A healthy relationship is a perfect combination of love, perseverance, open-mindedness, and compromise! Yeah, it seems pretty simple on paper, but in reality, it’s a whole different thing.
We all want to be the best girlfriend/boyfriend on the planet, but when life gets in the way, it can get tricky.
It’s almost always the little things that do you in.
The things you never see coming because they don’t seem significant at the time, but in hindsight, you realize just how crucial every single thing is in keeping a relationship alive.
So here, I’ll discuss some of those little things that will steer you clear of a break-up and make you a truly great girlfriend.
It’s not about money, luxury, and splurging. Love is so much simpler than that!
A good girlfriend knows what her guy needs without him having to say it out loud. A good girlfriend is attentive to her guy’s needs (and vice versa of course!) and she puts their love life first.
A good relationship is dependent on two mature individuals who understand that true love means still doing your own thing, but with a built-in best friend by your side!
True love improves your self-confidence and lets you be your own person while feeling amazing in your own skin.
It’s doing nice things for each other that prove you care but it doesn’t depend on constantly having to get each other stuff.
It’s those little tokens of appreciation that made you fall in love with him in the first place!
Being in a romantic relationship means willingly putting your own life in the hands of another person and knowing he’s got your back!
Even when you’re in a bad mood, your person always comes first.
A relationship works only if both partners abide by the same rules while having their partner’s best interest in mind.
If your man is someone you’d describe as a really good boyfriend, then he deserves the same from you, right?
I’m sure you’re already an amazing girlfriend in your own right but why not kick it up a notch and raise the bar so high that no one in his life could ever compare?
I know it sounds unrealistic, but once you put your mind to it, trust me, it’ll be a piece of cake and it’ll help you forge a bond so strong, even the harshest of days won’t be able to touch you.
See also: Dating Vs Relationship: 15 Crucial Differences That Define Your Status
How To Be A Good Girlfriend?
It’s truly not that complex. Being the best girlfriend to your significant other is something you can do with ease if you’ve got the right values and you hold each other to certain standards.
The first thing you need to realize is that being self-centered and unwilling to compromise is a major turn-off.
You have to be able to meet your partner in the middle and work out your differences, otherwise what’s the point in even trying?
It’s no longer just you. You’ve got your man’s heart to think about now as well. If this is still a new relationship, then you’re in the right place.
Here, you’ll get a step-by-step on how to forge a strong bond and be a good girlfriend while leaving your man happy and loved.
You’ll see that the little things leave the biggest impact and that sometimes, getting him his favorite food or letting him watch basketball and simply wind down is the most effective way to make him see you truly get him.
We all just want to be seen and heard. Anticipate your man’s needs and connect with him on a level where he’ll feel beyond comfortable around you.
Let him be his own person – because that’s what a healthy relationship is about.
Two people navigating through life side by side, each of them with their own life, but intertwined and appreciative of what the other one brings to the table.
Being a strong unit with your individualities intact.
To help you understand everything that goes into this, here’s a list of truly simple tips and tricks on how to be a good girlfriend and help your relationship stand the test of time and flourish.
See also: A Loving Open Letter To My Long Distance Boyfriend
Don’t take him for granted
Good girlfriends know when they have a good guy and know never to take anything he does for granted. Appreciate your man.
Don’t think that you’re entitled to anything and be grateful when he does nice things for you.
If he treats you with kindness and respect, do the same for him.
In today’s world, it’s rare to meet a selfless, compassionate, and genuine person who truly cares about you as a person.
If you’ve been so lucky as to meet someone of this caliber, appreciate the heck out of him. Guys like this don’t come by very often.
Be confident in what you have
A good girlfriend doesn’t doubt her relationship one bit. She’s confident in what she’s built with her man and there’s no room for doubting him or the trust they’ve built.
The best girlfriends are those who radiate self-confidence, don’t talk about their love life more than necessary, and enjoy the love and adoration in their own sacred privacy.
When you know you’re with the right person, you simply don’t have a reason to question anything.
Be there even when it’s hard
Sometimes, life will be a real bitch. You’ll be on the outs, he’ll mess up, and you won’t want to listen to his side of the story.
But that’s exactly when you need to turn the other cheek and give him a chance to say what he has to say.
There are two sides to every story. If he’s a good boyfriend in all other areas, don’t give up on him at the first sight of trouble.
Stick it out. Listen. Be a good girlfriend by realizing that people mess up! You will too! What makes for a good partner is the ability to forgive.
If you think that a healthy relationship doesn’t have its share of ups and downs then you’re in for a shocker.
There’ll be plenty of messing up and forgiving – on both parts. Have an open heart and be there even when it’s hard.
