They aim to be the leading trusted digital mental health ecosystem partner

 

Therapy has become more common than previously thought. Before it secured a spot on self-care checklists, most people feared being stigmatised for seeking treatment. Even those who received external support experienced an internal stigma that prevented them from coming forward and asking for help. Now the public perception of mental health has changed for the better. While we were isolated during a global pandemic, it became part of the national conversation and gave many people courage knowing that they were not alone.

 

“With the global pandemic accelerating the awareness of mental and holistic wellbeing, the topic is steadily gaining the attention it deserves, especially in Southeast Asia,” says Safe Space Co-Founder, Lynette Seow. “Currently we see a spike in people coming forward to seek help and expressing their vulnerabilities to our expert therapists.”

 

Although there has been a shift, there are still obstacles to recovery and treatment, including accessibility. Safe Space allows more people to have access to therapy by offering comprehensive online and offline mental health solutions. They aim to be the leading trusted digital mental health ecosystem partner by driving value and positive outcomes through social impact and innovation. Safe Space’s system makes it easier for clients to find a therapist they connect with and communicate from wherever they might be. We spoke to their co-founder, Lynette Seow, about prioritising mental wellness and the use of online platforms for therapy.

 

What are the current barriers to face-to-face therapy?

“With working from home still being the prevalent mode of work, one barrier could be the challenge of finding space to engage in face-to-face therapy. It also requires more travelling time to go down to a physical location versus turning on your computer. For some who might be more cautious or immunocompromised, going to a physical location for face-to-face therapy is a challenge. Giving clients the decision to choose their preferred mode is empowering and results in more fruitful sessions.” 

 

What are the opportunities and challenges of online therapy?

“The key advantages  include the affordability and convenience of having access to a therapist on demand. Clients can reach out to a therapist at the click of a button without having to invest their time, money and energy to reach out to one. . Online therapy is extremely helpful in emergency situations or during a breakdown when clients need immediate support to be able to talk to someone and  feel settled, which helps their overall mental state. Moreover online therapy offers a range of therapists that clients can choose from, picking from different countries, race, gender, specialization and more.” 

 

What is the importance of mental wellness and how do we know if help is needed?

“Mental wellness is as essential as physical wellbeing, if not more. Mental health shapes our identity and pushes us to be the best version of ourselves every single day. A stable and positive mental state, helps individuals tide through different obstacles throughout their lives and be more “present” in reality. When you sense yourself frequently gravitating towards a dark place mentally or have trouble focusing on reality – it is advisable to reach out and talk to someone you can confide in or a professional if needed.”  

 

What are the benefits of using Safe Space for therapy?

“At Safe Space, we believe that there is “sunshine” for everyone, as in help is provided to anyone regardless of their mental illness, age and identity background. We offer individual, couple and family therapy depending on people’s needs. We also offer video or face-to-face options for mode of therapy. For corporate clients, this is a convenient solution to roll out to employees and their dependents as the platform is easy to use for all ages. It also provides fast access, with clients being able to book an appointment with a therapist within 24 hours. Currently, our corporate EAP utilization is over 50% as compared to the industry benchmark of 4%. Finally, we have a substantial pool of therapists based in Malaysia so will be able to bring local context into the sessions too.”

 

How can clients get the most out of each Safe Space session?

“It is advisable for them to come for the session with an open mindset, having the trust in their therapist to listen and guide them and additionally having an end goal to work with.” 

 

What are the benefits of finding the right therapist and how can Safe Space help?

“The right therapist will enhance the state of being of individuals twice fold or even greater. Clients feel refreshed, heard and even confident in themselves to move forward. Undoubtedly it is enabling the “small wins” of their day. Safe Space has a trusted tailored database of therapists to suit the exact needs of people who are seeking help in specific areas. 

 

From our quarterly impact measurement survey of Q1 2022, clients commonly reported that their Safe Space therapists provided a listening ear, taught them exercises to manage stress and anxiety effectively, helped them recognize distorted thinking and corrected their negative thinking patterns. Over 40% of clients also mentioned that their Safe Space therapists taught them healthier coping mechanisms, and to better express and manage their emotions.”

 

What does the future look like for Space Space?

“We are thankful and humbled with the current accomplishments of Safe Space, enabling many individuals to get the help they need for themselves. We endeavour to have more innovations around the B2B space and the society at large in the near future. Ultimately we want to be a mental health ecosystem that works across different countries and with different stakeholders such as corporates, insurers, hospitals and schools. We are also constantly looking at mental health tech innovation that can have real impact on individuals.”

