BY BEATRICE PORBENI
We can all recall the early parts of dating. That precious “honeymoon” phase, just before you hit all the obstacles and hardships of maintaining a healthy relationship. If you’re in it for the long haul, you’ll see that your relationship will slow down on the romance after a while. It’s quite normal for many couples to lose the flame and excitement associated with being in love but the most important thing is getting back on it every few months to keep your relationship afloat. So, we have put together different ways you can spice up your long-term relationships.
Take a trip together
When most people think about travelling with their partners they have to consider a number of things, from expenses to time and the ultimate question, who’s going to keep the kids? Unless you plan on taking a week or a month off work, these shouldn’t be as difficult as it sounds. Firstly, a trip could be a long weekend (Thursday to Sunday) or shorter to a nearby town or even a nice hotel just to get some quality bonding time away from your daily routine. You can use this time to make a bucket list of things you would like to accomplish together, play some drinking games and generally just be silly for a few days. It’s important to create happy memories together.
Shake up your routine
Day-to-day routines can be such a vibe kill, so you need to figure out ways to step out of your regular routines occasionally. Perhaps you can start your day with some unexpected action or find a way to get it in at odd hours, just to avoid scheduling your sex life. It’s much more exciting when you schedule activities, for example during a random movie night with your spouse, throw in some exciting foreplay mid-way and get into it just before the movie ends. If you’re feeling more experimental, you can take it outdoors and you can start by flirting or playing footsie under the table during dinner. Remember, spontaneity is key! Look for different ways to initiate sex.
Express your feelings in different ways
In most long-term relationships, telling your partner how you feel romantically can become quite old, and sometimes can become a drag. However, people have different ways of expressing themselves. It could be a short text or sext (texting about sex) and if you’re bad with words then you can buy a thank you card or a random gift to show appreciation. You really don’t have to wait for a special occasion to do something out of the ordinary. Over time, “surprise” practices become reciprocal and both parties are constantly reminded that the love isn’t lost. There’s also an element of excitement, which keeps the relationship buzzing.
Try out new things together
Once you have created a bucket list with your partner, you’ll find out some new things you both haven’t done and which would be awesome to do together. Trying out new things also includes experimenting in the bedroom such as using blindfolds, wearing sexier lingerie or even role-play. The idea is always to step out of the box into unchartered territories, which should be fun because you’ll both be anxious together!