talk with you and be an active listener. Put your phone down. Make eye contact, turn towards, and ask appropriate questions. Take some time to reflect on what they are attempting to communicate with you.
   
2. Empathy And Encouragement. Resist the impulse to pass judgments or give advice where it was not asked for. Begin by first validating their feelings and acknowledging those feeling by letting your partner know that they have your support.
   
3. Exchange feedback. If your partner is accepting of an alternative approach, here is an opportunity to provide them the benefit of your past experiences. It is important to respect their need to find their own way while providing any assistance you can, when asked.
   
4. Communicate your needs. You may find it more challenging to be assertive in a romantic relationship even if you may be confident in other aspects of your life. However, you could avoid adding more stress on by being more assertive and up front with your loved one about your needs.

Activity Tips

1. Exercise together. Physical activity is a great way to reduce stress and boost your mood. You can participate in recreational sports leagues, go for a hike, go to the gym together.
   
2. Develop hobbies as a couple. Find hobbies that you can be performed together or at least in the same room.

3. Take time to enjoy the outdoors. Time spent outdoors can be another powerful alleviator for stress. Take a walk after dinner time to reflect on your day. Spend weekends going camping or fishing, take your pets for a walk or go site seeing together.
   
4. Self-care. While it’s important to feel relaxed when you are together, each individual must be able to have some time on their own as well. You may find that you are more engaging about talking about your day after you spend your first period of time at home listening to music or working out.
   
5. Talk with your couples therapist. If you and your loved one need more strategies to try and relax, bring it up in your next session with your couples therapist. Therapy will provide you an opportunity to explore more tailored activities and develop strategies on how to work through developing your shared meaning, as well as how to be able to provide yourself with appropriate self-care strategies to bring the best version of yourself to your relationship.

Being able to learn how to relax in your relationship will help you both individuals to feel more fulfilled and more successful. You will build a stronger relationship and enjoy your time together more. We hope you enjoyed this couples guide to relaxation. If you are looking for a couples therapist to be a parting of your journey as a couples, feel free to contact our Level 3 Gottman Trained Counselor, Nicole O’Hare, MS, LPC, CMHIMP, to see how couples counseling can benefit you.