Well hello to you my reader chums! Being in a relationship is an exciting time; it's an opportunity to grow your life with someone else and create many amazing memories, and learn more about yourself that you didn't know. I didn't think I'd be in a relationship for a while, but 2022 has been a year of unexpected surprises, and I feel very lucky right now.

If you're in a new relationship or struggling to care for your needs, here are my best tips on how to prioritise yourself in a relationship.

Schedule alone time

Learning to be alone is a skill we all need to master in my opinion because at the end of the day, you can only rely on yourself even if you have the most supportive partner, friends and family. This is why when you get in a relationship, you should still invest that same alone time. Granted, it'll be a lot less than when you're single but it's still just as important. Try and schedule this in when you need to and you can get up to whatever you like. Whether it's going on a walk, taking part in hobbies, running errands, having a bath or reading a book, all activities are good for your mind and soul.

Invest in your hobbies

We all need hobbies and it's something my boyfriend always likes to remind me is important in everyday life. All of us have things we do that make our heart soar, whether it's playing an instrument, reading or doing all things crafts - and this shouldn't be stopped when you get into a relationship. In fact, it's probably more important to maintain the things that you love and care about so you can continue your own happiness without relying on your partner for that. Your partner is there to give you some happiness but shouldn't be the sole reason for it.

Maintain the friendships you had before

Friendships are one of the most important things in life and to me, my girls are my world. They've been through everything with me and still will. As you've built those friendships, you don't want to lose them and that is why you should make the time with your friends, the same way you schedule alone time. It may be a bit less than what you used to but as long as the communication is there, is the main thing.

Have open communication with your partner

Communication is key to building a healthy relationship. You should treat your partner like your teammate and work on solutions together rather than against each other - and this is why open communication is crucial. You should be able to talk to your partner about everything, how you're feeling, what your future plans are, the good things and bad things. This level of communication helps you prioritise yourself because it means you feel comfortable enough to talk about what you want in general and what you need from them.

Communicate what your needs are

This leads me to this point. With a comfortable level of communication, you can then vocalise what your needs are. We all have different needs and expectations in a relationship and this will help you put them in place. It'll help you prioritise your needs because you can say what type of support you need, and talk about your love languages and the expectations from your relationship.

Set boundaries from the beginning

Boundaries are as important as communicating with your partner. Your partner needs to know personal boundaries, emotional boundaries and really where the line is drawn. This is to help them understand more about who you are, your triggers, your emotions and the coping mechanisms you need. It helps you prioritise yourself because you're opening yourself up to a vulnerable level, to feel the safest and your happiest self.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have any other tips?

Thank you for reading <3