1. Knowing your own needs and limits and communicating them to your partners:
It is important for polyamorous people to be aware of their own needs and limits. This includes not only knowing how much they can handle physically and emotionally, but also communicating this information to their partners. This can help prevent any one partner from feeling overwhelmed or taken for granted.
2. Establishing consent and communication protocols with your partners:
In order to maintain healthy and consent-based relationships, it is important for polyamorous people to have protocols in place for communication. This includes setting rules about how much contact is allowed, what kind of communication is appropriate, and when it is necessary to get consent from all parties involved.
3. Keeping boundaries around time, space, and energy:
Polyamorous relationships involve a lot of sharing of time, space, and energy. It is important to keep boundaries around these things so that everyone involved feels comfortable and respected. This may include setting rules about how much time each person can spend with other partners, where all partners are comfortable meeting each other, and what activities are off-limits to certain partners.
4. Setting rules for physical contact and sexual interaction:
Because polyamory involves multiple romantic/sexual relationships, it is important to have rules in place about physical contact and sexual interaction. This includes deciding things like which sexual activities are allowed, how much physical contact is appropriate, and when consent must be given from all parties involved.
5. Having agreements about monogamy, transparency, and disclosure:
Since polyamorous relationships involve multiple people, it is important to have agreements in place about things like monogamy, transparency, and disclosure. This means that everyone involved knows what is expected of them in terms of their relationship with others. It also ensures that everyone has a clear understanding of what information must be shared between partners.
6. Dealing with jealousy and envy constructively:
Jealousy and envy are two common issues that come up in polyamorous relationships. It is important to deal with them constructively so that they do not cause problems within the relationship. This may include things like discussing jealousy openly, working on jealousy management techniques, or having a support system in place for when envy arises.
7. Creating rituals and traditions to strengthen your relationships:
Just like any other type of relationship, polyamorous relationships benefit from having rituals and traditions in place. This can include things like having regular check-ins with all partners, celebrating holidays and special occasions together, or even taking trips to stay connected. These rituals help to remind the relationship of its importance and can help keep everyone involved feeling close.
8. Respecting your partners’ autonomy, decisions, and choices:
In polyamorous relationships it is important for everyone involved to respect each other’s autonomy, decisions, and choices. This means that each partner must recognize the other person’s right to make their own decisions about how they want to live their life without judgment or criticism.
9. Taking responsibility for your own feelings and behavior:
Each partner in a polyamorous relationship has a responsibility to take ownership of their own feelings and behavior. This means being honest with yourself and your partners about how you are feeling, communicating any issues that arise in a respectful manner, and attempting to resolve conflicts in an appropriate way.
10. Discussing finances and other practical matters:
Polyamorous relationships involve multiple people who often have different financial and practical needs. It is important to discuss these things openly and honestly, so that everyone involved knows what to expect in terms of money, resources, and other practical matters. This can help ensure that no one partner is taken advantage of or put into a difficult situation because of the polyamorous relationship.