10 Ways on How To Avoid Relationship Arguments

Squabbling is a part of every relationship, from the most random to the significant things, arguments are part of the relationship package. It all boils down to how often you and your partner argue and how you react to disagreement and conflict. Constant arguments and poor management of random outbursts will affect your romance in so many ways, that’s why it’s important to be able to navigate them properly.

When it comes to knowing how to handle and avoid relationship arguments, having the right attitude is everything, it will determine if your love story goes the distance or not. Check out a number of healthy ways in which you can handle and avoid relationship arguments. 

Usually, when you’re having an argument you are both focused on talking, everyone wants to talk more, yell louder or have the last word. Both partners speak at the same time over each other but no one really listens. To avoid long and frustrating arguments with your partner, listen and pay attention to what they're saying. Take the time to reflect on what they said and let them know you understand their point of view and take their feelings into consideration. This will shift your partner's stance from a position of defense to a place where they’re open to listening to your views too.

As we were taught back in kindergarten, sorry is a magic word that goes a long way. A genuine apology seems to have the superpower of calming down most situations. When you do something that hurts your partner, take ownership and responsibility for your actions and apologize to your partner. The best approach is to be genuine, sincere and reassure them that it won’t happen again. This will stop lots of arguments with your significant other on their tracks.

When a person feels hurt, they say things they later wish they could take back. You resort to low blows and make things even worse. The best way around this is to set boundaries and ground rules you and your partner have to live by when you argue. This will help you not get carried away by your emotions and say or do things that you'll regret later.

Lowering your voice will resolve many arguments between you and your significant other, communication is never possible when you’re yelling. So, make it a habit to express your feelings in a calm and low voice if you want to be heard. Whatever differences you have with your partner could be discussed amicably. When trying to resolve a conflict, you could do so over dinner in a restaurant or in any other public place that stops you from yelling. You’ll be amazed at how this trick works.

Not every fight is worth the trouble unless your name is Petty Betty, there are things you have to let slide. Your partner will often get on your nerves but you have to learn to ignore some things. If it’s not a big deal then don’t sweat it, focus on issues that really matter and watch your arguments with Bae reduce by half. Make a conscious effort to stick to what is worth fighting for not the small and silly arguments.

Stockpiling and bringing up issues from the past is the easiest way to prolong an argument, don’t dwell on past mistakes or pile them up, this could lead to resentment and bitterness. Deal with the issue at hand as soon as you can to avoid constant arguments. Stockpiling issues until they become unbearable will only lead to a huge outburst that would be messy. 

Like it or not your partner is going to push your buttons at some point in your relationship. They’ll do things that will drive you crazy and make you lash out instantaneously. But you have to learn to control your response, hold back and don’t react immediately, let the urge pass then you can respond calmly or not at all. It’s up to you to decide on a coping mechanism, you could count from 1-10, take deep breaths or bite your tongue it doesn’t matter as long as you stop yourself from lashing out. This will not only minimize arguments, but it will also prevent a lot of them.

When a discussion starts getting out of hand or on the slippery ground get a grip on your emotions. You could take a time out and continue the discussion at a later time or one partner can go for a walk before things heat up. When you and Bae can’t agree on something suggest that you sleep over it and revisit it the next morning. Couples should be able to acknowledge and respect each other's emotions without being ruled by it. In other words, if your partner is yelling, it doesn’t mean you too should yell. Instead, take a step back and let things die down before you try to make your point.

It’s very easy to allocate blame when you feel wronged and hurt but this is never a good idea when you’re trying to avoid an argument. Instead, abstain from using phrases like ‘’ You should have…, You always…, You never… etc. They’ll only make things worse, pointing fingers will aggravate things as your partner will feel judged, accused and violated. Say how you feel instead of what they did or didn’t do. For example ‘’ I was so worried when you didn’t call to say you’ll be late’’. 

Using your relationship as leverage to get what you want from your partner is always toxic. Emotionally blackmailing your partner puts them in a constant defensive mood and this is the last thing you need if you want to avoid arguments. Threatening to leave or break up just puts both of you on edge and makes both of you depressed. A heavily charged atmosphere only leads to more fights. So, cut your partner some slack, don’t use your relationship as a bargaining chip.

It’s OKAY to disagree and argue with your partner every now and then as long as you don’t make it a habit. When it becomes constant then you have a problem and it should be addressed before it gets out of hand. It’s first of all important to know why this is happening, check out the following reasons if they apply to you:

Anger is a normal emotion like love, sadness, happiness, and excitement. It has to be expressed, burying anger within sooner or later leads to a massive explosion. When you suppress your feelings, they add up and this leads to resentment which is manifested through constant irritation over every little thing. For a healthy relationship, anger is managed not avoided.

What’s more annoying than a partner who always dredges up the past? Nothing I bet! Bringing up all the mistakes your partner made in the past is one of the main reasons why couples argue constantly. Focus is shifted from the issue at hand onto something else that isn’t even still relevant. This tells your partner that you are keeping scores and bearing a grudge, leading them to do the same. 
 

When a couple has been together for a long time, they start taking each other for granted, you no longer express gratitude or appreciation for the things your partner does and this leaves your partner feeling unappreciated. Your partner doesn’t feel valued so they pick fights over small issues. Try to compliment your partner, be his/her number one fan in whatever they’re doing, thank them for cooking dinner, changing your tire, going with you to the doctor, etc. We all retaliate when we feel undervalued.

Not acknowledging and taking into consideration your partner's feelings and views put them on the defensive. You may disagree on somethings but listen to their perspective and take it into account. As the saying goes ‘’ agree to disagree’’, being dismissive of your partner's views and emotions are the fastest route to constant arguments. 

During a disagreement, we usually want to prove we’re right and the other person is wrong. We’re so focused on winning that we forget we are a team, couples forget that at the end of the day they have to go back to being together regardless of the outcome of the argument. They want instant satisfaction at the expense of the future of their relationship. Keeping in mind the values of your couple will stop you from saying things you’ll regret and causing lasting damage. 

Disagreement is often seen in a negative light, people think when you argue your relationship is on the rocks or conflict is a threat to your romance, but that’s not necessarily true. Arguing is sometimes good for your relationship, it helps it grow and evolve. Experts say a little conflict with your significant other is healthy and like it or not you and your partner are bound to disagree from time to time. The good news is, conflict reveals a lot about your partner and helps you know yourself better. Here are some of the reasons why arguing is beneficial to your relationship. 

- Arguing allows you to communicate your needs to your partner, air your frustrations and say things you might not have said otherwise.

- Arguments prevent resentment from building up in your relationship, it’s kind of therapeutic as it allows you to say what’s on your mind.

- Disagreements can help you see things from your partner’s perspective, you become flexible enough to acknowledge your partner's point of view.

- Arguing reveals your partner’s true motives, sometimes you can’t really tell why your significant other is acting the way they do but a good old fight will reveal the reason he/she is angry or what the argument is truly about.

- You learn restraint and self-control, in the heat of an argument you are usually tempted to say hurtful things but when you realize the damage that can be done you eventually refrain from getting to the point of no return.

You could be one of those couples who argue non-stop or the ones who avoid confronting each other at all cost it doesn’t really matter. Just remember that relationship arguments are not the final nail in the coffin of your relationship. On the contrary if well handled they could be the lifeline you need to preserve your romance and grow closer to each other as a couple. As you can see, there are lots of benefits to arguing, as long as you and your partner do so in a loving, and constructive manner. After all, you’re both on the same team and at the end of the day, you’ll go and grab dinner together and sleep in the same bed.