“If you want a relationship that looks and feels like the most amazing thing on earth, you need to treat it like it’s the most amazing thing on earth.”
At the start of every relationship, it’s always roses and butterflies… until the honeymoon phase ends. Rather than treating the end of the honeymoon phase like the end of the relationship, we must treat it like a fresh new beginning of a more mature part of our relationship. We must never forget that a successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. It is important that we don’t get complacent in our relationship and that we innovate and try new things. Here’s how we can try to accomplish this.:
- Be open without fear of judgment
It is important that we are open with our partners without having the fear that they will judge us. We must have that comfort level with them in order to make it work. It is also important that your partner sees where you are coming from and actually makes an effort to put your worries to rest.
- Make time for each other.
We all have very busy lives, but we should make an attempt to try and make some time for each other every day. As frequently as possible, we should sit and talk with our partners about our day, what we did, what is new, and basically whatever is important to us. Communication is the key to any relationship, and without it, your relationship is bound to fail.
- Have regularly-scheduled date nights.
Date nights are very rampant during the honeymoon phase of a relationship. However, they shouldn’t end there. We get so busy in our day-to-day lives that we forget to break out of our routines and spend some time with just our significant other. We put so much focus on spending time with family, friends, and children that we forget to spend time with our significant others.
- Surprise each other.
Who doesn’t like surprises? Surprises keep the spark alive in your relationship and keep your partner on their toes. By no means am I proposing that we should surprise our partners all the time, but once in a while, it’s nice to take a step back and do something unexpected to bring a smile to your partner’s face.
- Maintain a work-life balance.
We are all career-oriented people, and for the most of us, work is a major part of our days. However, it is very crucial that we maintain a balance between our work and personal lives. We should not let our relationships suffer because of work-related obligations.
- Take the time to reflect.
We need to spend time reflecting on ourselves and our relationships. The frequency of reflection depends from person to person, but we should spend time reflecting with our partners. We need to discuss pros and cons of our relationships in order to become better versions of ourselves for each other and make our relationships thrive.
- Set the gadgets aside.
In today’s world of technology, gadgets are as important to us as oxygen. However, we need to realize that although we need them to gain information, we don’t need them to survive. We can just as well keep them away for a few hours and I promise you we won’t get sick. It is so important to put our phones, laptops or any other gadgets away and focus completely on the time you’re spending with your partner. This will reduce the “you never told me this” and just solidify the foundation of your relationship.
- Do activities as a couple.
We have a life outside of our partners, and for the most part, that is great. However, we should do things together with our partners to increase the bond we have with them. These activities could be anything from finding a new hobby together or going on an adventure. That little time will be just for the two of you, and you both can enjoy doing whatever you like whilst spending quality time with each other. Anything adventurous will increase a chemical in your brains called oxytocin, which is also known as the “pleasure hormone” in your body. This release of oxytocin will give you the perception of falling more in love with your partner. Thus, no matter what you are capable of doing as a couple, it is essential that you take up an activity together that you can call your own.
It is crucial not to let stagnancy build up in your relationship. Complacency will act like a slow poison in your relationship, so both partners need to try to put effort into the relationship in order to spice things up. Relationships are never easy, but we need to find ways to make the most of them. Always remember, all relationships go through hell, but only the real ones get through it.
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
