I should be more surprised to find that when it comes to the one thing that we all have in common, which is love, thousands of people consult a public forum for answers. It can be refreshing to see what complete strangers recommend, no strings attached. On Reddit, masks are off and people share unabridged opinions.

I had a lot of fun sifting through Reddit dating questions and answers to pull out bits that I can agree with. While I found these tips insightful, as a certified relationship coach, I do not give advice, but rather guide my clients to reach their relationship goals.

Grab some popcorn and let’s dive into what kind of relationship advice the people of Reddit give that is actually pretty good.

Having Healthy Arguments in Relationships

“When in an argument, it’s not a you vs. me, it’s an us vs. the problem. If you are fighting, always fight fair. You both know exactly what you can say or do to make the low blow and possibly win the immediate fight, but it will hurt the relationship, sometimes irreparably.”

My take: This is spot-on. Think of your words like toothpaste—once they’re out, you can’t put them back in. A fair fight doesn’t aim to wound; it aims to understand.

couple arguing in the hallway and trying to have a healthy relationship

Is it healthy to argue in a relationship?

In moderation, arguments can serve as a way to address issues, improve communication and understand each other’s point of view, as long as both partners remain respectful and focus on resolving the conflict constructively. It’s important to recognize when arguments become unhealthy. This can look like constant fighting, unresolved arguments that escalate into personal attacks, unnecessary insults, name-calling, or threats. If arguments never seem to lead to a resolution or leave partners feeling unseen and unheard, this indicates a problem.

Little Things In Relationships Can Mean The Most

“Little frequent gestures of affection mean a lot more than one big gesture once in a blue moon. For example, a sweet love note tucked into someone’s lunch, or a text saying you’re thinking about them and missing them, mean a lot more than an expensive gift. For me, my husband stringing Post-It notes across the garage opening with “I love you, Sweetie”, for me to see when I got home from work on a random day, meant a lot more than the diamond earrings on my birthday.”

My take: This is such a sweet example! The thoughtfulness behind a Post-It note shows your partner they’re on your mind—and that kind of intentional love is priceless.

Here are some more examples of small gestures in a relationship as seen on Reddit:

  • “Getting out of bed quietly so as to not wake me up, getting me coffee without me having to ask, calls or texts out of nowhere, opening the car door for me, when he places his hand on my lower back when walking together to guide me.”
  • “When my boyfriend holds my hand and kisses it, when he makes me coffee in the morning, back and leg rubs, the best! Never take the small things for granted ♥️Also do it in return.”
  • “When my bf tells me I look good or smell good or that he likes food I make it makes me so happy to know my efforts are seen and appreciated.”
  • “Stroking my hair while we hug or picking up something they know I’d enjoy that day like a cup of coffee, a small snack they know i enjoy! Little tiny things matter most!”
  • “Last weekend I got off work early and told my wife I was heading home. She said she had already ordered me lunch and was planning to leave it in the fridge. When I got home my favorite specialty dish from a certain restaurant was on the way and we ate together. Felt very seen & cared for 🙂 I love when she shares things that make her happy too; she’s been getting a lot of new perfumes lately and always has me smell them when she tries them on. It’s fun and makes me feel good to be included in her hobbies. Another little thing that makes me smile is that she always sends me Instagram reels she thinks I would like, but I know she likes seeing my reaction so I wait til we’re together to watch them. It’s the little things that make you feel close.”
  • “His hand on my lap in the car. When he surprises me with coffee. Taking the initiative to do something without me asking to do it. When I catch him admiring me when I’m with our kids. When I hear him telling our kids how mommy is so wonderful.”

 

It’s truly the little things that mean so much!

Lying In a Relationship Is Not Worth It

“Even if you messed up and you know they’ll be mad when they find out the truth. When they do find out the truth, it makes things so much worse.”

My take: Own your mistakes—they’re part of being human, and your relationship will be stronger for it.

Couple dealing with catching partner in a lie

Effects of lying in a relationship:

Breach of trust in a relationship can cause damage in an otherwise healthy relationship, even the small lies in a relationship can have lasting negative impacts.

