My partner is my best friend! Being friends with your partner will improve your relationship a hundredfold! Building friendship in a relationship is akin to creating a solid foundation for everything else to grow on. So, how can you build friendship in your relationship?
Listen because you want to understand, live in the little moments, laugh together, communicate every single day, find solace in each other’s company, and do as many activities as you can together. These tips will help build the blocks of friendship in your relationship.
While romance and passion are great in a relationship, having a great friendship will ensure that you and your partner can weather storms together. Let’s get close and personal and discover how to build friendship in a relationship!
1. Actively Listen
When considering how to build friendship in a relationship, check if you listen well! As in most friendships, you also need to ensure you’re actually listening to what your partner is communicating.
I’ve noticed a lot of people do a lot of passive listening. They seem like they’re listening, but their minds are really miles away. To be actively listening, you have to comprehend what your partner is saying.
I’m a huge yapper (any other yappers in the house?). I talk, rant, and say a lot at any given time. Yet, my partner never gets tired of listening. If I’ve only given him half the story, he always comes back to ask for part two. You’re probably wondering the difference between an active and passive listener.
Well, the difference is in the interaction. If my partner was a passive listener, he wouldn’t be able to ask questions or come back to hear more about the story.
That is the simple way communication works. As much as you communicate, you should also be willing to listen. When you listen, ask questions, and show active participation, it reassures your partner that you’re someone they can always rely on and talk to. And that’s basically what friends are for!
2. Live In The Little Moments
Sometimes, it’s in those little moments that you get the best memories. You know those moments when you and your partner sat in comfortable silence, sipping tea and watching the rain. Or when you both decided to be geniuses and assemble a new bed. Those moments are the heartbeat of true friendship in a relationship.
Living in the little moments is all about appreciating the ordinary together. It’s finding joy in things like sharing a late-night snack, going for an impromptu drive, or even grocery shopping (yes, it can be fun!).
When you start to find beauty in these small moments, you build a sense of closeness and friendship that’s not dependent on grand gestures or big dates. It’s in the mundane that you discover the magic. That’s how to build friendship in a relationship.
For me, one such moment that particularly stuck out was when my partner and I attempted to make pancakes. Keyword being attempted. For some reason, we decided we didn’t need to use a recipe and could figure it out ourselves.
It was a chaotic mess—flour and eggs everywhere, and the pancakes looked more like abstract art than food. But, every time I remember that moment, I smile fondly. It’s now a running joke that our pancakes need improvement. But hey, that’s where the friendship grows—right there in the flour-covered messes!
3. Laugh Together
This might be an exaggeration, but my partner and I spend half of the time laughing. Nothing brings two people closer than sharing a good laugh, especially over the silliest things.
And with my partner, there’s always something to laugh about! One time, we were laughing over some socks we saw at a vintage shop, and I remember thinking, “I love this man; he’s literally my best friend.”
Laughing regularly with your partner will help you understand how to build friendship in a relationship. Maybe it’s your partner’s goofy dance moves or how they make up ridiculous lyrics to song lyrics in the car. Laughter has this incredible way of making you feel like you’re in on a private joke that no one else quite understands.
In relationships, finding something to laugh about isn’t always about laughing at each other’s mistakes; it’s also about finding humour in the chaos that is life. When you laugh together, your bond also strengthens. No matter the weather or season, having someone you can laugh with makes life so much better.
4. Communicate Every day
There’s the old-age debate about whether you should talk to your partner every day. In this household, we speak every day! Unless the circumstances don’t allow it, communicate with your partner every day. Communication is an integral part of relationships that helps you bond and connect with your partner better.
Take a moment each day to check in, share your thoughts, and listen to each other without distractions. I’m not talking about having deep, soul-searching conversations daily. Sometimes, it’s just sharing the random things that happened during your day or sending each other funny memes (yes, those count as love letters these days).
My partner and I have this routine where, before bed, we share one thing that made us happy and one thing that stressed us out. It’s a simple practice, but it keeps the lines of communication open and helps us feel connected even after a long day.
Plus, it’s easier to handle the big conversations when you’ve already made a habit of talking about the little stuff. By communicating daily, you master how to build friendship in a relationship.
5. Find Solace In Their Company
Do you genuinely enjoy your partner’s company? Most of my happiest moments are when I’m with my partner. We genuinely love to be around each other. There’s never a dull moment and there’s always something to discuss or laugh about. But most importantly, there’s solace.
Solace is basically peace. If your partner doesn’t bring you peace, that can be a red flag. Your partner should bring peace and joy to your life in a way other friends can’t. That solace should come from knowing that no matter what, your partner will always give your back and vice versa.
