Differences of opinion and conflict are normal and healthy in relationships.  Learning to communicate effectively and resolve conflict is a skill required in many areas of life.  If you struggle with frequent arguments, have difficulty resolving conflicts or lose your temper, try using the 10 rules below to begin improving your communication skills.  You may want to print them out, share them with your partner and refer to them when a disagreement arises.

1. Stick to the issue in hand - don't bring up previous issues/conflicts or other things you've been meaning to say.

2. Don't argue over trivia - for example, arguing whether it was Monday or Tuesday that you forgot to call. The issue is you forgot, not which day it was.

3. Start sentences with "I" - for example, "I felt annoyed when you..." rather than "You annoyed me when..." And "I would like to go out more often," not "We should go out more often."

4. Don't use absolutes - never say "never", "always", "should" or "shouldn't". They're irritating and often inaccurate. For example, "You never clean up" will almost certainly get a response of "What about when...?"

5. Let your opinions stand on their own merits - don't be tempted to bring in other people's opinions.

6. Try to stay sitting down, relax your muscles and don't forget to breathe - it's much easier to stay calm if you're not pacing around the room.

7. Don't start throwing abuse around - calling your partner lazy, fat or paranoid isn't going to convince them to see your point of view.

8. Be aware of your feelings and tell your partner these as well - saying "I'm scared you don't love me anymore" is likely to get a better response than "You don't act like you love me."

9. Try not to block the conversation - don't interrupt, launch into a monologue or expect someone to be a mind-reader.

10. Agree to call a "time out" - if one or both of you feels you're getting overheated it's best to take some time away from each other to calm down before going back to the disagreement.  It is important to let one another know how much time is needed and that it not be longer than 24 hours.

Remember, who wins the argument is irrelevant if your relationship loses something. Always try to confront the issue - not each other.