Whether you’re dating, in a committed relationship, or married, healthy relationships are central to your well-being. Having close, trusting social connections is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety, stronger immune systems to fight disease, and longer lifespans.

Relationships are a complex aspect of our lives and can be difficult to understand or define. They can encompass everything from platonic friendships to intimate romantic partnerships. They can also include family and other types of long-term community ties.

Ideally, the people we spend time with have similar interests and values. This is often not a practical reality, however. For example, if one person prioritizes volunteerism while the other loves to run marathons, each will have to make a trade-off to accommodate their individual needs and interests.

When people are in a relationship, they are able to depend on each other emotionally and physically while maintaining their own identity as a unique individual. They also respect each other and are not afraid to communicate openly about their differences.

Having a good relationship is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Northwestern Medicine psychologist and relationship expert Sheehan D. Fisher, PhD, offers tips on what to look for in a good partner and ways to improve communication.