So, when searching for how to build friendship in a relationship, ensure that you find solace in each other’s company. You should want to hang out because you truly enjoy handing out, not because you have to.
6. Try Activities Together
I’m not the adventurous one in my relationship; my partner is. And whenever he comes up with some new adventure for us to go on, I’m always ready (as long as it’s not too scary!). Doing activities together as a couple is a great way to bond and increase friendship.
There are many activities to try such as painting, hiking, taking dance classes, pastry making, singing lessons, skydiving, and cycling.
All of these activities promote bonding and can be how to build friendship in a relationship. So, go on those dates and activities with your partner. Enjoy each other’s company and bond. This will help you learn more about each other and deepen your connection.
7. Be Ready To Compromise
Friendship in a relationship thrives when you and your partner are willing to meet each other halfway. Compromise is simply about meeting in the middle ground. In friendships, you can’t always have your way, and that’s the same for relationships.
There should be a balance. For example, your partner may want to watch a new show, and you want to binge-watch your favourite series again. You guys can watch the new show, and you can binge-watch your show the next day. Compromise is as easy as that!
People often forget that compromise is not about winning; it’s about finding a way to make things work in your and your partner’s favour. That’s how to build friendship in a relationship. Compromise keeps the friendship alive, ensuring that neither of you feels overlooked or left out.
It’s not always easy to compromise but remember: it’s not about who sacrifices more; it’s about working together towards a solution that benefits the relationship. When you approach it with that mindset, you build trust, respect, and a lasting friendship.
8. Deal With Issues As They Come
Don’t ignore those issues. Imagine trying to ignore a huge elephant sitting in the middle of your living room. You can’t because it’s probably going to destroy a lot of things anyway. That’s what happens when you ignore issues as they come.
To understand how to build friendship in a relationship, you have to be willing to work through issues.
My parents had a simple rule: never go to bed angry. It didn’t always hold out in the grand scheme of things, but it showed their willingness to make things work regardless.
The point is to never sweep issues under the carpet. You’re going to trip over them in the future! You want to tackle those issues head-on, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s essential to think about the future.
It may feel uncomfortable at that moment, but when you look back on that moment, you’ll be glad you didn’t sweep the issue under the carpet.
One thing my partner and I agreed on early was not to let small irritations pile up. We created a rule called “24-hour honesty” if something bugs us, we bring it up within 24 hours.
That way, it doesn’t fester into a bigger issue. For example, when he left dishes in the sink for the third night in a row, I didn’t sulk about it for days. Instead, I said, “Babe, the dish fairy needs a break!” It led to a laugh and a simple solution.
It’s not always easy to compromise but remember: it’s not about who sacrifices more; it’s about working together towards a solution that benefits the relationship. You build trust, respect, and a lasting friendship when you approach it with that mindset.
9. Take Responsibility
Don’t look away, yes, you! Always take responsibility for your actions! Taking responsibility should be non-negotiable. It’s about acknowledging when you’ve messed up and making things right. It shows Maturity, humility, and, most importantly, friendship.
I’ll never forget the time I accidentally left my partner’s favourite shirt in the dryer for too long, and it shrank to toddler size. My first instinct was to blame the dryer (because obviously, it’s the dryer’s fault, right?), but instead, I took a deep breath and admitted, “Okay, that’s on me. I owe you a new favourite shirt.” Was he annoyed? Sure.
But he appreciated the honesty, and we got over it pretty quickly. Now, that toddler-sized shirt has become a hilarious memory instead of a source of resentment.
When you own up to your mistakes, you’re laying the foundation for a friendship built on honesty and mutual respect. This way, you learn how to build friendships in a relationship.
10. Spend Quality Time Together
Quality time is the glue that holds any friendship together. It’s not just about spending hours together but making those hours count. It’s the difference between mindlessly scrolling on your phones side-by-side and intentionally planning a date night or a fun day out.
Quality time means actively choosing to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Painting is one of my favourite ways to spend quality time with my partner. I used to paint in college, and that’s actually how we met. Painting together always takes us back to the time we first met.
There’s no duration or rule for it. We simply get our canvases and paints, and we’ll paint! Another activity we love to do is mini cooking challenges. We each pick a dish to make, set a timer, and see who can cook the best meal in 30 minutes (I won’t lie; he’s beaten me more times than I’d like to admit).
It’s silly and fun and gives us a chance to bond while doing something we both enjoy. When you carve out intentional time for each other, you understand how to build friendship in a relationship. You’re basically investing in the friendship part of your relationship.
It’s about creating memories, sharing laughter, and experiencing life together as romantic partners and best friends. In the end, friendship is the foundation that makes all the romance sweeter.
