Relationship Goals Perfect for Any Couple After 50

Throughout our lives, we’re often reminded of the goals we should be working to achieve. From finishing college to buying a home to pursuing a promotion, setting goals for our lives and careers seems like second nature. It’s interesting, then, that while it’s such a given in some aspects of our lives we often neglect to do the same for our relationships.

Having a goal to work towards doesn’t necessarily mean that something is lacking or missing in that area of your life but rather that it would bolster or uplift what you currently have. In fact, even the most stable relationship can benefit from working towards a common relationship goal. So what kind of things should you work towards for your relationship? Below we’ve broken down some of the most important relationship goals that will benefit you and your partner. whether you’re newly partnered or are long-term lovers.

A Solid Foundation: Important Relationship Goals

Be a Dynamic Duo

While it’s unhealthy to do everything together, when it comes to building a strong relationship working as a team should always be the goal. It should never feel like one person is putting in all the hard work to make a couple work. If this starts happening, resentment will surely follow. A great way to always ensure you work together is to reframe how you approach an issue or challenge, try thinking of it in terms of you and your partner working against a problem, not you and your partner working against each other.

Trust is Earned, Not Given

If you’re looking to the long-term with your relationship, you’ll know how important it is to fully trust your partner. When you have complete faith in your partnership it will be easier to be honest and open, which is key to understanding what you each want and need out of your relationship. However, always bear in mind that trust is easily lost and once lost, is hard — or impossible — to regain.

Some find it easier than others to trust and if this is something difficult for you or your partner, you should identify this and discuss it openly. By working towards the goal of total trust, you’ll find your relationship is stronger and better equipped to deal with challenges.

Future-Focused: Relationship Goals for Long-Term Happiness

Change is Inevitable, Embracing it is Key

By the time you’re over 50 you’ve likely been through many stages in your life — in fact, you may not even recognize the person you were a decade ago. Therefore, when it comes to being in a couple, it’s important to realize you’ll both inevitably change throughout your relationship. Change can be scary but if you stay in tune with each other and are aware of how you’re both growing, there’s no reason why your partnership won’t evolve for the better as well.

Stay Physically and Mentally Connected

While a relationship should be based on friendship (after all, you should like the person you’re with!), you don’t want to start as romantic lovers and devolve into a platonic friendship. Instead set the relationship goal of keeping romance alive — something especially important the longer you’ve been in a relationship. While this will undoubtedly look different to different couples, keeping intimacy alive should be a focus to keep your relationship the happiest and most fulfilling it can be.

Always in Style: Relationship Goals for All Types of Relationships

Kindness is King

Regardless of whether you’re in a romantic relationship, being kind is never a misstep. Being kind to a partner can come in the form of appreciation, simple gestures and the understanding that we’re all ultimately human. On the other hand, you should also remember to be kind to yourself, treat yourself with the same respect you would others and give yourself credit for accomplishments. It can be difficult when going through challenges and personal strife to maintain the goal of showing kindness but doing so will make you a more contented person.

Learn to Listen

Some of us, by nature, are better listeners than others. However, being in a relationship both parties need to be committed to truly listening to the other to be harmonious. Being a good listener isn’t simply restricted to hearing your partners words but digesting them and taking them to heart. When listening remember to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and realize that what they’re saying is important to them — even if it seems trivial or inconsequential to you. If your partner is telling your something major, if possible, try taking the time to go away and properly process what they’ve said in order to avoid snap responses that you might later regret.

How to Set and Achieve Healthy Relationship Goals

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to setting relationship goals. Because every person is a little different, so is every couple. On the other hand, the approaches we take to relationships have varying success rates. Many of our members who have gone on to successful relationships have found these tips useful.

Set Your Goals Before You’re in a Relationship

Do you have a list of “must haves” for the relationship you want? Defining these before you meet someone will help you avoid winding up with the wrong person. For example, a must-have list can look something like this:

These might not be your specific goals, but you get the idea. Put down anything that’s important to you.

Decide What You Can Compromise On

Most relationships involve some degree of compromise, so it’s a good idea to know where you have some wiggle room. You can do this before you meet someone or at the early stages of the relationship. These are not frivolous matters but items that are not necessarily sticking points. For example, your religion may be important to you, but you do not necessarily need to have a partner of the same faith. Or you may like your home but are open to moving if you find the right person. 

Ask Your Partner About Their Relationship Goals

There are a lot of advantages to being over 50. A lot of us have more time as our children have moved on or we’ve shifted careers to something that allows us more free time. You might have a little more financial security than you did when you were in your 20s and 30s. The point is that you have choices, and so does your partner. Make sure those options are aligned. You may want to start traveling more, but your partner feels that it’s more important to stay near their aging parents or watch their young grandchildren grow up. You may own your own business, but your partner is contemplating retiring. These relationship differences may be reconcilable, but if they aren’t, it’s better to figure it out early. 

Weigh Your Partner’s Ability to Support You

Consider a situation where you’re in your 50s and have a dream of opening a B&B or running an animal rescue. It doesn’t have to be one of these, but you may have spent the last couple of decades making a plan of what you will do when the kids are grown, and you don’t have to work a 9 to 5 job. Will your new partner support your individual goals or derail them? You should not have to give up a dream to qualify for a relationship. Tell your partner your personal goals and ask them about theirs. It may turn out that they have a life dream that you can’t support. 

If you’re in your 50s, you know that relationships can be challenging. By trying to determine your compatibility on important issues and compromising where you can, you’ll give your new love an excellent chance. 

How Communication is the Foundation of Relationship Goals

“Communication is the foundation of every solid relationship.” We’ve heard it so many times, it almost sounds like a cliche, doesn’t it? But if you think about it, verbal and nonverbal communication is what establishes intimacy. When it comes to relationship goals, it’s important to be open and honest. If you don’t believe it, think of what the opposite approach looks like. You have all of these important relationship goals, but you never talk about them. It’s going to be a little difficult to achieve your goals without communicating them to your partner. Still, it happens all of the time. Here are a few reasons why people fail to communicate about their relationship goals:

How to Celebrate Milestones and Create Memories

If you’re both in your 50s or close to your 50s, you have half a lifetime of memories. Those are yours. But it’s time to start building some new ones! Just because you’re in your 50s doesn’t mean that you’re too old to celebrate birthdays, Valentine’s Day, dating anniversaries, and more!

Special dates, road trips, staycations, concerts, etc., are crucial. Maybe it’s time to dust off your dream vacation and ask the person that you’re seeing how they feel about planning a trip. Sharing activities should be at least part of your relationship goals. 

At SilverSingles we’re interested in matching men and women whose lifestyle and personalities are compatible. If you’re searching for a partner you can set and explore these relationship goals with, sign up to SilverSingles now and start receiving matches today.