It's really hard to make a relationship work if you aren't honest with yourself about who you are and what you want. If you find yourself struggling with your love life, take the time to analyze yourself and find out what you're all about before jumping into another relationship.

It's no secret that we lead busy lives these days, but it's important to stop and enjoy your significant other once in a while. When couples fail to make time to spend alone, connecting with one another, they run a huge risk of having a healthy relationship turn toxic. No matter how crazy your lives get, make time for one another with no one else around. Simply taking a few hours a week to sit down and chat or to focus your energies on one another can help your relationship blossom!

Do you always find yourself running the errands, making the meals, paying the bills and making all the plans while your other half plays video games? If you answered yes, your relationship might be a little out of balance. Life is hard enough, and our partners should be there to support us. Should you start to feel that you are carrying more weight than your significant other, speak up! You shouldn't have to carry life's load alone, and it takes two to build a solid foundation.

When you're in a relationship, money is one of the easiest things to fight about, especially if one of you is a saver and one is a spender. Sit down and plan your long-term financial goals, then decide how much each of you can spend as you work to achieve those goals. A failure to plan will not only leave your goals out of reach, but will also provide plenty of fodder for fights.

You've talked about something you want to make happen in your future together, and you've weighed the pros and cons. But what happens when nothing actually gets solidified? If your relationship includes a lot of plans but no concrete action, you have work to do! It's important to keep furthering your goals as a couple, and you'll never make progress by simply shrugging your shoulders. Set a goal with your partner and take steps to make it happen!

Have you ever replied, "I'm fine," when you're anything but OK? If so, you're committing a relationship sin by failing to be honest. Stonewalling your partner or giving them the cold shoulder when you're upset also falls into this category. It's much more healthy for your relationship to just spill about what's bothering you, or to simply admit that you're in a bad mood and need some alone time to cool off.

This might sound tough, but pay attention! If you were not tempted by someone other than your partner, you would not be human. Even the best of relationships have moments of weakness, and you're not alone. Should you start feeling attracted to someone else — or you think your partner is looking elsewhere — it's time to have a tough conversation. Together, you should get to the heart of the reason you are feeling drawn outside of your commitment. A little honesty now will save a lot of pain later.

One of the most important parts of being a healthy couple is letting one another know how you feel. While it's perfectly normal to use discretion and gentleness, you should always let your partner know what you think — even about the simple things! Keep the lines of communication open and encourage each another to express your feelings — that's a great way to enhance your bond. Once you know what is going on in the mind of your partner, you can work together to overcome any obstacle!

You made her a great dinner last night, so it's her turn to cook tonight, right? Wrong. Real life is not a quid pro quo. Instead, try to do nice things for one another whenever the urge strikes, rather than waiting for a return for your good deeds. If you start to notice a long-term imbalance, perhaps it's time for a conversation to ensure both of your needs are being met.

It's no secret that positive reinforcement works way better than punishment when it comes to changing behavior. If your husband/partner leaves his dirty clothes all over the floor, skip the nagging and thank him for his help each time he uses the hamper. This kind of reinforcement will help, rather than damage, your union.

We all make mistakes -- yes, even you. When your partner screws up, make the choice to forgive and forget. It's much more effective than holding a grudge, which can come back to haunt you later in the relationship.

Remember when you first met, and you wanted to spend every second together? As appropriate as it is for that stage of your relationship, it's not a sustainable thing. Balanced relationships come from each person having an outside life of their own. Spending all your time together doesn't allow you the chance to grow as individuals, and it increases the likelihood that you will become bored with one another. Step out and have fun! You'll be thrilled to see each other when you get back.

Having your partner's safety and best interests in mind are wonderful ways to let them know you care. However, checking up on each other constantly can indicate a huge problem with trust. You should be confident enough in each other to allow space and time alone with friends. There's nothing wrong with the occasional text to check in, but needing to know where your partner is every five minutes is unhealthy. If you give each other room to breathe, you'll reap the benefits of a stronger bond.

We could write a novel on the topic of codependency and its toxic effects on relationships, but we'll keep it short and sweet. You're old enough to be in a relationship, and that makes you an adult! Asking your partner to help you with the big stuff is normal, but seeking constant approval or needing help with everything are signs of being codependent. While you need to move together through life, both of you should be independent enough to make sound choices without being parented by the other.

Surprise birthday parties are great, but life surprises can be unpleasant! Keeping your partner informed about your plans is both courteous and vital to the health of your relationship. If you don't let each other know what is going on in your lives, you can't expect full support when you spring an idea or last-minute plans on them. For the sake of your sanity, keep each other in the loop and share your schedules. No one likes to adjust their plans at the last minute.

Countless studies demonstrate that showing gratitude makes people happier and more content. This finding can also be applied to relationships. Taking time to offer a simple thank you and notice the efforts made by your partner can help to strengthen your bond.

