7 Steps to Building a Healthy and Long-Lasting Romance

Many new relationships begin with the best intentions, but it's not uncommon for them to end in heartbreak.

The bad news?

A breakup will never feel good, no matter how necessary it may be, from a long-term relationship perspective.

The good news?

There are things you can do to make your breakup easier on you and your partner and ways to rebuild yourself into a better partner in the future.

Here are seven steps to building a healthy and long-lasting romance that won't burn out before getting off the ground.

1) Build trust

Trust is essential for any romantic relationship, whether with your significant other or on a new date.

Experts say that dating is all about making sure that both partners are comfortable.

You can do so by sharing information about yourself. For example, if you have an embarrassing moment in your past, don't be afraid to share it – it will help people get to know you better.

Also, stick to one topic of conversation; keep things simple rather than switching between different issues when talking with someone new.

This allows both of you to feel comfortable around each other before moving on from idle chat into more intimate subjects like personal goals and dreams.

2) Understand yourself

If you're reading these words, you're probably in a relationship. Maybe it's serious.

Perhaps it isn't. But chances are, if you have your heart set on one person and that person reciprocates, there will come a day when you look at each other and wonder:

Where do we go from here?

When you first fall in love with someone (or realize that what you thought was love is just an illusion), it can be easy to fall into old patterns or succumb to familiar thinking about relationships—especially if those patterns or thoughts left you feeling safe before.

For things to work out, though, your partner needs someone different from who they were with before—and so do you.

3) Accept your past

To move forward, you must be honest with yourself about your past.

This doesn't mean beating yourself up over mistakes or failures.

It simply means that you must be honest with yourself to establish your boundaries, decide what will work for you, and understand what has worked in previous relationships.

Here's an example: If your previous relationship ended because of infidelity, you would likely set clear boundaries on communication outside of a relationship—i.e., no casual dating.

Understanding why things didn't work before can help you predict how things will go in future relationships by clarifying what works for you and what doesn't.

4) Overcome jealousy

Jealousy is an emotion that has no place in romantic relationships.

It can be cute at first, but jealousy can quickly take over your life.

It's not pretty or sweet when you constantly feel threatened by your partner's attention toward other people, places, or things.

When you feel jealous, it makes you incredibly insecure—and there's nothing attractive about that!

Instead of jealousy, focus on trust and open communication, so both parties feel secure in their relationships.

If you think especially upset about your partner's behavior or words toward another person (or vice versa), it might be best to spend some time apart.

5) Stop fighting in public

If you're in public when you're fighting, try your best to stop.

It's not just rude (although it is), but it makes it harder for you to resolve your conflict because people around you won't be able to hear what's being said.

If you have to yell at each other while out, walk somewhere more private before engaging in any further discussion—this will help calm your emotions so that by the time you get there, both of you are ready to talk things through calmly.

The more frustrated or angry either of you is, the less successful these conversations are likely to be!

Go somewhere like a coffee shop or park so that there isn't as much background noise—it can make it easier for both of you.

6) Start exercising together

Exercise not only strengthens your relationship physically but also enhances it mentally.

Workout sessions are great opportunities for you and your significant other to catch up on each other's day or have fun getting fit together.

Plus, research shows that couples who work out together stay healthier for longer. Whether you like biking, dancing, or walking, consider making exercise part of your routine together.

If possible, do it outdoors so you can enjoy nature as well!

(Bonus: It also provides an excellent opportunity for any arguments or disagreements during your workout to be forgotten about or worked out.)

7) Take time for each other

Putting your partner first isn't just important when you're in a new relationship—it should be an essential component of your love life for as long as you two are together.

You don't always have to go out on dates or make significant sacrifices for each other, but remember that little gestures matter.

Take an interest in their hobbies, show up to their family events, and share what you learned today at work—all these things will help keep you connected through even the busiest times.

Whether it's been three months or 30 years, putting effort into being there for one another is one of the healthiest habits you can cultivate in your relationship.