Coming out of a year of sweatpants. Romantic In a Relationship and sourdough baking and working from home (often right next to our partner). We are all in serious need of some romance. Even without the quarantine of 2020, relationships become routine. And it can feel like the honeymoon phase is a distant memory, never to return.
But according to experts Susan Winter, Elizabeth Overstreet, and Dr. Terri Orbuch, it is natural for those initial months or years of excitement to settle down. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that your relationship becomes calmer and less of a thrill ride as YourLoveMeet time goes on. Dr. Orbuch calls this “companionate love, which is the love that keeps people together.”
Winter adds, “Lust and desire will normally die down as the roots of love grow deeper. Cultivate the light and play and the laughter,” or in other words, bring back a sense of adventure and fun.
If you’re aching to bring back some romance and excitement, take notes. Here are 10 ways to be romantic in a relationship, according to the experts.
Talk It Out – Romantic In a Relationship
There’s nothing like talking something to death to kill the romance, but if you and your partner are struggling, communicating about what you’re each missing and how you’re feeling about the relationship can go a long way to bringing back the lust. Dr. Orbuch suggests communicating about your expectations when it comes to romance and listening to each other’s needs and desires. She says it’s important for couples to understand that “they have control and the power to add romance, passion, and excitement to their relationship.”
Start Small
As Overstreet says, it’s important to “celebrate the minutes of the moments of the hour.” Give each other a kiss before and after your day, if that’s important to you, and especially if that gesture has fallen by the wayside. Set aside some tech-free time to tell each other a few things you’re grateful for, or things you appreciate about the other person. Send a flirty text or make a surprise call in the middle of the day, or leave a sweet or sexy note for your partner. “The number one glue to keeping couples happy is appreciation and acknowledgment,” adds Winter. These seemingly small gestures can have a major impact YourLoveMeet.Com on romance, and bring you closer together without you having to plan a trip to Paris or Rome.
Reminisce – Romantic In a Relationship
Overstreet says that thinking back on tender, sensual, or sweet moments can help bring couples closer. Bring out an old Valentine’s Day card your partner gave you that was extra romantic or look at photos of your honeymoon or past trips. Taking time to remember the romantic moments you’ve shared can reignite that attraction, and pull you out of your routine (and your sweats!).
Recreate Romantic Moments
To take it a step further, instead of reminiscing, actually recreate some of your most romantic times together. “Returning to the place you first met or reenacting a first date can kick in the feeling of the magic and romance that was there in the beginning,” says Winter. “It can kick start a flood of happy memories.” And those memories, in turn, can lead to romance.
Prioritize Your Partner
As time goes on, it’s easy to get consumed by work or kids or the stresses of everyday life (or wedding planning!), but there is nothing wrong with prioritizing your partner. In fact, it’s essential. If your partner walks in from work and the kids are screaming, normalize going to your partner first and showing them affection. There’s nothing selfish about it. “Your relationship is the foundation,” Overstreet says. “If your kids are watching, it’s healthy to see their parents connecting.” It’ll also remind your partner, and you, that you have a romance in the midst of the chaos.
Stay True to Yourself
Bringing back romance isn’t all about doing things for your partner, as important as that can be. Focusing on yourself and your passions is also key. It’s easy to lose yourself in a relationship, but cultivating your own interests is important. “It creates mystery and makes you feel good, and you bring that energy back to the relationship,” says Overstreet. You’re much more likely to seek out some romance if you feel confident and amazing about your day.
RELATED ARTICLE: How Do You Approach a Girl You Don’t Know? 2022
Create a Marriage Bucket List – Romantic In a Relationship
To break up the routine, sit down and create an ongoing. List of things you want to do over the next year together. Maybe it’s skydiving or taking a road trip or learning to surf. Maybe it’s watching Bridgerton together or planting a garden. The items are whatever you two dream of trying as a couple. Even the act of sitting down to write the list can be romantic, funny, and sensual. It can bring you closer, whether you check off all the items or not.
