A relationship is a two-way street, and that means it’s important to focus on yourself just as much as you focus on your partner. When you’re feeling good about yourself, it shows in your interactions with others. In this post, you’ll find a few tips to help you focus on yourself in a relationship.
A great relationship takes work, but it’s so worth it! Here’s our relationship advice guide on how to make yours even better.
What does focusing on yourself in a relationship mean?
Focusing on yourself is one step to make a relationship work. It means that you take the time to do things for and by yourself. It can be anything from going out for a solo lunch to getting a massage. It helps remind you that you are not your partner, and it’s important to take time for yourself as well as give time to others.
What is the Best Way to Focus on Yourself In a Relationship? There is no one correct answer for this. There are lots of different activities that you can do for yourself to maintain your life outside of the relationship. Here are some ideas:
- Go shopping
- Spending time in nature
- Catch up on your favorite show or book series
- Meet with friends for coffee or for a walk in the park
- Take a bubble bath with scented candles and soothing music
- Treat yourself to a massage or mani / Pedi
- Go for a run along the river
- Focus on personal growth
- Go to the museum or art gallery with friends
- Turn off your phone and ignore the world for an hour or two
Whatever you do, it’s important to stay true to yourself and focus on what makes you happy. If you’re doing something that makes you happy, your partner will also be more content.
Why it’s important to focus on yourself in a relationship
If you don’t focus on yourself, you’ll quickly become resentful, and your relationship will be doomed. Don’t listen to all the people who might tell you that the key to a successful relationship is to focus on your partner and put your own needs and happiness on the back burner.
Every person in the world needs personal space; relationships are no exception. Your partner needs space to pursue their interests and do the things that make them happy. You also need to take time for yourself, too, or else you’ll become unhappy with your relationship.
You have to find a happy balance between caring for your partner and caring for yourself. So don’t be afraid to focus on yourself – it’s essential for a healthy relationship!
9 tips on how to focus on yourself in a relationship
Whether you’re just entering into a relationship or have been in one for a while, it’s important to focus on yourself. It can be easy to get lost in the other person and forget about your own needs, but that’s not good for either of you. Here are some tips on how to focus on yourself in a relationship.
1. Make time for yourself every day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.
Implement a daily habit of making time for yourself. Whether you use that time to read a book, watch TV, or do something else, it’s important to make sure you’re doing something for yourself. You’ll find that making time for yourself is actually very important in maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner.
One of the best things that you can do to maintain a healthy relationship is to make sure that both partners have time for themselves. This will help your partner stay in good spirits, and you won’t be left feeling as if you’re under pressure or putting too much on your plate. If you’re constantly stressed from not having any time to yourself, it will be hard for your partner to feel like they can relax and have a good time with you.
2. Don’t spend every day with your partner
Yes, it’s true: You shouldn’t try to spend every day with your partner! Of course, spending time together is a great idea, especially in the early stages of a relationship, but alone time is important for your own development.
Although it’s a great idea to spend time together with your partner, especially at the beginning of a relationship, you shouldn’t try to spend every day together.
There will be times when one of you has plans with other people or just wants some alone time – that’s completely fine! This will make you both feel more independent and give you a chance to enjoy spending time with other people.
3. Practice Self-Care
If you want your relationship to last, you also need to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself. Don’t let caring for someone else become an excuse for neglecting yourself.
Eat healthily, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. If you want to have the energy for a healthy relationship, you need to take care of yourself physically and mentally.
It’s important to remember that if your partner loves you, they’ll want you to take care of yourself. It will make them feel much better about spending time with you.
4. Don’t be afraid to say no to things that don’t fit into your schedule or make you happy
Don’t feel bad about saying no! You shouldn’t feel guilty about having your own interests, and you shouldn’t let anyone make you feel that way.
If your partner tries to guilt-trip you into spending time with them or doing something that you know won’t make you happy, it’s important to be firm. Don’t just give in because you want to avoid an argument – your needs are just as important as theirs!
5. Spend time with your family and friends
It’s important to maintain relationships outside your romantic relationship. Your partner will be glad to see that you have other people in your life who mean a lot to you.
It’s also important to make sure that you’re spending time with other people and not just your partner. Both of you need a break from each other sometimes – especially if you’ve been spending all day together.
6. Find a hobby or activity that brings you joy and stick with it
It’s a good idea to find a new hobby or activity that you really enjoy and focus on that. Even if it’s something small, like knitting or baking, it will help you be happy on your own and give you something to talk about with your partner.
Here are some examples for hobbies:
- Playing video games
- Reading
- Writing
- Painting
- Crafting (crochet, knitting)
- Playing a musical instrument
- Listening to music
- Biking/hiking, Swimming, Jogging,…
- Gardening
- Solving puzzles
These are just a few examples of hobbies. If you can’t come up with any ideas, ask your friends and family members what they enjoy doing to see if anything jogs your memory. You could also try taking a class or enrolling in an activity at the local community center or recreation center.
7. Focus on your goals and dreams in life
It’s important to remember that when you’re in a relationship, you should still be able to focus on your life goals. Whether you want to work on your career or on your personal growth, these things will help you both grow as individuals and as a couple. Your partner will be glad to see that you’re still pursuing your dreams.
The benefit of following your life goals and dreams is that it will make you happier and more confident in yourself, which can make your relationship even stronger.
8. Talk openly and honestly with your partner about your needs and wants
It’s a good idea to talk openly and honestly with your partner about what you want and need in a relationship. This will help your partner know where they stand, and it will also let them know that you value their attention and affection. For example, if your partner is an introvert, they might need more time alone to recharge their social batteries.
One of the most important things to do in a relationship is making sure that your needs are being met. When you feel like your needs aren’t being met, it can be a huge strain on your relationship, and it can cause friction between you and your partner.
9. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Don’t rely on your partner for your happiness. Be sure to find things that make you happy outside of the relationship. If you rely on your partner to make you happy, then one day, when the relationship ends, everything that used to make you happy will disappear.
It’s essential to find happiness in yourself and outside of a relationship. So make sure that you have hobbies and interests and follow your dreams. If you can learn how to be happy without a partner, then it will make the relationship more vital because you won’t rely on your partner for happiness.
So, if you’re feeling a little guilty for spending some time on yourself this weekend, don’t. You deserve it! And chances are, your partner will appreciate the break from you as much as you appreciate the break from them. After all, happy and healthy couples focus on themselves just as much as they focus on each other.
- The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter--One Month at a Time
- Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul
- The Just Girl Project Book of Self-Care: An Illustrated Guide for Young Women to Practice Self-Love, Self-Compassion & Mindfulness with Fun and Flair
- Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking
- Eliminate Negative Thinking: How to Overcome Negativity, Control Your Thoughts, And Stop Overthinking. Shift Your Focus into Positive Thinking, Self-Acceptance, And Radical Self Love
Janet Smith
Janet Smith is a freelance writer who writes about psychology, relationships, and dating. She has always been interested in understanding the human brain and how it affects our …
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