If you’re interested in sharing your opinion on any cultural, political or personal topic, create an account here and check out our how-to post to learn more.
____
Whether you've been in a relationship with your partner for three months or three years, relationships require continual commitment and work. If you've found yourself in a tough spot recently, here are six things you can do to strengthen your relationship:
1. Plan a Weekly Date Night
In the midst of trying to balance work and home responsibilities, you probably don't have as much time as you want to spend time with your significant other. However, you can fix this by planning a weekly date night. Light candles, put on some relaxing music and order takeout. If you're up for it, try cooking a meal with your partner, as this can allow you to bond with each other. Setting aside a specific time every week to turn off all distractions and spend quality time with your partner can give a boost to your relationship and create lasting memories.
2. Travel With Your Partner
What better way to spice up your relationship than to go on vacation with your partner? If you've found yourself in a rut lately, treating you and your partner to a beach vacation or a Panama Canal cruise can be a great way to add some excitement to your relationship and also strengthen your connection. As an additional benefit, spending time in nature has been shown to increase feelings of well-being, boost the immune system and reduce stress and other negative emotions.
3. Set Goals Together
Creating goals that you and your significant other can work towards together can establish a sense of companionship and intimacy. Whether it's saving up enough money to buy your dream house or planning to run a marathon together, setting goals can allow you to feel like a team. With every goal that you accomplish, your bond will become even stronger.
4. Ask Deep Questions
Making an effort to get to know your partner on a meaningful level can strengthen your bond with each other. Asking questions like, "What's your biggest regret?" and "Do you think everything happens for a reason?" can give you insight into your significant other's greatest desires, dreams and dislikes. Regularly having honest conversations like these can bolster trust, compassion and understanding, which can allow you to bond with your partner on a deeper level.
5. Surprise Your Partner
While you don't have to go overboard, surprising your partner with small gifts every once in a while can add some excitement into your relationship. Cook your significant other's favorite dish or write them a love letter to let them know that you're thinking about them. Although these surprises may seem small, they can go a long way in showing your partner that you care.
6. Know Your Partner's Love Language
A love language is a particular way of showing and receiving love. If you don't already know your significant other's love language, understanding it can be a big step in knowing them on a more intimate level. For example, if your partner's love language is acts of service, you may find that they enjoy cooking meals for you, while you enjoy going on romantic walks with them because your love language is quality time. Understanding your significant other's love language can help you express your love in ways that they'll appreciate most.
7. Spend Some Time Alone
It may sound counterintuitive, but having alone time in a relationship can actually strengthen your bond with your partner. Being in a relationship shouldn't mean losing your identity or individuality. It's important that you take time to reflect on your goals, engage in hobbies and simply be comfortable with being on your own. Remember that a partner compliments you, not completes you.
If you feel like your relationship has hit a rough patch, there are plenty of ways that you can add some excitement into your daily lives. Following these six tips can help you strengthen your relationship and build a newfound sense of trust and compassion.