In any long-term relationship, you’re bound to have your ups and downs. They all go through periods of ebb and flow, closeness and distance, intimacy and separation. It’s natural! There are many different things that can cause a rough patch in your relationship: stress, jobs, kids, broken trust, or the connection has simply faded over the years.
Sometimes, couples are able to restore intimacy and closeness naturally, but other times, it takes a little extra effort to get out of a rut—and that’s okay! If you’re looking to restore that honeymoon phase spark, we have 5 steps to try:
1. Try Something New Together
Have you and your partner fallen into the same old pattern and routine? It happens! Being comfortable around each other is actually one of the benefits of long-term relationships. Unfortunately, that comfort can sometimes cause you to overlook each other and give up on the possibility of excitement.
The best way to fix this? Try something new together! Find a new hobby, start a new TV show, join a local sports league, or explore a nearby city nether of you have visited before. Sometimes, all it takes to get your spark back is shaking up your normal routine with some fun quality time together.
2. More Physical Touch
We’re not just talking about sex, here. (Although that’s important to!) After a while, when couples reach that comfortable phase, the physical touch starts to dwindle. Maintaining a loving and physical connection can help keep the romance alive while making each other feel safe, close, and appreciated.
Try working on adding a little more physical touch every day. Hugging, a peck on the cheek before leaving the house, rubbing each other’s shoulders, sitting close to each other on the couch—anything that helps you both feel loved and cared for.
3. More Intimacy
Hopefully all of that extra physical touch is leading to more intimacy, because that’s important too! If you’re feeling distant from your partner, sex is usually the first thing you put on the back burner. If you’re stressed or strapped for time, scheduling sex might help, and it’s completely find to do so! Sure, it doesn’t exactly sound…sexy. But, it’s something you can both look forward to all week.
If scheduling intimacy isn’t your thing, how about surprising your partner with something new and exciting in the bedroom? Try some games, bring in toys, or play out your partner’s biggest fantasy. Keeping things fresh in the bedroom is a great way to rekindle the spark you once had.
4. More Praise and Positive Affirmations
Support and appreciation between partners plays a huge role in your overall happiness. Depending on your personality and love language, verbal praise and affirmations might not come naturally, but it’s important to incorporate it as much as you can. Tell your partner you love them and are proud of them, and show appreciation for the things they do, no matter how small!
Adding praise and appreciation on a daily basis creates an environment of love and support. It’s also necessary for building and maintaining trust, which is essential for any healthy relationship.
5. Try Relationship Coaching
Sometimes, it can be tricky to pinpoint the cause of a rough patch, and even if you do, it’s hard to rekindle the spark on your own. This is where it might be time to enlist a professional relationship coach or therapist to help!
If online or in-person therapy isn’t for you, Relish is a relationship coaching app that you and your partner can navigate on your own terms. With personalized, text-based coaching, interactive lessons, quizzes, insights, and more, you can get your relationship back on track at your own pace.
It’s important to remember that a slump in your relationship is just that—a slump. Whether you make a plan to work through it together or enlist a relationship coaching app like Relish, you and your partner are taking the necessary first step in rekindling your spark. It’s all about the effort you put in, and if you’re determined to restore your connection, you’ll be back to your intimate, romantic selves in no time!