9 ways to strengthen your relationship in the new year

• Whether or not your relationship is struggling, almost everyone can benefit from a few relationship tips for a strong start in the new year.
• INSIDER spoke to a relationship expert and discovered that bettering yourself on an individual level can actually have positive effects on your relationship.
• Focusing on your own role is a vital step in bettering the relationship as well as decreasing the urgency for sameness and spending time together.

All relationships have their ups and downs, even the best ones, which means we could all probably benefit from a January-reboot. And though all couples are different, there are a few universal fundamentals that could make you and your partner's relationship even better.

In speaking to a relationship expert, INSIDER discovered that there are several ways to improve your relationship that not only benefit you as a couple but also you individually, which may come as a surprise.

Here are a few expert tips on how to strengthen your relationship in the new year.

Adopt a growth mindset.

It's important to adopt a growth mindset, according to Anthony Chambers, Ph.D., chief academic officer of The Family Institute and director of the Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies at Northwestern University.

See your relationship as an opportunity for becoming a better version of yourself, Chambers told INSIDER. Often, the best learning about who we are occurs when we are with a romantic partner.

Don't focus on changing your partner — focus on yourself.

One of the most vital steps in improving your relationship is by focusing on your role as an individual, Chambers said. It's essential to concentrate on what you can do to change, not on what you can do to change your partner, he explained. Ultimately, the only person you have the ability to change is yourself.

"Think about how hard it is to change yourself. To think you are going to change another human being is likely not going to work," Chambers told INSIDER.

Spend time together.

In order to nurture the friendship, it's important to spend time together, according to Chambers. This is the foundation of the relationship, he added.

Couples who do things together become more bonded and in turn, learn to enjoy each other's company. When you have these shared experiences, it gives you something in common and that just feels good.