10 Things I Learned After a Year of Dating

Disagreements are inevitable. It's all about how you manage them. Talking things out so both people can express themselves openly is the first step to reaching a resolution. If you or your partner have trouble opening up, there are products out there to help stimulate the conversation.

When you meet someone and the sparks fly, it's natural to want to spend as much time with them as you can...but don't overdo it. A relationship needs time to breathe in order to progress in an organic way and the days you spend away from each other are as crucial as your time together. You also don't want to isolate yourself from the rest of your social network by only spending time with each other.

Everyone likes to be wined and dined but keeping the romance train chugging along can get pricey if you're always hitting the town on date night. Keeping things a bit more low key with a night at home not only saves you money, but it gives you both a chance to let your guard down a bit and just enjoy each other's company.

Being in a relationship can be exhausting. Mixing social calendars can have you running around all month long being each other's plus-one and leaving you with barely any time for a nap. Block out some time to just laze about and you just might find that nothing is your favorite thing to do together.

Don't reserve the tokens of affection for when you're apologizing. Whether it's a flower delivery or something else that reminded you of them, these gestures let them know that you're thinking about them even when you're not together. Even just sending them a link to a song on Spotify can get the point across.

Flowers and balloons are great ideas, but cooking for someone is the ultimate gesture to show how much you care. Wake them up to the sound of sizzling bacon. Make them comfort food when they're feeling sick or had a bad day. Even if your culinary skills are lacking, meal kit delivery services like Sun Basket make it a cinch.

Find a shared interest to enjoy together. For us, it's a love of Nintendo games. We've started to make a tradition out of keeping some weekend days clear so we can switch off playing levels of Super Mario Maker 2 and going against each other in Super Mario Party. Adding a little healthy competition can also spice up an otherwise uneventful day at home. Video games aside, you could also find a restaurant to make your go-to spot for Sunday brunch or a podcast you listen to together.

It's hard not to get ahead of yourself when you first meet someone you like. Imagining a future together is expected but don't be surprised (or upset) if it doesn't play out exactly how you pictured in your head. Remember that there is someone else in the relationship with their own idea of how they want things to progress and there will always be external factors that might slow down those plans.

What works for you, may not work for another relationship and vice versa. Especially in the age of social media, it's nearly impossible not to let other people's relationships seep into your subconscious, but try to shut it all out. Have faith in what you're building with your partner and figure out the best way to keep you both happy.

Getting into a serious relationship takes some sacrifice. Your life is no longer just about you. Remember that decisions you make affect your partner now as well. The most important decisions should be made after talking things over together or with the other person's knowledge at the very least.