You’ve been married for 10, 15, or 25-plus years, your relationship likely feels comfortable and easy, but not necessarily smoldering hot. Let’s check these Tips To Keep The Romance Alive For Your Marriage Fresh…
It’s normal to hit a lull in your relationship where you no longer feel the same spark that you did in the early days. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a content but passionless marriage. Thus, that’s all it is – a temporary blip on the road to somewhere greater.
Now it’s time to refresh your marriage and rekindle the flame.
Keep Dating Each Other
Novelty is key here, so it’s important that you and your partner continue to seek new shared experiences, whether low-key (trying a new restaurant) or something more adventurous (traveling to a foreign country). According to a New York Times article, new experiences activate the brain’s reward system, flooding the brain with dopamine and norepinephrine—the same chemicals responsible for those euphoric highs of early romance.
A simple way to revive those emotions and stimulate the happy chemical production is to find ways of demonstrating you care. The best part is that it doesn’t have to mean a grand gesture. “Leave love notes or take an extra five minutes to have a long goodbye in the morning. If you see something that reminds you of your partner, take a picture and send it to them,” LeClair suggests.
“Take note of the little things that they do, and let them know you appreciate them.” If you’re at a loss for inspiration, just think about what small acts of care or romance would brighten your morning or add a jolt of excitement to your day.
Chances are your partner will feel the same.
Keep yourself feeling hot.
When you try to look your best, whether refreshing your hairstyle and wardrobe or working out a few times a week, not only will it please your mate, but you’ll boost your self-confidence, too. Need fresh beauty advice, weight loss tips, and more get-fit inspiration. Making an effort to spruce up your appearance on a regular basis can help you get in the mood and shows that you care about and value yourself
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Turn off your phones.
It’s easy to get absorbed in computers, phones, and all our other electronic devices. Make a conscious effort to put the tech away for at least one hour a night, and you’ll find that the opportunities for romance rise. Putting it away to focus on your partner sends a strong signal that they are important and valued.
Just kiss.
In a way, kissing is an even more intimate activity than intercourse, but it’s one that long-term couples let fall by the wayside. So plant one on your spouse when he least expects it—and then do it again. Try spending an evening making out on the couch,” suggests Jacq. Decide that intercourse is off the menu and focus on making out. See where that takes you!
Touch each other.
Don’t underestimate the power of touch. Everything from a squeeze on the arm to a hug will go a long way toward keeping the two of you connected.Random intimate touching can also reinforce spontaneity as well as increase your oxytocin levels helping you both to feel more bonded
Watch each other work.
There’s no bigger turn-on than seeing your partner do what they’re good at. Take notice the next time your partner’s in their element—it’s hot! Most of us are different at work than at home, so watching your partner work can help make them new again, mystery and excitement help turn up the heat in the bedroom.
Get flirty.
Stop taking your partner for granted and go back to those old techniques you used to catch their eye in the first place. Once you do, they’ll reciprocate. Think back to the effort both of you made to get one another’s attention, Whether it was a sexy note or some innuendo, it can help you remember the spark that brought you together.
Actually do date night.
Though it may seem predictable, scheduling one-on-one time with your spouse, especially if you have young children, is vital for maintaining your romantic connection. Taking time to enjoy your couple-hood is an investment in your relationship which is good for the whole family.
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Have more sex.
When you maintain a healthy and frequent sex life, you’re taking the first step to ensure that you and your partner keep the passion alive. Sometimes acting ‘as if’ you’re craving sex, just to get the sexual energy up can give you both the jump-start that helps create a new pattern. Also, having sex on a regular basis will balance your hormones so you’ll want sex more. Sex begets sex.
Communicate
As you settle into a cozy groove with your significant other, it’s natural to feel a little nostalgic for your relationship’s initial stages. We all know that the honeymoon stage of coupling is hard to top, so it’s only natural that its absence can be sorely missed as the romance matures.
One way to keep things fresh is to stay curious about your partner. When you are first getting to know someone, you are excited about all of the unknowns. Each disclosure represents a new possibility, and it feels invigorating to learn more about one another. But just because you’ve already learned so much of your partner’s intricacies, doesn’t mean there isn’t more to discover.
Similarly, intentional communication with your partner helps illuminate a path forward in times of conflict. Clear communication can help us understand areas for future growth. When your partner tells you what they need and want, do not take it as a criticism that you were doing things wrong. Look at it as an opportunity to love them in a way that feels good to them.
Have fun with foreplay.
When you’ve been with the same person for a long time, it’s easy to let sex become automatic. Focusing on foreplay ensures that you’ll really be feeling it—and connecting with each other. Foreplay is even more important as we age, The sexual response cycle slows down for everyone with age, so physical response can require more intense stimulation.
Remember, Love Is a Verb
It’s one thing to say “I love you,” and another thing entirely to express that in different ways every day you choose to be in your relationship. What romantic comedy films often neglect to show after the on-screen couple realizes they want to be together for the long haul are the day-to-day negotiations of navigating a union where two individuals with different life experiences, hopes, and dreams co-create a life together.
Love in action is going to look different for different people because we don’t all love in the same ways. For some, love in action is cooking a meal and doing the dishes. For others, it’s time spent in deeply meaningful conversation together. The key to understanding how to “do” love, Avila adds, is focusing on “getting to know the ways that you love and want to be loved and also knowing this about you.
