12 Ways To Strengthen Your Relationship Against The Temptation Of Infidelity

Do these things to eliminate the risk of infidelity.

A woman and a man smiling at each other with affection. She has long hair tied back and is wearing a white sleeveless top, while he has a beard and is wearing a black jacket. They are outdoors, with a building in the background.

There are countless different reasons why people may cheat on each other, but the driving forces behind them are often quite similar. What follows are 12 ways to ensure that your relationship is strong enough to fend off infidelity if the opportunity arises.

1. Make sure you’re both attracted to one another.

A woman in a black dress and a man in a white t-shirt embrace in front of a bright blue paneled wall. The woman is smiling while resting her head on the man's shoulder.

One of the primary reasons why people cheat on their partners is because physical attraction wasn’t strong to begin with. You two may have connected cerebrally or emotionally, with physical attraction low on the list. As such, your physical yearnings may lie in a very different direction than with your spouse.

2. Keep the attraction alive by taking care of yourself as best you can.

A young woman stands in a sunlit park with autumn trees, wearing a denim jacket, white turtleneck, black hat, and red lipstick. She looks to her left with a serene expression, surrounded by fallen leaves on the ground.

If you two were intensely attracted to one another to begin with, then aim to keep that attraction alive by maintaining yourselves to the best of your ability. This entails physical maintenance as well as mental and emotional self-care, so you don’t become versions of yourselves that neither of you recognize.

3. Maintain physical affection and intimacy.

A man with a beard kisses a smiling woman on the cheek. The woman has long, brown hair and her eyes are closed in happiness. They are outdoors and appear to be enjoying a pleasant, affectionate moment together.

Many people who cheat on their partners do so because they don’t get any intimacy at home anymore. If you two can keep the spark alive by being affectionate and intimate with one another on a regular basis, then there will be little to no need to stray elsewhere.

4. Communicate regularly.

A man and a woman sit facing each other, resting their heads on their hands in a cozy and modern living room with gray furniture and large windows. They are engaged in an intimate and thoughtful conversation. A lush plant is visible in the background.

If there are tensions between the two of you, aim to address them early before they blossom into anything more potentially damaging. Few things can put a dampener on a relationship quite like unspoken upset or resentment, so check in with each other on a regular basis, and be honest if and when issues arise.

5. Make date nights a priority.

A woman with dark hair smiles while holding a glass of red wine, looking at a man with his back to the camera. The scene is outdoors with greenery in the background. The woman is wearing a sleeveless top and large hoop earrings.

Do you remember how special date nights were when you first got together? Re-create the excited shivers you used to get for one another by planning special date evenings together. Make dinner reservations, book fancy hotel rooms, and make sure to celebrate each other’s company romantically on a regular basis.

6. Make sure each other’s needs are met.

A couple lies on a bed in a cozy setting, with the woman smiling and nestling against the man. The man has his arm around her and is looking at her affectionately. Both appear relaxed and content, surrounded by warm, earthy tones of the bedding and room.

Unmet needs are a massive contributing factor to infidelity—particularly intimate needs. Life changes and circumstances can alter people’s physical drives, so it’s important to ensure that you make each other’s intimate needs a priority. There are many different ways to provide pleasure without overstepping personal boundaries or causing discomfort.

7. Understand each other’s love languages and put them into regular practice.

A woman and man sitting outdoors, both gazing into the distance. The woman has long hair, wearing a sleeveless top, while the man wears a striped shirt. A tree is visible in the background.

Make sure that you know each other’s love languages, and discuss how you can both show the love each other needs in order to feel validated and cared for. This ensures that both of you feel appreciated, eliminating any misunderstandings from conflicting language expression and comprehension.

8. Set strong boundaries with other people.

A man with short, curly hair and glasses wears a pink sweater. He stands against a blue background and has a serious expression, with his hands extended forward, palms facing out, as if signaling to stop.

If someone at work gets flirtatious with you, make it clear immediately that you’re in a committed relationship and that flirting isn’t okay. Ensure that your partner is on the same page, and be each other’s champions if anyone oversteps your mutually set boundaries. Sometimes respect has to be enforced.

9. Be transparent about your interactions and feelings.

A man and a woman sit on a gray couch in a cozy living room with large windows. The man, wearing a pink shirt and glasses, is engaged in conversation with the woman, who is holding a notebook and wearing a green shirt. They appear relaxed and focused.

One of the best ways to ensure that there’s no infidelity is to be completely transparent with your partner about your interactions with others. Mention if there have been any flirtations with others, if you’ve met someone who you think you may have an interest in, and so on.

10. Discuss the very real consequences that infidelity would have on your relationship.

A man and a woman are sitting on a red sofa in a well-lit living room. The man, wearing glasses and a white shirt, has his arm around the woman, who is wearing a yellow top. They appear to be engaged in a serious conversation. A coffee table and plants are visible.

Have you and your partner discussed candidly what the repercussions would be if one of you cheated? If not, it’s a good idea to do so. This way, there aren’t any grey areas or loopholes that one partner may try to take advantage of. Would it mean the end of your relationship? Then make that abundantly clear.

11. Remove potential temptations from your life to the best of your ability.

A man in a suit smiles and looks at a woman in a white blouse who is leaning over the table, pointing at a document. They are having a discussion in a modern office with a blurred background, including another person out of focus in the foreground.

If you find that you’re being actively tempted by someone, then do your best to limit or eliminate your interactions with them. Block online accounts, limit interactions with that coworker (or ask to be relocated), change classes, and so on. Out of sight really is out of mind in most circumstances.

12. Remain open to the possibility of an unorthodox partnership.

Three friends enjoying a sunny day outdoors. Two men are giving a playful kiss on the cheeks of the smiling woman in the center. They are surrounded by green trees and a bright sky.

If one or both of you feels the need to stray after putting all these techniques into practice, then your best bet might be polyamory or an open relationship. In a situation like this, you’re still a bonded, emotionally devoted couple, but you’ve opened the door to physical intimacy with others.