You might think of marriage as the ultimate team sport. You are not the only one involved in your marriage. You and yours will be working together to build your life. You must have the same goals or you’ll quickly lose your way. Strong, healthy relationships share many commonalities, but the most important is maintaining strong connections with one another.
These 10 ways can help you build and sustain a connection with your partner.
PLAY TOGETHER
Couples who play together stay together. Research shows that playful relationships have higher self-reports of relationship satisfaction as well as feelings of closeness. However, being playful also has many great side effects like stress relief. You can play a simple game with your friends, share old jokes, and set the table for dinner. Or you can get more serious by organizing a regular game night. Purposeful play can be simple and fun. You can connect with your spouse by engaging in purposeful play
KNOW YOUR LOVER’S LOVE LANGUAGE
Do you know the Love Language concept? It is a great way to keep your relationship strong. It is possible for your spouse to have a primary love language that is Words of Affirmation and yours is Acts of Service. However, if your spouse is more open to receiving love than you are to give it, you may not feel as connected. However, verbalizing your love for your spouse with thoughtful statements can help you keep those feelings of connection strong. You can find many more Romantic story english on our website and you can also share stories on it.
MAKE TIME FOR DATE NIGHT
Regular date nights are an important way to keep in touch with your partner. This doesn’t necessarily require fancy dinners or extravagant plans. The most important part of a great date night is your intentional attention. There is some evidence to suggest that novel and more interesting date ideas can “enhance closeness” in a way that is greater than standard dinners & movies, but the main element of a great date night is intentional attention. If you are looking for inspiration, there are tons of great ideas to help you choose the right date night.
FIGHT FOR FAIR
In any committed long-term relationship, conflict is normal. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to lead to disconnection. You are all part of the same team! Keep the conversation focused on the issue at hand, and avoid personal attacks that could hinder open communication. Emailing and texting can help couples because it slows down the emotionally charged, fast-fire back-and-forth. It also allows each person to find a way to express their grievances with measured and thoughtful responses, instead of big-emotion heat-of-the-moment drama. Trust me, even if you are a big emotional dramatic person, it can be very helpful!
MIND THE MOMENTS
It’s easy to get caught up in major life events, such as anniversaries or the birth of a child. But it is the moments between that a relationship can strengthen or weaken. It’s the small things that make a difference, such as picking up a favorite snack to take home or sending a sweet message at midday to let your partner know you’re thinking of them. It’s about making an effort to get socks in the basket, and not just beside the box. Or to notice how often you actually say the one phrase that, for whatever reason, bothers your partner. It takes one moment to build your best self, your best life, and your best relationships. We need to be mindful of these moments.
GROW TOGETHER
Change is the only constant in life. Just as the world changes around us, so do people. Strong partnerships are able to move forward together, evolving and growing individually. Your spouse and you should celebrate each other’s progress as you become your best selves. If you are both interested in the same topics, you can take courses, workshops, and boot camps together. But, you should not disparage your spouse for wanting to be better. Growth is a positive thing. Happy, healthy couples celebrate each other’s progress and support each other.
UP THE ANTE ON AFFEECTION
It is easy to get stuck in a routine with our affections. It could be a quick kiss on the way to work every morning, followed by a quick peck on each cheek when you return. But as these actions become more automatic, it can cause them to lose some of their original sparks. It’s possible to show your love by touching each other. Couples who touch each other often report higher levels of relationship satisfaction than those who don’t. Make it a point to touch your partner every now and again. Even a simple hug or back rub can release the love hormone oxytocin, which will help boost feelings of connection.
SPICE THINGS UP
It is possible to make a significant difference in a long-term relationship by making an effort to improve things. It can be comforting to know that you can count on your partner being there for your needs, but it can also lead to a long-lasting relationship becoming stale. Share something new with your spouse, whether it’s crossing some bucket list items together or introducing some new experiences in the bedroom. This will help you stay connected.
HIT THE ROAD (OR SKIES) TOGETHER
It’s a great way to keep in touch with your spouse by traveling together. It puts you and your spouse in a situation where you are literally “the two against the world”, but it also allows you to share new experiences together and build new memories. These are two essential keys to a happy, healthy long-term relationship. It’s wonderful to be reminded how great a team you have and that adventuring together is a great way to get into team mode. Additionally, couples who travel together have better sex lives… and that’s not necessarily a bad side effect!
PRACTICE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
You have to make sure your marriage is in good shape. Just like you need to rotate your tires and change your oil regularly for your car to keep it running smoothly, so do you. To ensure there are no potential issues simmering beneath the surface, it’s important to regularly touch base with your partner via a relationship check-in. You can also maintain your marriage’s strength and health by attending couples therapy or marriage retreats. It doesn’t take long to see the relationship and partnership that you have with your spouse.
You will experience many changes in your marriage. But as long as you and you do the very meaningful work of staying connected, you can weather any storm together.