 

You can book an appointment with Safe Space’s vetted therapists on their website.

How to support your loved one

 

Recently, celebrity news has been dominated by the Kim Kardashian – Kanye West divorce saga. In summary, what has come to light are; Kanye has been accusing Kim of kidnapping his children or preventing him seeing them, criticising her relationship with her current boyfriend Pete Davidson, questioning her parenting, insulting Pete repeatedly on social media and asking his followers to yell at Pete on his behalf. Additionally, he believes that he is fighting for his family and that God will bring him and Kim back together.

 

Kanye has previously been transparent about his bipolar disorder, and has apparently said he has stopped taking medication.

 

Kim has largely remained silent on this issue on social media, except for one post where she says Kanye is making co-parenting “impossible”.

 

Here below is a chat with Taylor’s University Psychology lecturer Pang Chia Yee, who specialises in sex and relationships.

 

 

How can you tell if your partner has bipolar disorder – what are some signs to look out for?

First of all, we need understand that bipolar disorder is a spectrum, meaning it can range from mild to severe. There are also a few types of bipolar disorder according to the DSM-V (Diagnostic Statistical Manual – Five).  Generally, a bipolar sufferer will shift from extreme highs (also known as mania) to extreme lows (as known as depression) – or vice-versa, with the presence of a “normality” mood in between the two extremes.

Some possible signs to look out for are:

However, in the context of a relationship, do note that it is harder for you to put the pieces together and identify that your partner has bipolar disorder as compared to a third party. Such disorders require a professional diagnosis rather than a partner potentially mislabelling the other in the relationship.

 

Is Kanye West’s behaviour towards Kim Kardashian (and Pete Davidson) a symptom of his disorder? 

Based on the presentation highlighted by social media, it does indicate symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, it cannot be concluded solely based on media presentation as there are maybe other unknown facts and details.

 

What causes are the causes of bipolar disorder and what triggers it? 

There are some risk factors that may cause bipolar disorder, such as environmental stressors, genetics (you may find a relative who has this disorder if you trace your family history), chemical imbalances in the body, or changes in the brain.

 

Some triggers include stress, lack of rest or sleep, breakdowns in relationships or divorce, alcohol, drugs, the weather (winter tends to be more depressing), pregnancy (because of the change in hormones), loss of job, loss of any sort, financial stress, and environmental and external pressures such as the pandemic.

 

Is a bad and sudden temper, and the tendency to overreact, a symptom of bipolar disorder?

It’s hard to make a conclusion based on just these statements, and more investigation is needed. Sometimes these behaviours develop from certain causes, such as pent-up emotions/stress or childhood trauma, and may not necessarily be a disorder. However, it’s possible for bipolar disorders to develop depending on how these stressors have impacted the brain over time.

 

How can we support a partner with bipolar and strengthen our relationship?

Identify things that trigger them and hopefully they will be honest and open up to you through sharing their ups and downs. Do not take it personally or blame yourself when they are in one extreme of mood.

 

It is also useful to:

 

While I encourage the person to also persuade the partner to seek professional help, understandably social stigma or self-pride would be a challenge as it really depends on how the individual perceives mental illness in general and the idea of seeking help.

 

Some tips to help persuade a loved one is demonstrate how much this therapy means to the relationship. Another way is to let them know that you don’t know how to support the other half (who has the issue) and you want to know how to assist them, hence you require their ‘assistance’ and you are willing to be there at therapy with them. Also note that finding a suitable therapist is important, so if your partner does not ‘click’ with the therapist or psychiatrist, find another one.

 

What advice do you have for Kim Kardashian that can help those in similar situations?

I would say to continue to keep herself calm and grounded.

 

I am not sure about what is her current relationship with Kanye like, but hopefully she can continue to be his friend and be mindful about the things that trigger him. However, at this point, it seems like whatever Kim’s response is, it will most likely be a trigger to Kanye – hence he screenshots their texts and exposes them on social media. So part of me is glad that she remained quiet about this issue on social media. Because the danger about this medium is that it is not about the intentions that you have when you make your statements, but about how those statements are perceived – as readers will always interpret their own meanings, and make their own assumptions.

 

It’s tricky to say whether she should continue to engage or respond to Kanye because if Kanye is bipolar, whether she replies or not, it can still be a trigger to his mood swings.

