Relationships can be hard. Yes, they are wonderful and give us something to look forward to. Many moments make us say, “Yes, this is why this is my person. This is what it’s all about.” Then, there are those moments where we really can’t stand being around them. Maybe they said or did something to really upset you. Or maybe a lack thereof caused you to feel as if your head was about to explode.

Couples can face many challenges in their relationships. While there may be more specific reasons for strife, most people struggle with communicating with their partner. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s definitely something that can be easily remedied. Here are some of the best tips to improve communication.

6 Communication Tips for Couples

1. Carve Time Out

Life is hectic for all of us. Many couples might struggle to communicate simply because there is no time to do so. You’re running around caring for the kids, balancing work and household responsibilities. It takes work to fit in an actual conversation most days.

Even if it’s just half an hour, try to take the time each day to check in with each other. For most couples, that time will likely be in the morning before the day gets started or as the day is ending. Ask each other about the projects you are doing for work, how you feel, and what parts of the day were frustrating.

2. Be Honest, but Not Mean

Honesty is the best policy, but only if you can be nice. If your partner said or did something that hurt you, let them know. Gently tell them you were hurt by their actions, words, or lack thereof.

Remember, they can’t read your mind, and you can’t read theirs, so if something bothers you, speak up. And be honest about how you are feeling in general, too. If you are feeling incredibly anxious or your mood seems low, talk to them about it. Even if they can’t help you, you’ll feel better just getting it out in the open.

3. Actively Listen

You can listen to what someone is saying, but are you truly hearing them? Active listening involves understanding what the other person is saying. Ask them to elaborate if you don’t understand their point of view. Don’t make assumptions about what they are saying if you aren’t quite sure.

When they are speaking, show them that you are genuinely listening. Nod your head, verbally say “Yes” or “I understand,” or ask a question. But don’t interrupt them too often. We want to be seen and heard, but there are correct ways to show this understanding to the other person.

4. Walk Away

This seems counterintuitive to communicating with your partner, but hear us out. If an argument gets too heated and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, learn to walk away from the conversation. Both of you getting frustrated and more heated isn’t going to help. Instead, agree to drop the conversation for right now and walk away from each other if need be. Regroup individually, then agree to come back to the conversation. Just be sure to pick it up again, or it will remain unresolved.

5. Talk to Each Other with Respect

You might frustrate each other to no end, but you should always treat each other respectfully. This means that name-calling, belittling, or shaming each other should never be accepted. At the end of the day, this is still your person, and you are theirs.  A relationship should never result in both of you feeling extremely hurt by the other person.

6. Counseling

If it seems as if you are consistently arguing with your partner, but you can’t figure out why, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about couples therapy. It is often a sign of unresolved issues that need to be resolved and most definitely can be with the right support.