Whether it's a nosy mother-in-law or a clingy best friend, there's nothing that can cause more friction in a relationship than a third wheel. Your lives together should be about the two of you, and unwelcome opinions or advice can do a lot of harm. Plus, having an extra person around all the time can really cut into your alone time! Do yourselves a favor and gently but firmly set boundaries with the extra person in your relationship.

Never assume what your partner is thinking or feeling. Assuming is the perfect way to get things wrong and end up in a fight over nothing. Instead, take the opportunity to talk things out and clear up miscommunications before they become major battles.

Of course, you do not have to enjoy every second of shopping or yoga or whatever your sweetheart likes. It's also great to have separate interests, but you should never ignore or belittle something your special person enjoys. Showing a little support for your partner's hobbies will gain bonus points in the relationship department. You don't have to tag along all the time, but you should take an interest and ask how things are going. It makes them feel like you care about their happiness!

It can sometimes be so easy to get caught up in fighting to win that you forget what you're fighting for. Make the relationship the priority. Consider a win to be a strong, healthy relationship, not a groveling apology from your partner. You'll both feel great if you can work together to find a solution to your argument, and eventually, it won't even be "fighting" anymore.

We are not talking about your sex life here — we are talking about the time you take to get intimate! It's necessary to make time for each other outside of your home, but it's equally important to spend time relaxing, cuddling and nurturing one another without any other parties involved. Being intimate releases the feel-good chemical known as oxytocin, and it will flood your relationship with healing and loving energies. Don't be afraid to close the blinds and turn off the phone!

Your partner's family were in the picture long before you were, and if you criticize them too much, you might find yourself suddenly single. No matter what your issues are with your in-laws, realize that you other half is a package deal -- and any unwanted family members are a non-negotiable part of the deal. You have crazy family members too!

Disagreements and hurt feelings are unfortunate parts of being in a relationship, but they happen every day. Instead of viewing them as a failure, view them as an opportunity to show your partner how much you care by being able to apologize when you are wrong. When issues go unresolved or they are left to fade into the background, resentments can grow. If you are sorry about something you did or something you said, say "I'm sorry." Couples who can apologize are on the road to success!

In a healthy relationship, there is never a reason to pry into your partner's personal things. Couples that know how to communicate will ask one another about the things they want to know. It's never acceptable to snoop through your partner's phone, their computer or their secret desk drawer. Chances are, your paranoia is much larger than anything you will find. Invading your significant other's space in this way will only result in a lot of mistrust.

It's so easy to put on a happy face for the world, then take your troubles from work out on the people you love the most. Instead, try to leave work troubles at work whenever you can. But remember, if there is anything you need help with, don't hesitate to bring it up in a civil manner. There is nothing worse than hiding things from your partner.

After the excitement of meeting one another has worn off and you are comfortable in your new routine as a couple, don't let things get boring! It's easy to keep going through the motions of everyday life and forget about keeping your relationship fresh. Instead of falling into a rut, remember to keep shaking things up. Try a new restaurant, take a drive to a new place or dress up like rodeo clowns and walk the beach all day — just be sure you take time to keep things fresh and exciting.

Great relationships run like well-oiled machines, but they don't operate that way on their own. It takes routine maintenance and care, such as spending time as a couple, working through problems and toward shared goals. Don't put your relationship on auto-pilot and expect things to keep running smoothly.

Everyone wants to please their partner, and it's great to keep them involved in the major decisions that you make. However, needing approval for minute decisions like your guest bedroom's paint color could be a sign of trouble. Despite being part of a team, you are still allowed to be an individual and to make your own choices. You should live without fear of being able to decide the small things for yourself, and you should respect your partner when they do the same!

Find yourself staring at your phone or the TV screen constantly? You could be neglecting your partner in favor of this mindless screen time. While electronics are a fact of life in the modern world, make sure to set aside device-free time to enjoy one another instead of staring at a screen.

Whether it's being sci-fi geeks together or your mutual love for gardening, every couple should have at least one common interest. It's wonderful to support your partner's hobbies, even if they aren't your thing, but it's even better to share something you both enjoy doing. Getting out of the house and being active together is a great way to spend time together. It might be hard to find something you are both passionate about, but there is a world of possibilities waiting for the two of you to try.

There's a reason you're with your current partner instead of your ex. Never compare your spouse to someone you dated previously, as you're most likely looking at the ex through rose-colored glasses. Unnecessary comparisons can also prevent you from seeing the great qualities in your current partner that you may be overlooking.

There's nothing worse than depending on someone to do something for you and having them drop the ball! Promising to do something for your partner and not delivering the deal can result in a lot of disappointment and mistrust. Whether it's picking up lunch or paying the electric bill, your word should be your bond with your partner. The next time you say you are going to do something, do it. If there's a problem, communicate it openly, but don't leave your sweetheart hanging!

