The start of a relationship brings with it passion and a fiery desire to spend as much time as possible in the company of your partner! However, as time marches on and your comfort level with your partner increases, it is all too common to lose sight of the romantic spark that is an important part of keeping your relationship together. By following a few simple tips, and by being keenly aware of how your partner feels and will react to your efforts, you can work towards establishing your relationship as one that is certain to last.
- Communication. Without the ability to communicate effectively with your partner, you are doomed as a couple; regardless of how many romantic gestures you offer. One of the most romantic, and loving, things that you can do for your partner is to listen, understand, and offer advice when it is needed. By working on your communication skills in subtle ways, like asking a simple “How was your day?” over dinner, you are opening up your relationship and building on a solid communication foundation. An added bonus is that through effective communication, you will be well aware of what little romantic gestures you can offer to help bring a smile to your partner’s face!
- Date Night. With the domestic routine that we all settle in to when we are comfortable and familiar with our partner, if can be all too easy to forget to spend time together outside of the house! Take the time to arrange a date night with your partner: a movie, dinner, a concert, a sporting event, or even a romance-inspired picnic on a mild summer’s evening. Date night will not only get you out of the house, but it will also encourage you to focus on each other while reminding you of the excitement you felt when you were first dating!
- The Small Things. Romantic gestures do not need to be exclusively limited to the grand sweeping romantic gestures that chick flicks seem to indicate are the only effective manner of being romantic! Instead of composing a ballad and singing it outside of her bedroom window consider the small things that she will appreciate instead. Unloading the dishwasher in the mornings, flipping the laundry without being asked to, warm up her car on chilly winter mornings, or even simply bring her a cup of coffee while she gets ready for work! Small loving gestures are sure to be more memorable for your partner than the grand sweeping gestures are.
- Build Memories. While not every couple has the realistic budget for a trip to Europe, consider a vacation together that will allow you to relax and focus exclusively on each other. Perhaps an extended weekend at a secluded cabin or a budget-friendly trip to an all inclusive resort that will provide you with the time to simply sit and reflect on your relationship and those important aspects of it that have held you together thus far.
By taking the time to work together, as a couple, on the project of building and maintaining your romantic relationship, you are establishing the groundwork for a long-lasting and meaningful life together.
