5 Tips For A Better Relationship (No Sex Involved)

I am not a professional, nor can I offer you advice that has been "researched" and tested for years. But with this Hub, I am hoping to share some of the things I have learned personally about relationships. My girlfriend and I are extremely close, and some of the things listed here have helped us to grow closer, and bond. If you are looking for tips on how to have great sex or get a girl to have sex with you without any commitment, you won't find it in this Hub. However, if you are looking for ways to share a wholesome, committed relationship with someone whom you love, then hopefully these ideas can help you achieve the closeness you desire. As with any relationship advice or ideas, they are not perfect for everyone. However, they will offer a start, and hopefully, people will add their own ideas in the comments section. Dating is a delicate process, and involves tremendous commitment on both parties' parts. But with dedication, successful relationships are much easier than you would expect. Read on for some starter ideas.

1. Listen to each other's heart beat

There is something about silently holding each other in your arms, with your head on each other's chest that brings about a sense of calm and longing. As you listen to your partner's heart, you can slowly relax and become one with them, an experience that will strengthen your relationship immensely.

2. Hold hands while arguing

This doesn't work for everyone, but one way to prevent some arguments from turning extremely sour while fighting is to hold hands. It won't stop the fight, but I can promise that it will at least reduce some of the harshness in your words. Some couples have found that holding hands causes them to forget what their trivial fight was even about. The physical touch is a powerful bond that cannot be expressed in words.

3. Snuggle without kissing for 5 minutes

Kissing is necessary to keep the romance and excitement of being together alive. So why would I suggest not kissing then? The reason is because it gives you time to experience each other in a new way, without locked lips. During the time that you are snuggling, try rubbing each other's back and head, nuzzling their neck, and slowly brushing your lips on their cheek. Then, after five minutes or so, slowly work into a passionate kiss. The waiting will make the experience all the more powerful and bring you closer together.

• Be sure to find out if dating a friend is a good idea
• Click here for dating ideas for teens

4. Just talk

Part of a healthy relationship is knowing what each other is thinking and feeling. By simply being together and talking, you are strengthening your relationship without even realizing it. Talking works on the phone as well if you cannot be together. A big mistake that many men make is expecting that their girlfriends want them to resolve all their issues. They offer to try and "fix" all the problems. I have found that 95% of the time, the girl only wants someone to talk to and someone who will listen. Try it for a change and see how close you can become.

5. Relive a first date

There is nothing better than reliving a first date to demonstrate how far you have come in your relationship. For one night, forget all of the outside issues: work, kids, or money, and, if it is possible, revisit the site of your first date. Try and do as many things as you did that night. If you watched a movie, go to the same theater. If you ate at a certain restaurant, then go there again. Doing this may seem silly, but I have enjoyed it every time, and it surely shows you that you have grown together since that time long ago.

Keeping a relationship strong takes a lot of work. But hopefully, these tips will make it easier to strengthen any relationship, at any stage. The reason that I added "without sex" to the title of this Hub is because many people simply use sex as a way to connect. However, that is only one dimension of a strong relationship, and overusing it can make us weaker in other, equally as important areas.