15 Signs of a Healthy Relationship

Just being in a relationship isn’t enough. You need love and respect, but most importantly, you need to be happy. That happiness can really affect your health in a big way. If you’ve ever wondered about how your relationship is holding up—take a look at these 15 signs of a healthy relationship.

You truly enjoy each other’s company.

You obviously love each other, but do you actually enjoy being with your partner? Do you find them interesting, funny, and fun to hang out with? Or do their everyday habits annoy you? It may seem obvious, but happy couples genuinely like each other. It’s important to remember that your partner is your best friend, someone you both love and enjoy being with, and the person you want to share your life with.

You uplift and support each other.

Respect is the foundation of everything in a relationship. It can truly make or break your bond. Building a relationship on good friendship and respect will make it stronger and more flexible. If your partner believes in you, they’ll stand by you through all of your life’s ups and downs and support your dreams.

You’re not anxious when they doesn’t reply right away.

All healthy relationships are built on the basis of trust and honesty that provides you with peace of mind. In less stable relationships, you might find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of “what ifs” while waiting for a text or call. Trusting relationships take away that worry. You don’t have to guess their true motives because their words and actions clearly show how they feel about you. 

You can have disagreements without getting nasty.

It’s normal to get upset when your partner says something you don’t agree with—but these situations can quickly turn into huge fights where both people are so focused on “winning” that the relationship takes a hit. Couples don’t always have to agree on everything, but they don’t need to dismiss or belittle each other’s ideas.

Your friends approve of them.

Our social circle often influences us, and having your friends’ approval of the person you’re dating can boost your confidence in the relationship. How can you tell your friends like your partner? They talk about them positively and ask what they are up to. Plus, when you hang out, they are invited as well. Even though your friends aren’t the ones dating them, it makes group gatherings more enjoyable instead of possibly uncomfortable or awkward.

You can share your deepest thoughts without feeling judged.

Being able to share your deepest thoughts is one of the key foundations of a healthy relationship, so it’s a good sign when you can be honest with each other and never feel judged. When you can’t open up safely—it might cause you to shut down, leading to secrets and even more distance between you two.

You have fun activities you do together on weekends.

What’s your “thing” as a couple? It really doesn’t matter if it’s pickleball, hiking, traveling, or taste-testing every kind of cake out there—as long as you’ve got something. Anything. Ideal couples enjoy spending time together and share common interests. You don’t have to do everything together, but having at least one or two activities you love is great.

You thank them for doing the little things.

Strong couples are polite couples because they care about each other’s feelings. Sadly, it’s true that we often show our worst sides to the people we love the most (but they’ll love you anyway, right?). Healthy couples know their loved ones deserve the best from them. One great way to show deep love is by expressing gratitude—just saying “thank you” to your partner for all the little and big things they do every day.

You’re comfortable discussing tough topics.

When you can talk about tough subjects like religion, kids, and politics, you have a strong foundation for a future together. This applies whether it’s your first date or your 50th anniversary: It’s important to prioritize open communication and take the time to listen to each other’s opinions—even when those opinions are hard to hear.

You don’t vent to your friends about him or her.

You’re not up all night texting your friends about something she or he did or didn’t do. In fact, you find it tough to come up with anything negative about your partner. Focusing on your their positive qualities is a great way to strengthen your relationship. Not only does it boost happiness and contentment—but it also encourages both of you to live up to those high standards.

You can express what you need without hesitation.

Strong relationships aren’t created on mind reading. They thrive on open communication. When you share your wants or needs, you know your partner will listen closely and do their best to help. Even better, you’ll do the same for them! Sharing these needs—like emotional support, companionship, and affection—can feel vulnerable, so we usually share them only with our closest loved ones.

Your partner can hang out with friends without checking in every hour.

If you’re in a strong relationship, you’re totally fine with your partner going out with their friends on a Friday night. While some friends might ask for pictures or “proof” that their partner is behaving, you can chill knowing you trust them to respect the boundaries of your relationship without worrying about anything.

You don’t feel like you’re constantly fighting.

This doesn’t mean your relationship is conflict-free, but conflict shouldn’t be what drives it. When issues pop up, you know how to handle them fairly and carelessly. Mature couples learn to hit pause on a spiraling issue by taking a timeout. This differs from the “silent treatment,” where one person totally shuts the other out. Instead, taking a breather lets you cool down and keep the discussion on track.

You can argue without bringing up breakups or divorce.

Too many couples escalate their disagreements from zero to a full-blown war, tossing around the “d-word” (divorce) or the “b-word” (breakup) as a last resort. However, it’s a sign of a healthy relationship when you can disagree and know that the relationship itself is secure. Occasional conflict is a normal part of intimate partnerships, and it feels safe to know you can disagree without putting the whole relationship at risk.

You miss each other when you’re apart.

One thing that long-term couples often share is how much they think about each other, even when they’re apart. A spouse becomes an extension of who you are. How you usually think about your partner during the day—and look forward to being together again—is another big sign of a healthy relationship. You know they are thinking of you when she sends an email, text, or call.