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The truth is, love isn’t convenient. It requires constant effort. It requires you to put in work every single day.

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Without effort, your relationship is going to fall apart, so make sure you’re playing your part. And make sure you aren’t settling for someone who refuses to do theirs.

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A lack of effort will make your person feel unloved, unwanted, unappreciated.

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In 2020, don’t date anyone who won’t prioritize you. Don’t date anyone who makes you fight for their attention. Don’t date anyone who makes you feel like you’re not good enough for them. Don’t date anyone who puts in a significantly smaller effort than you do.  

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I’m slowly learning it’s okay if other people are unable to see how hard I’ve been working. I’m slowly learning my worth doesn’t changed based on what other people think of me. I’m slowly learning I don’t need someone else to congratulate me in order to know I’ve done a good job.

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Putting effort into your relationship also means making sure your own mental health is okay. It means putting effort into taking care of yourself. It means putting yourself high on your list of priorities. 

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Putting effort into the relationship means you’re present during the hours when you’re with your person. It means you’re actively listening when they speak instead of staring down at your phone, texting other people or scrolling through social media.

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You have to continue putting in the effort, even when it feels like it’s getting you nowhere.

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If you want a successful relationship, you’re going to have to put in the effort. You’re going to have to give your person love and attention, even when you’re tired, even when you’re stressed, even when you’re not in the mood to deal with people.

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You shouldn’t make your partner wonder whether everything they’ve been doing is for nothing, whether you even notice all of the effort they’ve been putting into your relationship.