Relationships take effort. Relationships that are going to be long-lasting, such as marriage, are going to need tending to, attention and effort. They don't just happen on their own.
When a relationship is new, it can be very exciting. Everything we do with the other person is a new experience, and it can be exhilarating! Just taking a walk, or maybe even going to the grocery store can be exciting and fun. However, once times goes by, you may find that doing those things that once seemed fun with the other person now just seems "old," or "boring." Well, you are going to need to work on finding creative ways to keep your love and romance new and exciting! Enclosed in this article are some ideas for keeping your marriage fresh, exciting and solid.
- Try to have a date every week. Even if it is just going out to dinner and a movie, always make time for each other, just the two of you. It especially will help if you bring each other flowers, or a nice card. One person could even make the dinner for the other person. It is important also to dress up a little. Put on perfume/cologne for the other person like you did when your relationship was new. Wear makeup (women) and a dress, and men, wear a nice suit. Make it special. Don't come to the table wearing sweats. You probably wouldn't have done that when you were first courting each other.
-Every so often, get your spouse an unexpected gift of flowers or chocolates, or just a card. It doesn't have to be expensive, you could even just write a love letter, sometimes that means more than the flowers or chocolates ever could. It's the thought that counts, not the expense!
-Put a love note in your spouse's jacket pocket/lunch before work. You can be assured, they will be very thankful and will be thinking of you during the day!
-Take vacations together. Even if it is just a weekend in the Poconos, or even just a night at a jacuzzi hotel. Being destressed and away from the every day world can really help you focus on each other. This will especially be important if you have children. It's important to get away for some romance, just the two of you, if you have children.
-Cook together. Dab each other with flour, joke around like you did when you were younger, or at an earlier stage of your relationship. Just be silly and carefree!
-Play a game together. Remember, the idea is to be silly. Play Candy Land!
-Take a walk and enjoy nature.
-Listen to music and dance- even if it is in your living room!
-Close your bedroom door, away from pets, children (after they go to sleep), unplug the phone, turn off the tv/radio/computer, and just focus on each other. Light candles, play soft music (preferably only instruments, but that's up to you), put rose petals all around the room and watch a video. Snuggle with your spouse!
-During the winter, (assuming you have snow), go have a snowball fight, or make snowmen!!
-Go to church together (if you are interested in that sort of thing), and really talk about what your beliefs are, what your hopes are and your dreams. Get into a very personal and intimate discussion.
-Read a book aloud, and then talk about what you both thought about it. It can be a marriage enhancing book, or it doesn't have to be.
-Stay up late together, or all night together talking. (You'll probably want to do this on a weekend!)
-Keep a journal together. Write down your deepest emotions for each other and your hopes and dreams.
-Exercise together. Staying in shape can also help you feel more confident about yourself, making you want to dress up more for your spouse.
-Give each other daily compliments. Don't let a day pass without letting your spouse know how much you love him/her, and how special he/she is to you.
-Always tell each other "I love you." Don't just say it in passing, where it may become said out of habit and lose its meaning. Look your spouse deep in their eyes, take their hands in yours, and tell him/her that you love him/her with all your heart.
-Write your spouse a poem, or maybe even a song, and then sing the song to your spouse.
-Make time for each other! It sounds simple, but in every day life, it can hard with busy schedules. Don't let work rule your life. Keep your spouse as a top priority.
-Just say "no" to always going out on group or double dates. You need to have time alone with just your spouse.
-However, do sometimes go on double dates with your spouse. You should be able to find a happy medium. For example, going on a double date every Friday night with another couple is fine. You could still go on a date with just your spouse every Saturday night. Going on group dates or double dates every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights and having no nights to just spend with just your spouse is too much.
-Go on marriage conferences, take marriage classes, (some churchs offer Sunday school classes on marriage, also some churchs offer marriage conferences, Bible studies for married couples, etc.)- anything you can find/do that will enhance your marriage and make you closer.
Now, go out and enjoy some creative romance with your spouse!