 

I would evaluate the situation and their current condition of the relationship, not from social media’s perspective but as individuals. How Kim thinks and feels about Kanye as a person or as the dad to her children, matters.

 

What do we do when an ex-partner or ex-spouse with bipolar or mental health disorders starts to escalate their actions towards us?

Always remember that your safety comes first. If your ex-partner or ex-spouse with bipolar or mental health disorders starts to be physical or verbally abusive or aggressive towards you, you need to inform the authorities (police officers), your family, and neighbours. As for professional help, you do not need to wait till the situation becomes dangerous to seek help.

Untangle your emotions and detach with love

 

Let us be honest, maintaining relationships are complicated. There is always room for disagreements, miscommunications and misunderstanding to take place. At the beginning of any relationship, we often see that both partners try to be together when ever time permits, they try to do activities that interest both of them, and convince their partners to try out activities that they might be hesitant to participate in.

 

First, to establish clear communication and maintain a good understanding, you might always run any ideas by your partner. However, there is a tendency for many of us to depend on our partners to make life choices for us and be there to boost our waning confidence, which is not that healthy if it becomes habitual.

 

Even when it comes to doing things together, where they would say ‘let’s give it a try you might enjoy it’ – it might end up becoming a bother to the partner in the end. You cannot always hold the ‘do this because you love me’ card over their heads and force them to take part in things. 

 

Likewise, partners growing unhealthy attachments, or becoming possessive over things and wanting you to always be around them and expect you to agree for all their requests might place a strain in your relationship. 

 

Unknowingly your relationship might be turning into a co-dependent relationship, pushing you to be the person that has to make decisions, losing personal space, having to say yes to all their requests, and at times, feel guilty when they do not make the same effort to be in your life, and make excuses and take responsibility on behalf of them at social settings. 

 

What Is Co-dependency?

Excessively relying on your partner for mental, physical, and spiritual support is identified as co-dependency. Neither clinically diagnosed nor formally categorised as a personality disorder, in some people, co-dependency tends to develop attachment styles during early childhood and can overlap with dependent personality disorder as adults.

 

Signs You May Be In A Co-dependent Relationship

Brittini Carter, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor, lists out four signs that would help you with identifying whether or not you are in a co-dependent relationship:

1. You constantly depend on partner’s input to make decisions

While seeking the partner’s opinion on matters is encouraged for couples, it is not healthy if the person is unable to make any decision in life without their partner’s input. By letting others decide for you or make life choices on your behalf, you are hampering your personal growth that leads to loss in self-confidence, and will make you feel indecisive. 

 

2. You do everything together

Many couples at the first stages of their relationships tend to adopt common hobbies, try to grow a common circle of friends, and try to participate in leisure activities that might not necessarily be their interest. In order to maintain a healthy relationship, it is always better to have separate hobbies, friend circles, and activities that would help you grow as an individual. 

 

3. You find it difficult to say ‘no’ to your partner

At the beginning of your relationship you would have said ‘yes’ to your partner to show that you are invested in them. However, as the relationship progresses, there might be instances that you would want to say ‘no’. Do not feel guilty if you have to say ‘no’ to your partner. However, when you reject their suggestion and if you observe them getting emotional over the rejection, that is a clear sign that you are in a co-dependent relationship.

 

4. You tend to take responsibility over your partners actions

When you have to socialize with your friends or family and if your partner is not willing to interact with them, do not feel guilty or make excuse on their behalf. Remember that you are only responsible for your behaviours or actions, and you do not have to be responsible over how your partner feels or acts.

 

Overcoming Co-dependency 

Co-dependency can become very unhealthy in the long run, because such relationships often end up becoming one sided, where one partner is excessively seeking their partner to decide, think, or team up with them without saying ‘no’ to them. This becomes very unhealthy and can lead up to the relationship becoming emotionally destructive or abusive.

 

So how can one overcome these signs of co-dependency? According to Board Certified Counsellor and Founder of Mayfield Counselling Centers, Dr. Mark Mayfield, if your relationship shows one or all of the signs, you could work on switching the unhealthy interaction to health ones;

 

You can also help your partner overcome their co-dependent tendencies by providing them healthy support. However, do keep in mind that you do not have to sacrifice your own needs. Communicate with your partner about the problems that you are going through, listen to their side of the story, discuss possible solutions, and allow them to choose on the solutions that decide to put to action.

