A man who listened to this relationship advice for men hugging his girlfriend on the beach as she smiles softly.
We all know that men and women handle various situations differently. So when it comes to dating advice, what might work for women, might not work so great for the guys. We’re different, and those differences are what make our relationships fun and interesting… and also kind of confusing sometimes.
To help clear up the confusion, we asked different experts what they thought the best relationship advice for men was—the things guys really need to know to understand women more and get the most of their relationships with them.
Here’s the best relationship advice for men, according to experts across the field:
1. Don’t discredit her feelings.A lot of men have a tendency to invalidate their partner’s feelings. “For example, they might say, ‘That’s a silly thing to be mad about,’ or ‘I can’t believe that upset you,” explains premarital counselor, Rachel Lamson.  “Instead, try to validate your partners’ emotions by apologizing for being the source of that emotion without admitting guilt,”
For example, saying something like, “I’m sorry that my actions caused you to feel upset. It wasn’t my intention,” sounds a lot better.
2. Standup for her and others.When a man sees a situation that needs to be dealt with, he should step forward and deal with it. If someone is being rude to your partner, women still appreciate a man stepping up to call them on it. Make sure you’re there to defend and protect her. It doesn’t mean she can defend herself, it just means chivalry isn’t dead.
3. Talk about what’s bothering you.Another common tendency a lot of men have in relationships, is shutting down when they feel hurt instead of expressing it. Nobody benefits from silence or keeping things that are bugging you bottled up.
“Instead, take 10-30 minutes to calm down and work through your emotions, in order to them into words, ” says Lamson. “Then approach your partner to explain how you feel.”
4. Share with your partner.
Men are notorious for withholding their needs/emotions/fears/hopes. But times have changed, and a man who can talk about his feelings is what the majority of women want and need.
“Men may worry they’ll appear weak,” says Lamson. “But more likely their partner will see strength in their ability to be open and honest. It’ll make both people feel closer and more supported.”
5. Don’t take her not wanting sex, personally.You may feel like you’re not getting the attention you want, but if your partner is preoccupied with work, kids, errands, or just life in general it’s not that she doesn’t care about you or love you, but it’s very difficult to put all that aside. While it’s crucial to have alone time and intimacy with your partner, understand how challenging it might be for her to refocus her energy on you and don’t take it as a sign of rejection.
6. Listen to your partner.For men to have a successful relationship with a woman they need to actually go against their inherent nature to fix problems and become better active listeners.
“Men hear all the time from women that they want men to listen and not fix the problem,” explains Dr. Dori Gatter, a licensed Psychotherapist and Relationship Expert.
Sometimes being supportive, means being there for someone and not telling them what they should do or how they should feel. Some problems can’t be fixed, but by listening you can help.
7. Be more decisive.We’re not just talking about picking the restaurant or what movie to watch, but also about bigger, life decisions. To many women, a man who avoids making decisions is skirting his responsibilities. Being wishy washy on issues related to career, family, or even the relationship is a total turnoff.
8. Pick up some of the slack.Between taking care of the children, making dinner, and keeping the home together, not to mention working, women have a lot on their plate. Women want to be your partner, she doesn’t want another person to take care of.  Picking up some of the slack provides her tremendous relief and she sincerely appreciates it. Don’t wait for her to ask. Just do it.
9. It doesn’t matter how, just make her feel special.Men may not be inclined to express themselves emotionally, but regardless, you have to let your partner know how much you like them by being around them and taking care of them. You can tell her through words or even physically. Guys may be able to go without many of these things, but to many women this is her oxygen.
Every women is different and how they deal with things like stress, family, affection, arguments, and surprises will be different too. Keep in mind these few universal things and use your best judgement. Chances are, you know more about your partner than you think.