When a relationship first begins, you’re living in the honeymoon phase. Everything is exciting and you’re filled with butterflies. However, as time goes on, the newness wears off.
Your day-to-day lives together can become a little mundane. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are 6 ways to improve and grow your relationship:
1. Learn a Musical Instrument Together
Music is something that bonds people. Certain songs make you think of a specific moment in time, like the first time you fell in love.
Learning a musical instrument, like the guitar, is a fun activity you can do together to reignite the spark. With a few basic guitar chords you can learn from free music guides and resources online, you’ll be able to play and sing along to your song as a couple.
2. Schedule a Date Night
Putting a date night on your calendar doesn’t sound very romantic. But if you want your relationship to thrive, you need to make it a priority, like you would an appointment or meeting.
Block out a time each week and designate it solely for you and your partner. Don’t plan to have other meetings or hang out with other friends. Instead, take turns each week as to who will choose what the date night will be.
3. Ask Questions
Remember when you first started seeing your partner and you wanted to know everything about them? You might think you know everything now, but that’s simply not true.
Be conscious about your conversations together. You might be surprised to learn about a childhood story or a hidden talent you never would’ve known otherwise. You can even search “questions to ask your partner,” online. This will provide some ideas for conversation like, “If you could be any celebrity, who would it be?”
4. Try Something New
There’s nothing more exciting than trying something new. But as we get older and stay longer in our relationships, it can be hard to keep the romance alive. Enhancing the relationship can be as simple as taking a cooking class together or as adventurous as going zip lining.
Make a relationship bucket list together of things you’d like to do as a couple. Each month, pick one thing from the list to do together.
5. Say “Thank You”
Gratitude can go a long way in any relationship, especially for people who have been together for years. People often get caught up in routines and soon forget to acknowledge their little acts of kindness.
After someone does the dishes or holds the door open for you, say thank you. It shows appreciation for the small things in life.
6. Take the 5 Love Languages Test
Knowing how you and your partner like to receive or express love is a critical component for any successful relationship. An excellent resource is The 5 Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman.
The book teaches about the five different ways to communicate love:
- Quality Time
- Physical Touch
- Words of Affirmation
- Gifts
- Acts of Service
You can take a free test online together to learn about which best suits you. For extra fun, after you have your test results, choose a date that centers around what each of your love languages is.
For example, if your partner is more centered around acts of service, make a date where you volunteer somewhere together.
Summary
The main component to improve a relationship is the element of communication. None of the ideas on this list would be complete without having a conversation about where the trouble in the relationship is.
Talk to your partner about your concerns and come to the table with some ideas to work towards a solution. This list will help spark some creativity and inspiration for your own unique ideas.