How to create boundaries and stand up for yourself

 

Moments where you notice yourself self-abandoning can hit pretty hard. We may feel sad and even sorry for ourselves, however…sometimes, it can be rather empowering. 

 

Self-abandonment can show up in many different ways. Saying, doing, and even believing something that doesn’t authentically align with your needs and/or personal values are typically forms of self-abandoning. It is something that everyone does from time-to-time; either consciously or even subconsciously. We show up for other people in order to make them satisfied, happy, or comfortable while forgetting about or neglecting ourselves. 

 

Signs Of Self-Abandonment

Something we may commonly find ourselves doing is saying ‘yes’ or ‘okay’ to doing something you actually don’t want to, or that may be disrespecting you, your time, and energy. Examples of this would be: 

 

Other signs of self-abandoning could be taking on beliefs of other people, and which in most cases happens before actually saying or doing what doesn’t authentically resonate with us. We may sometimes: 

 

Creating boundaries and standing up for ourselves are some examples of what we can do to stop people-pleasing and self-abandoning. The line between doing something for someone because you care and doing something for someone but neglecting your own needs can be a very fine one. It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference, but that is why it is important to distinguish the differences and do our best in making sure we are genuinely okay too.

 

How To Set Boundaries 

Firstly, get to know yourself. It can be of huge help when a time comes and you’re conflicted on whether you want to agree in doing something for someone else’s benefit. Get to know yourself by studying how you feel when someone asks you to do something or express an opinion of theirs to you. Do you feel a part of you wanting to do something else for yourself instead? Were there feelings of conflict when agreeing to an idea? 

 

After familiarising yourself with how you feel, communicate. Whether it is in the moment of rejecting that extra amount of work from your boss or to standing up for yourself to someone’s way of speaking to you, you can either keep it short or sit them down.

 

Let them know what you are okay with and what you aren’t. Communicating is a great way to express your boundaries. 

 

And lastly, remember why you have created these boundaries. Occasionally, people can take advantage of your wants in pleasing them. This can be disrespectful and mistreatment, and not stating our boundaries with what we are okay with and what we are not can have them continue on with the mistreatment. Standing up for ourselves can definitely be considered a part of self-growth and great practice of self-love. Stating our boundaries can give us a better sense of self-worth and can make us feel more confident. 

The magic ratio for a healthy relationship

 

Love may be magical, but the 5 -to-1 ratio for a healthy relationship is in fact science-backed. If you’re wondering what’s so romantic about maths, these findings came from a study of couples back in the 1970s. Conducted by relationship researcher, Dr. John Gottman, he was able to predict (with over 90% accuracy) which relationships would remain intact 9 years later. The key was how they managed conflict.

 

We can’t escape conflict – it exists in every relationship, from friendships to familial relationships. Although not encouraged, it can be avoided, but instead, we should learn how to manage them better. This is where the 5 to 1 ratio comes in: Dr. John Gottman discovered that the difference between happy couples and unhappy couples is the balance between positive and negative interactions during conflict. For every negative interaction, a stable relationship will have five or more positive interactions.

 

What is considered a negative interaction?

Known as The Four Horsemen (Of The Apocalypse); criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling are unproductive communication styles that usually signify the end of a relationship. These include attacking your partner’s character, eye-rolling and scoffing, reversing the blame, as well as refusing to respond to them. Anger is a negative interaction, but it is a natural reaction to conflict and will only affect a couple if it’s being expressed along The Four Horsemen.

 

Don’t be mistaken, negative interactions still do occur in healthy relationships – the difference is that they are replaced with validation and empathy. Unhappy couples continue to engage in negative interactions and contribute to the growing negativity. 

 

Practice these positive interactions

As mentioned, we can’t escape conflict, but there are better ways to approach it and help your relationship grow stronger. These positive interactions focus on making amends through positivity and closeness. Here are some things you can do to compensate for the negativity:

 

What is your ratio?

An unhealthy positive-to-negative ratio during conflict is 1-to-1, or less, and it usually leads to a breakup. Next time you engage with your partner, take note of how you interact with each other. Are there more negative interactions or positive ones? If there are more negative interactions, try creating more positivity or noticing the small moments of positivity that may already exist. The more positive actions and feelings there are, the happier and more stable your relationship will be.

Valentine’s Day over the years has evolved from giving simple gifts to having brands willing to customize / curate gifts for your partner. While treating your significant other to a nice meal, a holiday or buying them a gift is considered customary; being able to nurture your relationship each day without having to focus on expensive gift ideas would become a gift that keeps on giving.

