Relationship Health Checklist

Are you and your partner struggling to connect on a deeper level? Do you feel like your relationship has hit a rough patch and you’re not sure how to move forward? At Dallas Whole Life Counseling, we understand that maintaining a healthy relationship takes effort and commitment. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Family Psychology, open communication is a key factor in maintaining a healthy and strong relationship. That’s why we’ve created a relationship health checklist to help you and your partner assess the current state of your relationship and identify areas that need improvement. This checklist is designed to help you reflect on your communication, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction. Use it as a starting point for open and honest discussions with your partner about your needs and goals. By taking an active role in your relationship and seeking support when needed, you can build a stronger, more fulfilling partnership.

The Relationship Health Checklist

• You lead “separate lives” despite sharing a household
• You mostly speak about finances, household chores, and other necessary tasks
• You have sex less than once weekly
• Your partner feels more like a business partner than a romantic partner
• You often find yourself attracted to, or flirting with, members of the opposite sex
• Your relationship is less about passion and enthusiasm, and more about routine and responsibility
• Rather than focusing on specific behaviors–such as wanting your partner to put their clothes away–you generalize, calling your partner “lazy, irresponsible, selfish,” etc.
• You find yourself fantasizing about leaving your relationship
• Your friends and family don’t understand why you are with your partner
• You have tried buying a new house, moving, or having children to “fix” your relationship
• You rarely talk directly about your relationship, unless you are fighting
• You rarely hug, hold hands or touch in a non-sexual way
• Your parents do not/did not have a great relationship
• You find it difficult to discuss sex with your partner
• You feel there is a “power” imbalance in the relationship.
• You fear expressing your real feelings to your partner
• You often find yourself dreading your partner returning home, or dread coming home yourself
• The same fights come up again and again
• Date nights happen infrequently
• Your partner “changed” a few years into the relationship
• You share few interests with your partner
• You find yourself frequently comparing your partner–unfavorably–to a friend or co-worker
• Despite your long-term relationship, you maintain close relationships with members of the opposite sex
• You feel that some degree of dishonesty is a necessary “peacekeeper” in most relationships important
• Since having kids, your sex life “isn’t what it used to be”
• Your often go to someone other than your partner for emotional support

Reference

Schoebi, D., Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2012). What predicts divorce?: The relationship between marital processes and marital outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(3), 348–358. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028571