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Entity explains how couples can grow together, not apart.

New relationships are exciting because almost everything is a “new” experience with your partner. Anything can be an adventure, even trips to the grocery store. But what happens when the honeymoon phase passes? For some couples, the adventures decrease as the relationship becomes stagnant. Some relationships fall into a trap of routine schedules, complacency and even frustration. They stop doing things together and instead of living together, they are simply residing in the same home.

How did it happen? Were you both stressed after the kids were born? Did you become too busy with your separate careers? Regardless of the reason, here are some steps you can take to help reignite the spark and strengthen the life that you two are building together.

READ MORE: How to Turn Fights Into Constructive Dialogue

1 Schedule quality time with each other.

Sometimes couples grow apart because they are too busy to spend time with each other. Rachel Hercman, a psychotherapist, tells The Health Site that once couples commit to a long-term relationship, there is a tendency for them to stop date nights. Although a night out once a week isn’t necessarily what keeps a relationship healthy, Hercman says, “Making a relationship succeed takes much time, effort and patience.”

So devote a special time to each each other every week. Pay attention to each other and to your conversations. If you don’t know where to start, do something you both enjoy doing. Do you like watching movies at home? If so, spend the night in and rent some films to enjoy. By going out of your way to schedule these dates, you will both learn to incorporate quality time as a regular part of your schedules, not an optional part of your relationship.

2 Laugh with each other.

People aren’t wrong when they say, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Not only can laughter make you feel better on a bad day, but it can also strengthen relationships. According to TIME, one study found that “couples who laugh more together tend to have higher-quality relationships.”

According to the study, laughing can help the “lovey-dovey” feelings stay strong and it is also a “supportive activity.” Laughing can make partners feel closer together. Do you have any inside jokes? Do you like watching comedy? Don’t be afraid to be silly together!

READ MORE: 5 Ways a Good Sense of Humor Will Help You Through the Darkest Times

3 Communicate and compromise.

One of the downfalls of getting too comfortable with a person is forgetting about what it means to have each other’s best interests at heart. You should always encourage each other’s goals. Don’t forget about the small acts of kindness that you can do to be supportive.

It can be as simple as listening to his side of the argument without interrupting, surprising her with something she likes or even remembering to put your shoes in the shoe rack after a long day. Listen to your partner, listen to his or her needs and learn to compromise. Doing these things will show your partner that you respect him or her.

4 Stay intimate.

All couples experience lulls in their intimacy. When you get busy, you may be too tired to have sex or you may just not be in the mood. However, as All Women’s Talk says, “Being intimate with one another is going to bring you two closer.” Having sex can be such a vulnerable activity and it can truly open you two up to each other again.

Not only that, but WebMD says, “Research suggests a link between sex and lower blood pressure.” Having sex can help lower your stress levels, lower your risk of heart attack and even improve your sleep. For those couples who find themselves disconnecting because they’re always stressed – perhaps you need to be spending more intimate time together.

Don’t use “life” or “kids” as an excuse to distance yourself from your partner. Maintaining strong, healthy relationships is a lifetime commitment. It requires work to actually stay in love. Just because you two are comfortable with each other doesn’t mean you have to stop trying.

READ MORE: The Benefits of Having a Long-Term Partner

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