Be Intentional
Author Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “Love isn’t how you feel, it’s what you do”. Your relationship requires more intentional maintenance than most other parts of life. Set aside regular time that is only devoted to your spouse. It could be making every Friday “date night,” or spending some quiet time on Sunday afternoon in the hot tub together. Whatever you choose, stick to it. Intimacy is facilitated by routine.
It may sound a little gooey, but it really helps to make sure that kids, friends, and coworkers are aware of your affection, too. The kids will learn that the value of a strong relationship. Your friends will know where you stand and appreciate your commitment. Plus, the public accountability will encourage you to put in the hard work necessary to maintain the relationship.
Reconnect
Find Ways to Serve
Secretly spend a week or two doing everything exactly in the way that the other person prefers. This could be as simple as putting on the toilet paper roll in the way they like. These small changes will both surprise and delight your mate. Plus, you might realize that the problems weren’t so annoying as you thought. They might even start doing the same for you! You don’t want to change your spouse, but find things you can both work on to make the relationship more enjoyable.
Carving out time in a busy schedule to focus on your partner, finding new ways to connect and putting the other person first are easy ways to keep your romance alive.