Monogamy doesn’t have to mean monotony
Monogamy can be a beautiful gift that encourages the happiness of both partners throughout life. It’s a give-and-take relationship that ebbs and flows as you get to know each other. Everything is new and exciting in the early years, but as time elapses, life might seem less exhilarating and more mundane. You begin to feel as if nothing is left to discover about your partner, which can be disheartening.
Most long-term couples go through this phase at some point in their relationships. The good news is that it’s not fatal. Relationships survive this phase every day, and yours can, too. Here are 12 tips to help you reconnect with your partner and feel closer than ever.
1. Take risks with each other
You become very comfortable with your routine when you are in a relationship with someone for a long time. Instead of playing it safe all the time with your comfortable, daily routines, do something out of the ordinary. Take a swing dancing class. Hop on the first morning flight out of the airport. Be vulnerable. Shake things up every once in a while. Couples who never stray from their comfort zones can easily drift further and further away from each other.
2. Touch base throughout the day
Knowing that someone is thinking about you is a very heartwarming feeling. When you let your partner know they are on your mind, they feel desirable and loved. It can change a bad mood into a good one in a few seconds, and suddenly, you’re both looking forward to seeing each other again at the end of the day.
3. Learn to compromise
All couples disagree at times. The key to a healthy relationship is to learn to compromise. It isn’t about winning every argument but meeting each other halfway. Putting the relationship ahead of personal feelings is occasionally necessary for a relationship. It helps you both feel appreciated and valued.
4. Be affectionate
Physical touch and affection are important parts of a relationship. Humans bond through touch, which is why newborn babies thrive on skin-to-skin contact. Loving touches release the happiness hormone oxytocin into the bloodstream. You not only feel good when someone you love touches you, but it also lessens anxiety and strengthens emotional and social bonds.
5. Stay friends
Romantic relationships aren’t solely about intimacy. Most successful romances start with a strong friendship. Friends are supportive of each other’s dreams and enjoy spending time together. Maintaining your friendship helps you stay interested in each other.
6. Live in the moment
Take a lackluster moment on an ordinary day and turn it into a memorable romantic instance anytime you want. Stop and dance or sing along together the next time a great song is on the radio. Work in a quick coffee date while running errands or take a walk after dinner. Having fun together, no matter where you are, keeps the romance alive when you’re both busy people.
7. Take five together
Resting, taking care of yourself, and decompressing from the work week are all required to stay healthy and happy. When you do those things with your significant other, it helps to strengthen the relationship, too.
8. Synchronize your priorities
They say opposites attract, and while that can certainly be true, you should be on the same page when it comes to major priorities. Long-term financial goals, retirement plans, and the necessity of monogamy are all topics a couple should be able to agree on to stay together for the long haul.
9. Don’t be afraid of space
Long-term monogamy doesn’t mean you’re together every possible moment. Everyone needs and deserves a little time alone. It doesn’t matter if it’s a couple of days or a few hours. Having a space where you can go and be creative or introspective or just clear your head and listen to the wind blow past the open window is crucial.
10. Be aware that your grass is as green as anyone else’s
When you’ve been married for a long time, it’s easy to fall into a rut and wonder if things would be better elsewhere. The answer is usually no. The love that comes with a long relationship is irreplaceable. It’s far easier to fix whatever is ailing the relationship than to throw it away for an unpredictable future.
11. Don’t be afraid of counseling
Some people still subscribe to the outdated assumption that if you seek therapy, something must be wrong. The truth is that it’s the exact opposite. Marriage and couples counseling helps keep the connection strong and encourages growth and change that supports long-lasting goals.
12. Decide on your dealbreakers
It’s much harder to make a mistake that can alter your union when you know the dealbreakers upfront. There’s no guesswork. Each partner must be aware of what each considers dealbreakers in a relationship and have the respect to avoid them.
The most important thing you can do is to remember that disconnections and reconnections are inevitable. People grow, learn, and change over the years, and those who love them grow along with them. No relationship is perfect. Understanding that is a big step to ensuring your union survives the test of time.
Are you ready to strengthen your most important connection?
It takes a lot of work to keep your relationship strong for many years. But you don’t have to do it alone. The Love Discovery Institute is an elite emotional and cognitive wellness center that offers therapy for adults, children, and teens from licensed therapists.
Our therapists understand relationships exceptionally well and help people learn to have significant and authentic relationships. So, if you are having challenges keeping the spark alive in your long-term relationship, we can help.
The team at Love Discovery is ready to welcome you with open arms. If you’re ready to start therapy to help improve your relationship with your significant other, make an appointment with any of our therapists today. Feeling hesitant about how we can help? Call 305.605.LOVE (5683).