The Official Relationship Goal List | Realistic Relationship Goals We all have separate goals for our relationship- where we want it to go, what we want from it, and how we expect to be treated. But what are we aiming towards? What goals will help us achieve ever-lasting love? All relationships take work and setting down some relationship goals will help give your relationship direction. Take a look at my key relationship goal examples below: 1. Travelling together without driving you apart The first time you go on vacation with your partner is usually seen as a big step for some and can come ..read more

Keeping the romantic spark alive We’ve all heard of the ‘honeymoon period’, right? That cosy time when you’re enjoying getting to know your new partner, intrigued to discover their quirks and foibles, making an effort to present your best self . But is that time of heightened emotions and flirtatious exchanges limited only to the first throes of love? Is it an inevitable fact that amorous play will diminish as time together increases? As a matchmaker, I have seen that with a little effort and awareness, it is entirely possible to avoid relegating relationships to the ‘friend zone’, and stave o ..read more

Time is money. It can be lost, spent, earned, or wasted. You never have quite as much as you need, but no amount would ever quite satisfy you, either. What’s more, you use one to acquire the other. Maybe you spend money on a cleaner in order to save time to spend with your family. Perhaps you spend time exercising in order to save money — in the long run — on your medical bills. Here at The Vida Consultancy, our fiercely busy clients enlist our world-class matchmaking team because they simply don’t have the time for idle chat, unsatisfying dates, and transient city-goers. After all, a myriad o ..read more

Picture this: You’ve started seeing someone formidable, there’s a definite connection, you’re going on a date or two a week, the chat flows, the eye contact is lingering . . . You believe this partnership has the potential to be great and you’re ready to give this fledgling romance a decent chance to bloom and be exclusive. But how do you know whether your partner is on the same page? It’s time for The Chat. The all-important: Are we exclusive? Being exclusive means you’re ready to commit to your partner, maybe even call them your beau. Or your boyf. Sweet cheeks. Manfriend. Sugar-love . . . H ..read more

What is a healthy relationship? Healthy relationships are those where a mutual respect and understanding of each other’s principles and core values are a priority and both partners work together for the betterment of the relationship. As long as you and your partner are happy in your relationship and you’re able to talk openly about your feelings and future desires in confidence, your relationship is strong and healthy. Is my relationship healthy? Mutual respect is at the heart of a healthy relationship, but understand that the occasional argument or disagreement isn’t the end of the world. Th ..read more

Asking for relationship advice, whether it’s from a friend, family member or professional can sometimes be a little tricky. What leads us to ask for relationship advice? What answers are we looking for? Are there problems in the relationship? Do we need advice on a new relationship? Or is it a case of wanting to know what others think of our current relationship and if changes are required? Regardless of the reasons we ask for this advice, it can be hard to pinpoint the answers we’re looking for when we don’t even know ourselves. At Vida, one of the initial key talking points we address during ..read more

Many times I hear complaints about how the dating landscape has changed and everyone is at fault; there are no decent people left, the dating apps are rubbish, plus we are overloaded with work and other commitments and have no time to date. However, while it may feel like the above is the case, in reality there are many decent singles out there, the apps are not the issue and if you make finding a partner a priority, there is always time to date. How can we stop self sabotage? I get it, dating is as daunting as is entering a relationship. There is a lot of pressure to get it right and all sort ..read more

Ah, the friend zone.  Being friend-zoned is painful, confusing and embarrassing. Most people struggle to get out of it because they don’t know how they ended up there in the first place.  Could a revolutionary psychological stance on an age-old problem help lovelorn singletons out?  36 questions  In 2015, the New York Times published an article which immediately went viral. Titled The 36 Questions That Lead to Love, it discussed the research-based hypothesis that a certain set of very particular questions can induce genuine love within as little as an hour, should the two participants be ope ..read more

Communication in relationships sounds so simple but the reality is somewhat different. We’ve all been there. The strained conversations, the misread signals, the pain of confusion. Not knowing how to communicate with your partner — or seriously lacking communication in general — is often seen in unsuccessful relationships. It can cause cracks to show, even if you’re not aware of it. Communication in relationships is not about making small talk or saying the ‘right thing’. It’s about being genuinely interested in your partner’s life and supporting them in all of their endeavours, as well as voi ..read more

There’s a huge amount of first date advice out there, and understandably so — there are few prospects more nerve-wracking than that initial meeting with a potential love interest! But when it comes to that all-important — or perhaps even more important — second date, the advice becomes a little thin on the ground. This is surprising, given that the second date is often the time when you can really seal the deal. It’s the time to develop the magic sparked in date #1, but you don’t want to seem too eager, either. There’s a fine line between seeming disinterested in the person in front of you and ..read more