Developing and maintaining healthy relationships is an essential aspect of life for many young people. However, navigating the complexities of relationships can be challenging. Building and maintaining healthy relationships involves communication, consent, boundaries and others.
Here are some tips on how you can build and manage healthy relationships as a young person.
- Communication: Communication is vital to any healthy relationship. It would be best to be open and honest with your companions about your thoughts and feelings. This includes expressing needs and boundaries and discussing important topics such as sexual health and consent. Visit our page on consent to learn more.
- Respect: Mutual respect is essential in any relationship. You should treat your friends respectfully and expect the same in return. This means listening to each other, valuing each other’s opinions, and treating each other with kindness and empathy.
- Consent: Consent is crucial in any relationship. It is essential to understand what consent means and to ensure that clear and enthusiastic consent is given before engaging in any sexual activity. To learn more about consent, visit our page on consent.
Healthy relationships require communication, respect, trust, consent, boundaries, safe sex, and support. You can develop and maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships by prioritising these aspects of a relationship.
- Spending time together:
There are plenty of fun and engaging activities that you can engage in with your friends without engaging in sexual activities. It’s essential to make sure everyone is comfortable with the activities and to always communicate openly and respectfully with each other.
Here are some ideas:
- Sports: Playing sports together, whether it’s basketball, soccer, or volleyball, can be a great way to have fun, stay active, and build friendships.
- Game night: Hosting a game night with board games, card games, or video games can be a fun way to hang out and spend time together.
- Movie night: Hosting a movie night with friends can be a great way to watch a favourite film, relax, and have a good time.
- Volunteer work: Participating in volunteer work or community service projects can be a rewarding way to give back to the community and bond with friends.
- Art projects: Painting, drawing, or making crafts can be a fun way to explore creativity and spend time together.
- Outdoor activities: Going on a hike, having a picnic, or camping can be great ways to enjoy nature and spend time with friends.
- Music and dance: Listening to music, singing, or dancing can be a fun way to express creativity and enjoy each other’s company.
- Trust: Trust is a fundamental part of any healthy relationship. You should be able to trust your friends and feel secure in your relationship. This means being truthful with each other, keeping promises, and respecting each other’s privacy.
- Boundaries: Setting and respecting boundaries is important in any relationship. You should establish your boundaries and communicate them with your friends. This may include boundaries around communication, time spent together, and sexual activity.
- Safe sex: Practicing safe sex is vital to maintaining sexual health. You should use contraception and protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when engaging in sexual activity. It is also important to get regular STI screenings.
- Support: You need to have a support system, whether it be friends, family, or a therapist. Having someone to talk to about relationship issues can help you navigate difficult situations and make healthy choices.
Written and reviewed by
Dr Omolayo Anjorin (MBBS, MSc, PhD (in view)
Dr MaryJane Nweje (MBBS, MSc)
Source:
- Image 1 by hrekassoum_kone on pixabay