Subheadings:
1. How Do I Grow My Friendship With My Partner?
Treat your friendship with your partner as you would a normal friend! Of course, you’ll have to go the extra mile because this is the love of your life.
Taking this approach, you can start by scheduling regular dates. You can build your friendship when you go on activities that promote bonding. How does that song go again? “Just the two of us, we can make it if we try, just the two of us…”.
One way my partner and I nurture our friendship is by laughing! We never run out of things to laugh about. We are that annoying couple laughing at inside jokes at public gatherings. But it shows just how much we enjoy each other’s presence and are best friends.
My partner is my biggest cheerleader, and the feelings are very much reciprocated. I make sure to be there when he needs me and vice versa. We support each other’s dreams and goals just as friends would!
Pro tip: Go on adventures! When you hear adventures, you might think of something expensive and grand, but it doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. Going to the lake with your partner is a new experience that can deepen your bond.
Last tip: always listen! When my friends need a listening ear, I’m always there for them. When your partner needs a listening ear, please listen to them.
Be present in all conversations and always listen to understand. By following all of these tips, you’ll easily navigate how to build friendship in a relationship.
2. How To Develop A Friendship Into A Relationship?
This is literally one of my favourite troupes ever! I love the slow burn from friends to soulmates. It’s always sweet, genuine, and cute. Let me share some tips on how to turn that friendship into a relationship worthy of the classics.
I. Take it slow: Take things nice and slow. I know how hard that yearning to become something more can be. But when you rush things, it’s easy for them to go awry. So take things slow, try to gauge if they feel the same way, and if it’ll ultimately be worth it.
II. Communicate openly: How will they know if you don’t say it? Communicate your feelings, fears and desires as honestly as possible. Of course, this should be done when you’ve received some signs they might also be into you.
III. Build trust: Become someone they can rely on. Be supportive and be there for them when you can. This will make you more attractive to them!
IV. Share vulnerable moments: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Have deep and long conversations with them. Share as much as they do, and let them know the real you. Being vulnerable and having heart-to-heart conversations can greatly endear you to them.
V. Respect boundaries: In case they don’t seem ready to move to the level of lovers, don’t pressure them! Give it time, or count your losses and move on.
3. How Do I Become Best Friends With My Partner Again?
Sometimes, that spark of friendship can get lost in the everyday routine of relationships. When my partner and I feel we haven’t been great friends for a while, we like to revisit activities we both love. There are many activities we do together, such as playing board games, watching movies, or going on activity dates.
The whole idea is to do something you both love that can allow you to bond again. We also practice forgiveness. Sometimes, the reason we seem to be drifting apart could be an issue we haven’t really moved on from. For love to reign again, you need to forgive each other and let go of old grudges.
Lastly, we appreciate each other. We drop little notes that contain reasons why we are grateful for each other. This sets us back on the right track because gratitude goes a long way.
4. How To Build Friendship In A Long-distance Relationship
Building friendships in a long-distance relationship can appear difficult because of distance, but distance isn’t a barrier to building friendships. We live in a digital world that now makes reaching people miles away easier.
First, you can use video calls.
Video call each other every day if you have to! Video calls are the closest thing to being near each other. When you see each other’s faces, it increases that fondness and shows how much you care about each other.
My friend watches movies with her long-distance boyfriend. They set up a movie on their screens or laptops and watch it at the same time. Sharing online activities, such as watching shows or playing games, is a great way to build friendships.
Send each other thoughtful surprises. Imagine getting home after a long day and seeing a lovely care package from your long-distance partner. It shows how much they care for you and are thinking of you.
Have regular check-ins. If you haven’t heard from your partner in a while, call them or the people around them to ensure they’re alright. Talking every day is highly advisable!
Finally, you build your friendship, work on your communication, and build trust. When you trust and communicate often, you get to understand each other better and make the most of your relationship.
5. How To Build Friendship In A Romantic Relationship
Building friendship in your romantic relationship can happen in many ways. One of which is celebrating milestones. Do you, know how friends congratulate and celebrate you when you hit those milestones? You and your partner need to celebrate with each other as well!
Spend quality time together. Quality time brings you closer and deepens your bond. You learn more about each other and learn to enjoy each other’s company, thereby deepening your friendship.
Finally, occasionally put yourself in each other’s shoes (not literally!) so you can understand one another. This will help your relationship sail smoother, and your friendship grow deeper.
Conclusion:
Friendship is very important in relationships! I’m of the opinion that your partner should be your best friend—the one you can always turn to when things go awry and the one you can trust with all your secrets. So, communicate every day, live in the moments, and laugh together. This is how to build friendship in a relationship that will last a lifetime!