Have your own life
As amazing and comfortable it is being part of a loving unit, it can also kill a relationship just like that.
Yeah, couples should spend lots of time together but they should also be their own people!
Don’t forget that you had a rich life and a complete personality way before he came around.Don’t just morph into one person because you love each other.
Stay true to who you are. Don’t forget about your family, friends, and hobbies.
Knowing that you’ve got him to come home to makes it that much sweeter spending a little healthy time apart.
Make him miss you and vice versa. Take care of your own needs so that you can be a part of a couple and thrive!
Make him feel like a real man
Listen, I’m an eternal feminist and gender equality is a no-brainer for me. With that said, it’s totally fine to let your man be the man sometimes.
They need to feel like they have control over the little things and it’s really not a big deal to help them in that department.
Let him open that jar of pickles. Let him carry your bag/suitcase after a trip. Let him do those gentlemanly things that will make him feel more like a man.
He only wants to make you feel safe and taken care of. What’s wrong with that? Even the strongest women could use an even stronger hand sometimes… Just saying.
See also: Decoding Guys’ Behavior After A Breakup (7 Signs He’s Hurting)
Be adventurous in the sack!
What two people do in the privacy of their own bedroom is TOTALLY their own business.
BUT… if I can offer you a little piece of advice (that has worked wonders for me!) it’s to allow yourself a little freedom in the bedroom!
I’m not saying to turn into a pornstar (all love though) if you don’t feel comfortable. Just explore your options and ask him what he likes.
You never know what you might discover in the process. What if there’s a wild beast hidden inside you just bursting to come out? He’s your man, not a stranger, so you’re safe with him.
See what he’s open to trying and give it a shot. No pressure. Just try and see where it takes you. I guarantee you he’ll be thrilled!
Don’t flirt with other dudes
How to be a good girlfriend? Simple. Don’t turn into a tease the moment there are hot guys around.
That’s an immediate turn-off and, if you ask me, shows a complete lack of respect for your boyfriend.
If you want to flirt, do it with your guy! You never know what other guys might start thinking, especially if they don’t know you’re taken.
Flirting can get you into a lot of really awkward and unnecessary situations because not every guy you flirt with knows that you’re just being a tease.
Some might try to make a move on you. Avoid that by having eyes only for your man.
Surprise him when he least expects it
If you want to keep the spark alive and keep him on his toes, then make sure to never let your relationship fall in a rut.
Do something nice and totally spontaneous when he truly doesn’t see it coming.
Plan a little romantic getaway at the first chance you’re both free.
Get an abundance of his favorite food, invite his buddies over before a big game, and let him have a guy’s night in, and even join them if you see he’d like that.
Do something really nice that’ll make him go ”God, I love this woman!” It doesn’t take a lot to make him feel happy.
The little things are the biggest blessings.
Give him space when he needs it
This is important. We all have our crappy days when we just want to be left alone. And that’s well within his (and everyone else’s) right. Don’t ask questions.
Don’t nag. Don’t take it personally. It’s not you. When he’s ready, he’ll talk.
So when you see him wanting to be alone to get his shit together, leave him be. I’m sure he’d do the same for you. It might seem personal at that moment but it truly isn’t.
When he’s ready to talk, you’ll hear all about it and see that giving him his space was priceless.
We all deserve the chance to deal with our own crap in our own way. Let him come to you when he’s ready.
Be his best friend
I always used to think that it was such a cliche, hearing about your boyfriend being your best friend. But having found just that, I can now admit that I was wrong.
If you want to be a good girlfriend, then ask yourself if you’ve been a good friend to him lately!
Yes, intimacy is important, but so is making sure that he’s happy and that you talk about his hobbies and interests as well.
Don’t neglect his life and the importance of sharing.
Be a rock if he needs you. Listen to him vent if there’s something on his mind. Just be there for him in every way possible.
It’s not a joke when they say that couples who are also best friends last the longest.
See also: 8 Long-Distance Relationship Problems (And How To Make It Work)
Keep your private life private
This one’s my personal favorite. I’m not the kind of girl who likes to share everything with everyone.
Even my closest friends don’t know every detail of my relationship because some things are simply private and sacred.
Why would people need to know the ins and outs of my own personal relationship that I cherish?
I know there are girls who like to share everything with their girlfriends, but think about it… Do they really need to know how long he lasts in bed?
Is it really their business to know his flaws that only you know about?
To me, it’s completely disrespectful to share such private things. Leave some things just for the two of you. Not everyone needs to know everything.
Appreciate what he does for you
He doesn’t have to buy you jewelry and expensive gifts on a regular basis to show you he cares. Money doesn’t equal love. Kindness, effort, and selflessness do.