Psychologists believe that the eight pillars (clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution, and consistency) directly influence human interactions.

If you are curious to know more about the pillars of trust and what role they play in relationships, dive into this article next.

Communication In a Relationship is So Important

Three separate people agree:

“When in doubt, talk it out. Seriously, so much drama can be avoided if partners just communicated with each other.”

“COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE. Work towards solving what’s making you unhappy. And when you do, try not to be defensive or angry. When you’re angry, you say things you regret almost immediately.”

“Open and honest communication is the basis of every relationship. Be able to talk about issues as they arise so that you can work on them and not dwell internally.”

My take: Think of communication as relationship maintenance. It’s like taking your car in for an oil change—you avoid major breakdowns by addressing small issues early and regularly. Sometimes it takes learning how to feel emotionally safe with your partner to have those tough conversations.

The importance of communication in relationships cannot be understated.

Let’s examine what is communication exactly to understand why it’s so highly regarded. According to Wikipedia, the word communication has its root in the Latin verb communicare, which means ‘to share’ or ‘to make common’. Why do we share? From a very young age we are taught to share and the very act becomes more meaningful as we start to enjoy it, such as by giving gifts. Once both partners feel safe to share ideas and thoughts, it can be a beautiful joyous thing. We all want to feel understood and respected. We want to feel seen and heard.

Quality Time Ideas and Why They Matter

“Me and my gf have a phoneless and TV-less evening every week. We play a boardgame. It’s amazing how hooked we are to electronic entertainment (phone, tv, computer).”

My take: Brilliant! Turning off distractions and focusing on each other is like a relationship reset button. Plus, there’s nothing like a little friendly competition to spark some playful chemistry.

Quality time for some serves as their primary love language. It’s no wonder then that many relationship starve as a result of ignoring the need to spend quality time together regularly.

spending quality time together in a relationship close up

Let’s take a look at some fun quality time ideas for couples also found on Reddit:

  • “Go to a public library, explore the books, pick one out for one another OR pick the same one so you can read it and talk about it together.
  • Coffee shop dates tend to be less expensive than dinner dates and can provide focused time to talk to one another.
  • Learn a new card game to play together.
  • Find a list of questions and go through them with one another. You’d be surprised the new things you may learn about each other!
  • Find a new recipe to cook at home together.
  • Go on walks or bike rides.
  • Pack a picnic to take to a nearby park or green space.”
  • “Get a hobby!! My husband and I like to do random hobbies together. Started with building models, now we run a homestead together.”
  • “Walks. Picnics in nature. Cooking together (ingredients do t have to be expensive but the dish can be new). Free events thrown by a community/city. Free lectures in community colleges or other places. Borrowing games and playing them (even a deck of cards can be used so many different ways).”
  • “This is nerdy but we like it – download the Audubon app on your phone and go bird watching. Audubon is an amazing bird identification app. I knew nothing about birds but even I could use the app to figure out what I’m seeing or the sounds I am hearing. It’s a well made app for beginners. We find new places to go walk – a lake, river, park, a forest, we even find nature preserves right in the middle of our city. We walk or even sit and try to identify birds with the app. I like exploring a new place each weekend.”
  • “It depends on the activities that inspire the two of you. If you are sporty, tennis, golf, pickleball, hiking, biking, snowboarding. You can find second hand sporting goods on Offer Up and Craig’s List. If you are interested in the arts, search for local art shows, plays, and live music. Community theater is typically affordable. If you are into arts and crafts, take a course at the community center or college like glass blowing, pottery, or watercolors. If nothing else, a good nerf gun fight in the backyard should spice things up. Try to punctuate each week with something different.”

 

Thanks Reddit!

Sex Is Important In a Relationship

“Don’t let the bedroom grow stagnant. Sex is a key part of keeping a relationship healthy.”

My take: Exactly. Think of intimacy as a dance—sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it’s fiery, but it’s always about moving together. Keep the connection alive by exploring, being playful, and staying curious about each other.