 

It is 2022 and coming across relationships that have stood the test of time is becoming very rare. Especially when the pandemic hit and people were homebound due to movement restrictions, many partners began to loath each other. Seeing each other every day and having to spend more time with them within the comforts of their homes even pushed some to the point of separation.

 

However, we also saw relationships that thrived within the past two years. So what was the secret behind these thriving relationships one may ask? We all know that communication and understanding are the cornerstones of successful relationships.

 

According to a world-renowned influential therapist, Dr. John Gottman, successful relationships have four traits in common;

  1.       Fondness and admiration – Whenever you talk about your relationship or your partner, look at the positive side of things. Express your affection to them and let them know that you respect their decisions that have helped improve your bond with each other.
  2.       We-ness vs. Me-ness – Remember that you are two people trying to achieve growth, not only as people but also as partners. Discuss what you two want to achieve together. When you speak about your future plans always try an envision achieving them as a team. Choose the word ‘we’ over ‘me’ or ‘I’.
  3.       Expansiveness vs. Withdrawal – Dr. Gottman says that when partners recall the ‘Story of Us’ and when two people can focus on the positives and can recall the details (expansive), they can resolve conflicts amicably and bring out the best qualities of their partner always. However, if they are unable to recall the details and are focused on negatives (withdrawal) that can cause cracks in the relationship.
  4.       Embracing your journey together – No relationship is perfect and of course, couples at times have conflicts. However, if you practice the first three traits, then you will be able to continue the journey together. Couples that talk through their disputes and continue to nurture their relationship through affection, respect, togetherness, and expansiveness are always able to face adversities and come out of difficult times with an even stronger bond.

 

 

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As Dr. Gottman says; “Happy couples are no different from unhappy couples; they are simply able to make repairs to their relationship easier and faster so they can get the joy of being together. In relationships, conflicts are inevitable. It’s how you choose to repair during or after your disagreements that matter.”

 

Adopt the four behaviours into your relationship and see how you could improve your bond with your partner.

Growing up in a collectivist culture, we were taught to do what was best for our families and communities. Being “good” meant being selfless, putting the needs and goals of others before our own needs and desires. This made self-love seem selfish.

 

Self-love isn’t selfish – it’s important, especially for our mental health. You aren’t “Westernised” for wanting to focus on your own wellbeing and goals. What would make you selfish is if you didn’t care about others at all – self-love allows us to love and support others.

 

Have you noticed that when someone has low self-esteem, they unfairly project their negative thoughts onto others? Now that’s selfish! Here are more major differences between the two:

 

Self-love allows you to share the empathy and compassion you have for yourself with others, and help them by being the best you can be.

 

Self-love provides you with more energy to care for others without having to sacrifice your own wellbeing and happiness.

 

Self-love takes responsibility and recognizes when you are in the wrong.

 

Self-love helps you accept and forgive yourself, and others, and want to improve because of that love.

 

Self-love does not depend on others for happiness or approval.

 

As you can see, self-love and selfishness are two completely different things. When you appreciate your worth and hold yourself in high regard, it benefits your confidence, motivation, and happiness, as well as your mental health. It also benefits the people around you by teaching you how to build positive and loving relationships in general.

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you keep attracting the wrong people? Are you the type who struggles to stay single or does the thought of commitment make you want to crack open a window for some air? These traits actually stem from your relationship attachment style.

Our attachment styles go way back to our first long-term relationship – the emotional bond we develop (or are deprived of) with our parents and caregivers. We’ve all been raised differently, depending on the attachment styles of those who raised us and the way they addressed our emotional needs. These early experiences of emotional relationships influence the way we view love and relate to others. It forms the attachment styles we carry into adulthood and express in both romantic and platonic relationships.

According to research based on John Bowlby’s attachment theory, there are four general relationship attachment styles:

Confident in their relationship and their partner, someone with a secure attachment style is not afraid to reciprocate love. They are trusting, trustworthy, and are able to communicate their feelings as a response instead of a reaction.

Those with an anxious attachment style are codependent, requiring constant attention and reassurance from their partners. They fear being alone and struggle with setting or respecting boundaries.

Individuals with an avoidant attachment style are independent and self-reliant, downplaying the importance of relationships. They are emotionally-distant and tend to isolate themselves during conflict.

A combination of anxious and avoidant, someone with a fearful attachment style craves intimacy but fears rejection. In turn, they send mixed signals by pushing their partners away while still wanting a connection.