Being there even when it’s inconvenient is what true love entails. A good girlfriend appreciates all those little efforts because she knows they’re a reflection of his big heart.
He needs to know that he’s valued. He needs to see that you hear him and see him. A good relationship includes two people who value each other’s efforts and never let the little things go unnoticed.
If he keeps doing stuff to accommodate your needs and never asks for anything in return, appreciate it. It doesn’t get better than that.
Be loyal and faithful
This goes without saying (or at least it should), but loyalty is priceless. Being faithful is of utmost importance.
But these days, it seems to be an almost unattainable quality! Be a great girlfriend and show your man that he’s got nothing to worry about.
You wouldn’t think of straying and the thought of hurting him is unbearable.Even if you do get looks from other guys, stay immune to them. He needs to know that he can trust you.
And when he knows that he can, you know that you’ve hit the relationship jackpot! Trust is the basis for everything.
Without it, you’ve got nothing, but once you build it with someone, the sky is your limit.
Get to know (and love) his buddies
His friends are some of the most important people in his life. We all have those few people in our life who aren’t blood, but who feel like family.
Make an effort to get to know those people in his life. Try to spend a little time with them. Chances are, you’ll end up really liking them as well.
And when your boyfriend sees you making a valiant effort to love his friends, he’ll appreciate it more than you can imagine. Those things mean a lot.
I know how grateful I am that my man got to know my favorite girls and ended up loving them almost as much as I do. It really makes your life that much sweeter.
Be the wind at his back
Support him in his endeavors. Encourage him to keep pushing the envelope. Be the wind at his back! Even if his dreams feel unattainable.
Even if he’s bit off more than he can chew. Let him do his thing and if need be, let him learn from his mistakes.
All he needs to know is that you’ve got his back. That’s what good girlfriends do! Don’t put him down and discourage him from living the life that he aspires to live.
Be supportive of his ambition and help him on his way up. But never dwindle his fire. All he needs is your support. And that’s the least you can give him.
See also: 8 Simple Signs Of True Love From A Woman
Ask about his family
His family is his world. And since you’re part of his family now too, make sure to acknowledge the other members too.
Ask about how everyone is and listen to what he has to say.
If there’s something going on, don’t pry but always offer your help in any small way that you can.
Family is everything, never forget that.
Be appreciative, kind, and attentive. If you’re eager to remain a huge part of his world, don’t forget that it already includes a lot of other people who have been there since day one.
Simply blend in and try to spend time with them. It’ll make his life that much easier seeing all of his favorite people come together.
Always tell the truth
Honesty is the best policy. Always. No matter how hard it may be or how badly it might affect you. Always choose the truth. If there’s something bothering you, tell him.
Don’t sulk in silence and expect him to read your mind. That’s child’s play. Be an adult and understand that without being honest you’ll never achieve anything.
The quickest way to get over any hurdle is to be straight-up about everything. No lies, no vagueness, and no deflecting.
Face everything head-on and give yourself a chance to fight the biggest obstacles.
Lies have a way of biting you in the ass, whereas the truth always pays in the end.
Never go to bed angry
I cannot stress this enough. Never end the day resentful and hurt. Never allow yourself to fall asleep next to him without having talked about stuff that’ll keep you up all night.
Make a decision to never go to bed without fixing what needs to be fixed. Or at least starting a conversation about it.
It’s crucial that you abide by this rule. Going to bed mad at each other only worsens the problem, makes you more resentful, and plays with your head. It sucks!
Talk, share, stick it out. Trust me, it really makes all the difference.
Leave the past where it belongs
Whatever happened, happened. If you’ve worked through it and moved on, then the past should always remain in the past.
There will always be new stuff to worry about, so why bother yourself with old stuff you’ve already worked out?
I know it’s hard and that some things simply trigger you, but being mentally strong is important to last a long time in a good relationship.
Live in the present. Focus on what’s happening now. Take it one day at a time and always look ahead.
The future is yours to take and past events have no bearing on what happens today.
Tell him you love him every chance you get
If you love your man, tell him, show him, make him feel it! Love is not something you should ever hide.
If you’ve found a guy who rocks your boat (in all the best ways), who respects you, cherishes you, and goes out of his way to please you, tell him that you love him.
So simple, yet so effective! People love hearing how loved they are. It’s what keeps them sane. It’s what makes them feel happy, valued, and motivated even on the most challenging days.
Love truly does make the world go round. I love you. Say it out loud. Doesn’t it sound just so damn good?
See also: 20 Amazing And Cute Late Night Date Ideas For All Couples