The benefits of sex in a relationship include:

  • Sex can reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
  • It can also help people sleep better.
  • Sex releases hormones like oxytocin, endorphins, and dopamine.
  • It can help partners feel more at ease and emotionally connected.
  • Sex can help partners work out their differences and form strong bonds.

Listening And Relationships Go Hand in Hand

“Be prepared to listen to your partner’s problems and not belittle them or compare them to your own, even if you think yours are much worse. If you can be there for each other’s worst times and get each other through, think about how great the good times will be.”

My take: This is gold. Listening is about validation, not one-upping. When you truly hear your partner, you create a space where they feel safe and supported, which strengthens your bond.

Just like ingredients in a recipe, intimacy, love and trust are major components of a relationship.

healthy happy mature relationship

The recipe for a healthy and happy relationship:

  1. Hear the words, observe the body language, ask leading questions.
  2. Consider things from your partner’s perspective.
  3. Give your partner some time and attention to fully express how they feel without interruptions.
  4. Provide a judgement free space, keeping an open mind.
  5. Share your own opinions and thoughts freely and honestly.
  6. Add a dash of acceptance, kindness and understanding. Serves two.
  7. Enjoy 😊

Compromise in a Relationship

“Learn to compromise; life is awesome when you’re both happy.”

My take: Yes! Compromise is the art of finding a middle ground where both partners feel seen, heard, and valued. It’s not about losing—it’s about creating a win-win situation for the relationship.

Get To Know Your Partner

“Be courageous enough to enter your partner’s world. Get to know their perspective, why they see the world the way that they do. Know their hurts, fears, hopes and dreams to provide comfort, compassion and a positive future. Give each other the freedom to be yourself and to continue growing. Support their dreams and interests.”

My take: Beautifully said. Learning about your partner’s inner world—their fears, dreams, and quirks—creates a connection that’s unshakeable. Curiosity is one of the most loving gifts you can give.

How To Avoid Resentment With Your Partner

“Do not let small annoyances build up into resentments by not addressing them. Actually listen to what they tell you, it’s too easy to tune each other out. If you love them then they are worth your full attention.”

My take: Yes! Resentment is like clutter—if you don’t deal with it, it piles up and eventually overwhelms you. Tackle issues early, and you’ll keep your emotional space clear and healthy.

reading a book and drinking a coffee for emotional self care day

Emotional Self Care

“Be responsible for your own physical, emotional, financial, psychological and intellectual health. It is not someone else’s job to maintain your happiness.“

My take: This one is crucial. Your happiness is your responsibility—it’s not something you outsource to your partner. A healthy relationship is built on two whole people who choose to grow together, not two halves trying to complete each other.

Why Invest In a Dating and Relationship Coach?

While it may seem like a good idea to turn to platforms like Reddit for quick solutions to struggles in your relationship, let me assure you that it took a lot of digging to put together this blog post.

This exercise was entertaining and I pulled out some decent tidbits. Sifting through Reddit also proved that when it comes to truly understanding what will make a relationship work, it’s always best to consult a professional.

There is no substitute for guidance from someone who has worked with couples, knows how to hold a no judgement space and will give you the tools to heal your relationship and strengthen the bond that stands the test of time.

Ready to see if relationship coaching is right for you?

reddit relationship advice fun sexy couples dating tips

About The Author:

julie giovannetti with living in love coaching behind desk with laptop
Hi! I’m Julie, a certified relationship coach for couples and singles.

Through my work, I empower couples to break free from patterns of disconnection and not only envision but create a revitalized relationship where love is not only rekindled but strengthened. Together, we explore strategies to reignite passion and growth, fostering a profound connection that stands the test of time.

Other Reads:

before you go

A little love note from Julie

 

I want to tell you that I’m here for you. If you’re having a tough time with love or just want to make your relationship stronger, I can help.

Everyone deserves a happy relationship where they feel loved and understood. Let’s work together to make that happen for you.

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julie giovannetti with living in love coaching behind desk with laptop

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