Don’t feel bad about having an insecure attachment style – if it was caused by trauma, please remember that it is not your fault. By understanding your attachment style, or your partner’s, you’ll be able to start healing by actively changing the way you approach love and relationships. It’s not going to be easy, but a healthy attachment style can help you build more positive relationships with yourself and others.

 

This is a language you should consider getting fluent in for a deeper connection with your partner, as you’ll understand how to converse with them in their own love language and vice versa.

In short, to learn love languages is to understand how to ​express love in the right language. Understanding how your partner and yourself communicate love is vital for you to blossom together in your relationship.

What are love languages?

The concept ‘love language’ is coined by relationship counsellor ​Gary Chapman​, author of ‘The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts’. After 35 years of marriage counselling, he concluded that there are five emotional love languages in which people understand and show love.

The five love languages depict how we feel loved and appreciated. Our personality type and our upbringing heavily impact our love languages, hence, we may feel loved differently than how our partners do. Everyone expresses love in all these 5 love languages, however, one or two may be more dominant than others.

As you work on decoding and understanding these different methods of expressing love, it will help take the frustrations and guesswork out of you and your partner’s needs and expectations for love.

Read on till the end to find out your own love language!

What are the different love languages?

  1. Words of Affirmation

This love language shows love using words that build up your partner. Your partner appreciates verbal comments and compliments more than any other actions.

  1. Acts of Service

The motto “Actions speak louder than words” encapsulates this love language. They feel appreciated and loved when their partner does things without being asked or by force of obligations.

  1. Receiving Gifts

This love language doesn’t necessarily mean that your partner is materialistic. It could mean that they feel love with a more tangible item. It’s less to do with the gift itself, but more to do with the sentimental value behind it.

  1. Physical Touch

A common misconception around this love language is that sex is the only way to connect; rather the act of ‘touching’ is what ‘Physical Touch’ is all about. Holding hands, hugs and kisses here and there would assure them of your love for them. They want to physically feel you close by.

  1. Quality Time

This love language prizes undivided attention above all else. Receiving undivided attention is this what ‘Quality Time’ values most. When you’re together, they want to be the centre of your attention.

How can you communicate them in your relationships and to yourself?

Words of Affirmation

In a Relationship:

  • Give genuine compliments
  • Use encouraging and uplifting words
  • Empathize when your partner’s hurt
  • Practice active listening
  • Send surprise texts, notes or cards
To Yourself:

  • Recite positive affirmations daily
  • Keep a gratitude jar
  • Write a love letter to yourself
  • Give yourself compliments
  • Listen to personal growth podcasts

Acts of Service

In a Relationship:

  • Make your partner’s favourite meal
  • Random acts of kindness
  • Help with your partner’s workload
  • Assist them with projects or chores
To Yourself:

  • Make your bed first thing after you wake up
  • Declutter and tidy up your place
  • Do one errand you’ve been avoiding
  • Keep a habit tracker using an app or in your journal
  • Learn to say ‘No’ to things that do not add value into your life

Receiving Gifts

In a Relationship:

  • Give thoughtful gifts, big or small
  • Make genuine gestures
  • Small tokens of appreciation
  • Celebrate special occasions together
  • Receive gifts enthusiastically
To Yourself:

  • Invest in your passion and hobbies
  • Treat yourself to small gifts after completing jobs or goals
  • Pick a flower bouquet for your table
  • Create personalized song playlists
  • Book a weekend getaway

Physical Touch

In a Relationship:

  • Normalize non-sexual touches with your partner
  • Prioritize intimacy
  • Sit close to each other
  • Take a walk and hold hands
  • Hug and kiss your partner often
To Yourself:

  • Work on your skincare routine
  • Sleep earlier for better rest
  • Pamper yourself with a haircut or doing your nails
  • Take a soothing bubble bath
  • Do a few stretches

Quality Time

In a Relationship:

  • Turn off phones / any distractions
  • Plan thoughtful dates
  • Have one-on-one conversations
  • Finish chores together
  • Set goals to achieve together
To Yourself:

  • Practice mindfulness and meditation
  • Go for a solo drive
  • Treat yourself to a nice dinner at your favourite restaurant
  • Listen to your favourite album on repeat

You can discover your own love language using this ​quiz​.

Every type of love language is important and conveys love in its own unique way. Learning the love language of your partner and your own self will greatly help build a stronger bond in your relationship.