One of the more exciting times of a relationship is when things are new—you’re still getting to know the other person, there are tons of first: first dates, first kisses, first dances, and many others.
People are always happiest during the early stages of a relationship—often dubbed the ‘honeymoon stage’ when it feels new and fresh and exciting.
However, the more successful the relationship is, the longer the gap between these feelings of new relationships. It’s important for those looking to build their relationship to find ways to keep it feeling fresh even when they’ve been together for a long time.
Below is a list of ways to do exactly that.
Change Things Up
One of the most common complaints from couples who have been together for a long time and feel things have become stale is the lack of spontaneity in their relationship.
Generally speaking, humans are creatures of habit—we have a tendency to get set in our routines, and it can become hard to break out of them.
For couples, this can often lead to feelings of lethargy and stagnation—which can result in yearning for feelings during the early stages of the relationship.
This is why it’s important to attempt to mix things up and keep things exciting—whether that’s trying new things that neither person has done before, or taking turns planning a romantic evening together it’s important for couples to try to break away from their routine to avoid getting stuck in a rut.
Surprise Each Other
Unless they’re the kind of person who genuinely doesn’t enjoy surprises—they do exist—just doing something simple such as surprising your significant other with flowers on the way home, or a nice meal and their favorite drink, or a gift they’ve been talking about for a while.
Taking a few minutes out of your day to do something thoughtful for your significant other can mean more to them than you could even expect and is a great way to keep the spark in a relationship alive.
Not only will they appreciate it, but they’ll likely also want to go out of their way to return the favor (that’s not to say that should be a reason to do it, as this could lead to the relationship becoming toxic), which will result in both parties feeling appreciated by their paramour.
Spend Time Together
This one seems like a no-brainer—you have to spend time together to even be in a relationship—but, as relationships evolve, many times we start to take the other person for granted. When couples move in together, they start to get used to spending a significant amount of their time with their significant other.
While you would think that would mean they would spend more time together, that’s not always the case. Oftentimes, couples can begin to actually spend less time together, because they assume the other person is going to be there anyway. This can actually lead to couples drifting apart, which is why it’s important to make time to do things with each other. Go on dinner dates, go to the movies, go to museums, and carnivals, and festivals.
Ensuring that your significant other feels like they’re a priority to you will help abate stagnation in the relationship.