What's the key to successful relationships? Here are the simple things you need to know to deepen your partnership and make your relationship work.
Without quality time, your relationship will not survive
Carve out at least half an hour a night, and at least one day a month when you the two of you spend time exclusively together.

You will both need security and comfort
A good relationship is built on compromise and a great deal of give and take on both sides.

Keep your dependence and independence in balance
Tell and show your partner how much you need him, but don't cling, as that can make your partner feel trapped.

Encourage him to listen to you, by showing appreciation when he does
By the same token, show interest when he talks to you. Be aware that most men aren't mentally programmed for conversation in the way women are. They need more silence and internal time.

Hidden resentments poison a relationship; so if something bothers you, say it
Remember that while men are wary of emotional conversations, they love to find solutions. Express your problem and then ask him to help you find the answer.

Learn that punishing your partner won't work
It may make you feel better to give him a hard time, but it will actually make him dig his heels in more. A better tactic is to reward the things you like and ignore what you don't like.

Fight Fair
The trick is to never say anything that you wouldn't want to hear said to you.

Learn how to negotiate
Each of you states what you want, then both of you work together to find a way forward.

It takes two
If you have children, involve your partner as much as possible with the childcare - even if you feel he's not as good as it at you are. It's important to present a united front to your children.

Accept the things that won't change
Some characteristics about your partner are there for life - and you have to face that.

Research suggests you need five positive experiences to erase the memory of one negative experience. So give five kind words for each bitchy comment. Give five hugs for each cold shoulder.