Looking for ways to feel connected to your partner? We asked the experts and rounded up five simple ways to improve your relationship with your significant other.
We all know how hard relationships can be. Even couples who always seem to look picture perfect go through their fair share of ups and downs.
The good news is that there are ways to fix any issue or problem you’re facing as a couple. Read the following tips to help you build a strong, romantic relationship that’s built on communication, trust, and love.
Be Supportive
Ask your partner about their day. Listen and pay attention. Showing support doesn’t only have to be only during big work projects and promotions. It’s everyday signs of caring and empathy.
Being supportive of your significant other means showing compassion and understanding.
The important thing to remember is that you have to be intentional and proactive in your actions. Making an effort is now easier than ever, thanks to technology. Why not send your significant other an emoji or a text just to check in? Even better, call them up for a few minutes to chat and see how they’re day is going. These little things help build a relationship and make your partner feel validated.
Enjoy the Little Moments
A relationship is a work in progress. You need to focus more on the small moments that give your relationship meaning and value.
You don’t need big gestures like in the movies. All you need to build a strong, loving relationship is to kiss each other before heading out to work or giving each other a hug before going to bed. It’s the consistency and frequency of those little moments that really matter in the end.
Dr. Kristie Overstreet, a relationship expert and certified sex therapist, says, “A healthy relationship is one based in trust and security. [This is why] small gestures are a great way to keep these two things strong.”
Spice Things Up
Picture this: you eat the same meal every day. After a while, it becomes humdrum and unexciting. It’s the same way with your sex life. Trying new things in the bedroom will add a new dimension to your intimacy and bring you closer together.
Alternatively, spicing things up doesn’t have to only be in the bedroom. Variety is the backbone of any strong relationship.
Why not plan a dinner date or an impromptu lunch at your partner’s favorite restaurant? One fun rule to live by is the 2 x 2 x 2 rule. Go out for at least two hours every two weeks. Then, every two months, get away somewhere for the weekend. And every two years, go away for an entire week.
Feeling that each one of you is making time for the year is the root of any romance. Prioritizing time for one another means you’re not just an afterthought.
Be Appreciative
Whether you’ve been in a relationship for six months or 10 years, relationships get comfortable after a while. While this is a good thing, it can make you take your partner’s nice acts of kindness for granted.
These acts of kindness are how your partners show their love and appreciation for you. So, it’s only natural that you return those same affections with a simple ‘thank you.’
Learn to Communicate
Work, responsibilities, money, and kids all take their toll on relationships. They’re some of the main reasons why communication between couples takes a back seat to everything else.
One way to help ease communication into your lives is to have a daily check-in session. This is where you talk with your significant other about just normal, ordinary, everyday stuff.
But, in the long run, these meaningful topics are what help deepen your intimacy and connection.
When communication lines are open between you and your partner, it helps prevent small issues from snowballing into bigger problems. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to argue over every little thing. It just means that you get into the habit of calling out issues with each other in a calm, understanding way. You can casually bring it up in one of your daily check-ins.
Over time, this can become a habit where you effectively nip things in the bud before they get out of head.