When you first start dating someone, it’s like a drug. You’ve never felt better, and you simply can’t get enough of your partner. But that honeymoon period doesn’t last forever. To prevent things from getting stale, people try to make various improvements to their relationship.
However,too often, they try for grandiose or huge romantic gestures, whenoften it’s the tiny things that make the biggest difference. One ofour core tips that can apply to all of these ideas? Listen to yourpartner! Here are the best ways to impact your relationship in apositive way.
1.Budget smartly
Create a budget. Money is one of the biggest things that couples fight over, so creating a budget and delegating budget to the less frugal partner (though it sounds crazy) can help. It forces the other person to step up and see thing from their partner’s perspective, which is big.
2.Gratitude
Rememberto show your gratitude. Say thank you for everything, no matter ifthe gesture is big or small. It makes you want to do more for eachother, and also makes the person and their efforts feel moreappreciated.
3.Stay curious
Remaincurious about each other – the is the key to emotional intimacy.Whether this means checking in with each other on a daily basis ortrying to new things together, never assume you know what the otherperson is thinking. Considering each other with a sense of wonderwill always keep the youth in your relationship.
4.Remain independent
Atthe same time, make a conscious effort to spend time apart and doyour own thing. Even if both of you work from home, having yourseparate lives and identity is essential. Whether this means a sologetaway, a girls trip, or hanging out with your family, make sure toget in that “you” time outside of “us.”
5.Get cookin’
Cook together – whether it’s breakfast, brunch, or dinner, realize that cooking is an important way to connect with your partner, and it can be pretty romantic as well. When you do boring meal prep, doesn’t having some good conversation make it a little less dull?
6.Screen-free mealtime
Besidescooking, make sure to eat together – eating in separate rooms is afast way to create distance between a couple and turn them intoroommates. If you commit to eating one meal a day at the table, withno screens, you’re more likely to spark an interestingconversation.
7. That three-letter word
Rememberto say Ilove you.When you’ve been together a long time, you might take each otherfor granted, and that includes taking your love for granted. But loveisn’t just some magic – it’s a daily decision that takes a lot ofwork. Give each other goodbye kisses. Reminder your passion.
8.A trip down memory lane
Reminisceabout some of your favorite memories. This could be travel mishapsthat seem hilarious years later, or it might remind you of thebeginning of your relationship. Walking down memory lane helps youappreciate each other and remember why you fell in love with thatperson.
9.Take turns with chores
Designatingthe same chores can get repetitive and build up resentment. It’sperfectly fine to delegate chores to each other based on preference,but taking turns is essential so no one feels like they’re lumpedwith the difficult tasks. Compromise, people! It’s whatrelationships are all about.
10.Weekly date night
Nomatter how long you’ve been together, and whether you’re marriedwith kids or not, setting regular date nights at least once a week isimportant. We get it, as the relationship goes on, you become more ofa couch potato with your beau and the dinner dates become lessfrequent. But this is an important way to schedule quality time, somake sure to mark it in your calendar.
11.Go out of your comfort zone, together
While it’s important to expand as an individual on your own, trying new things with bae can be an exciting and even adrenaline-pumping experience. Whether it’s volunteering somewhere, taking sports lessons, or learning how to bake macarons, you’ll both learn a new skill and grow as a couple.