Repeat after me -- a partner is not a project. Trying to make major changes in your spouse's habits or personality is sure to make you both miserable. Instead, embrace the good and learn to accept that no one is perfect.

If you've ever seen the experiment where one plant was praised and the other plant was insulted, you already know the powerful effects that positive words can have. Your partner is no different! An easy way to infuse positivity into your relationship is to let your partner know when they are doing something right. You don't have to gush with pride or sentiment. They'll be gratified to know that you are happy with something they did, and you can look forward to them returning the favor!

Newsflash! Your life is never going to be like a romance movie. Life is not a fairy tale, and people who expect perfection are likely to be disappointed when reality hits. Instead of comparing your partner to your favorite movie star, appreciate them for who they are and what they bring to the table.

There's an old saying — familiarity breeds contempt — and it can happen to the most solid relationships. Once you are truly comfortable with one another, it can become all too easy to let the criticism fly. Things that normally wouldn't bother you, like socks on the floor, can become as irritating as nails on a chalkboard. Instead of bickering about your partner's small flaws, try to offer positive and honest words about your feelings for each other. You'll see your relationship blossom!

Don't disrespect your relationship by airing your relationship battles on social media. Just like you should never fight in public, there's no reason to put a disagreement between the two of you on display for friends and family to see.

It's too hot, it's too cold, or it's never enough! Everybody knows that one person who is never happy. Hopefully, you are not this person in your relationship. Constantly vocalizing your dislikes and finding flaws in everything your partner does or the places you go sends a signal to your significant other that you are unsatisfied. Try to find the positive in every situation, then observe how your partner responds. As they say, you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

In relationships, you want to avoid falling into the habit of doing things so often they become boring. There's nothing wrong with a little consistency, though. You should want your partner to feel like they can always count on you, and it's not that hard to do. When you develop your routines, keep them up! Knowing that you are always there picking up your end of the bargain can add an extra sense of security to your lives and pave the way to your bright future.

Once you've used harsh or derogatory words with someone you love, you can never take those words back. No matter the situation, remember that you are communicating with the person you love the most, so choose your words carefully.

No matter how much you want your sweetheart to attend the big game with you, you shouldn't make them go against their will. It's the equivalent of making a child eat broccoli when they don't want it! As grown adults, you should never want something so badly that you pressure your partner into doing it. It's perfectly fine for you to have your own interests, but it's never OK for you to badger your partner into compliance. Respect their preferences and find something else to do together!

No matter how much you love your partner, your relationship is doomed to fail if you don't love yourself just as much. If you're struggling with self-esteem or confidence, take steps to improve the way you feel about yourself. This could include working on your physical appearance, exercising or working on boosting your mood and mental health.

What would life be without stopping to celebrate all the small victories? It would be rather dull! Meeting new relationship goals is a priceless feeling, and you should never take them for granted. In order to keep your relationship vibrant and alive, celebrate the things you accomplish together. You've worked hard to get where you're going! Taking some time to enjoy the fruits of your labor can contribute to a feeling of progress and achievement. What relationship couldn't benefit from that?

The minute you fudge the truth, you're doing damage to the relationship, even if you're only telling little white lies. Remember, if you can't trust your partner 100 percent, who can you trust?

Honesty should be common sense, but we all know better. You cannot expect to have an open and trusting relationship if you are always covering things up with little white lies. They might not be giant, malicious lies, but they are detrimental to your lives together. Any small amount of doubt you plant can grow into a big tree of problems. You want to offer your partner the best, and being dishonest is not the way to go about it. No matter how difficult, always be truthful!

Whether your partner touches a nerve or you're simply having a bad day, it can be oh-so-easy to overreact to a situation that's not all that serious. Skip the drama and focus on the actual situation at hand, rather than the blown-up excitement you've created in your head.

Even the best relationships involve two different people with their own separate opinions, needs and experiences. While you're never going to agree on everything, you can make things work by compromising when you disagree. It's almost always better to give a little than to give up on the entire relationship.

Frustrated that you always ending up cooking dinner with no help from your spouse? Address it now, rather than later. Letting things build up over time gives them too much importance and can lead to a pressure-cooker situation that's bad for any couple. The same goes for things that you appreciate! If you really appreciate that your partner made breakfast for you or surprised you with your favorite snack, let them know!

Once you're in a relationship, life changes from me to we. That means putting shared goals and dreams ahead of individual wants. Of course, for this to work you'll have to have an open and honest talk about what you both hope to achieve together, and how you plan to get there.

Not all relationships are meant to last. The best time to learn about deal-breakers is early in the relationship. For example, if you know you want kids and your partner absolutely doesn't, you can end things on good terms and find more appropriate partners before things reach a boiling point.