1. 1. Commit to
date night: It doesn’t have to be expensive. Some special, one on one time,
with your partner will give you the quiet time you need to reconnect.
2. 2. Shake
things up: The best way to get out of a rut is to try something
different. If you always eat with the
kids, plan a private, candlelit dessert after they’re in bed. If you stay in on
weekend, plan a picnic lunch in a local park.
3. Dress to
impress: After years of togetherness, it’s easy to take for granted what
attracted us to one another in the first place. Wearing a special outfit that
makes you feel confident and at your best.
4.
Romantic gestures-
Small things make a huge difference. Wash your partner’s car. Bake his or her
favorite desert. Send a romantic text, hide a love note in your partner’s coat
pocket or leave a tender voice mail message. Doing something nice for your
partner will show your love.
5.
Laugh with
each other- It’s the best medicine for bolstering a relationship. Share
jokes you heard at work, view funny YouTube videos together, watch a comedy show
or movie. The point is to spend time together that is positive and stress-free as
often as possible.
6.
Take up a
new hobby together- It’s never too late to discover new common interests.
They’ll bring you closer as you both learn together, helping each other along
the way. Take up a new sport, cooking classes, dance lessons, painting, reading
the same books and discussing them when finished… there are lots of areas and negotiating
which one to choose will be fun.
7. Talk to
each other- This seems like something you already do, but it’s surprising what a difference a five
to ten minute, dedicated, uninterrupted conversation will have on your relationship.
Make tender, physical contact, such as holding hands, as well as maintaining
eye contact during your conversation. Focusing on each other, instead of the
kids, will reinforce your partnership.
8.
Get away from
it all- It can be as short as an overnight stay or as long as a vacation,
but any time that you spend together, alone and away from home, will make your
relationship feel as new and exciting as your environment.
9.
Break bad
habits- If there is something you do that bothers your partner, there may
be a good reason. Quit smoking. Reduce stress. Follow healthier eating and
fitness habits. If your partner has pointed these things out to you, then
making this change will show that their opinion matters. Better yet, these
positive changes will make you feel better about yourself and your
relationship.
10.
Commit to
making this year the best in your relationship- Whether you’ve been
together twelve months or twenty years, this is always a worthy goal! Treat
your loved one with the kindness and respect they surely deserve, and your
thoughtful actions will be returned to you tenfold.
I hope these romantic resolutions help you to have a loving
2014! What romantic resolutions have you tried in the past? Share your
experiences in the comment section below, and be entered to win a copy of my
Harlequin Heartwarming novel, WISH ME TOMORROW. I’ll announce the winner on my
facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites
as well as on this blog post tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Happy
New Year everyone J
These are great tips, Karen! Especially with Valentine's Day just around the bend. When a couple has kids, they definitely need to carve out extra time to themselves. It's not easy with hectic schedules, but like you said, even a few focused minutes makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rula :) Greg and I started doing the focused conversations last year and what a difference it has made. We're so often focused on everything else but each other and this time reminds us how much we care about one another!
DeleteI agree. I do hope, however, that wash your partner's car, in number four, means take it someplace rather than bucket and suds. My husband's truck is so tall I'd need a ladder to half of it. The visual of me trying sure made me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteHehe! Pam, that can definitely mean sneaking off with the truck and driving it through a car wash! The gesture would mean so much to your partner :) I am chuckling at the visual too since I'd be covered more in the suds than the car!
DeleteGreat tips Karen! My husband and I are newlyweds still, so we still do a lot of these things, but I know from past relationships that over time, we need to remember to keep doing it. On our wedding day last Valentine's Day, we wrote little letters to each other and put them in a beautiful little sealed bottle which we have displayed in the alcove in our home. We plan to open them on our tenth anniversary as a reminder to ourselves how we felt on that special day:)
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhhh! The sealed jar is such a beautiful reminder of your love on a daily basis and something to look forward to in 10 years. You are so romantic and congratulations on your marriage! I hope other people read your post because it is such a great suggestion. I'm going to do it with Greg! Thanks for posting it :)
DeleteThis is all great advice! When my husband and I were engaged, we had some dear friends who had been married for many years. They gave us a very similar list when we got married, reminding us that (especially when children came along), the focus in our marriage should always be each other, if we wanted to remain in a loving and committed relationship. That advice has served us well over the years, and this year we'll celebrate our 18th anniversary! <3
ReplyDeleteHi Veronica :) You and your husband are putting in the work to keep your love strong! I think that's the key to a long, successful marriage like yours- to never take your relationship for granted and to strive to increase your intimacy every year! Congratulations on 18 years. Greg and I celebrated 20 this year and we're going to get away for our first solo vacation since our honeymoon when Danielle goes to college in the fall :)
DeleteNow that our kids are older we have started trying to take more time for us...date night, weekend trips, etc. It feels so great to reconnect even if it's only for a couple of hours while the kids are at gymnastics.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! While the kids are engaged in an extracurricular activity, that is the perfect time to spend some one on one time. It does feel great to reconnect with that special time and your commitment to that will make your relationship strong throughout the years :) Wishing you a loving year!
DeleteMy husband and I have been together for 27 years. Wow, seeing than in print just blows me away. It seems like yesterday we started on this journey together. It is very easy to get into the routine of letting your relationship slide, but you must always be vigilante in keeping it on tract. My big advice for anyone is don't take another person for granted, always appreciate them in every way.
ReplyDeleteKatrina, that is beautiful! You are absolutely right not to take each other for granted. Congratulations on being married 27 years (Greg and I are 20 yrs this yr!) and it is easy to let things slide a little when you've been together for so long. But like you said, we need to be vigilante and find ways to show our appreciations for this beautiful gift of love we've been given :) Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!
DeleteWe also had some long-married friends who gave us a good piece of advice before we got married---never go to bed on an argument. And you will have them--it was a rule in our house that served us well. You have a great list, Karen. Marriage takes work and commitment and I see too many people willing to give up for what doesn't seem like major reasons.
ReplyDeleteRoz, you are absolutely right! Greg works nights, so sometimes it's hard to get that argument resolved before he leaves for his 11 o'clock shift, but we try and mostly succeed. Marriage is work, but like all great rewards, it comes as a result of great efforts. There are lots of times that people give up when times look too tough to get through together, but I've been there and sometimes it's those lows that helps us, by getting through them together, feel closer than ever. My sister-in-law says always says her husband will only leave her once he's dead and Tom laughs, looking like he completely agrees. It's macabre to say, but I get what she says. When you marry, you commit to making that a lifetime's work and there is no task more worthwhile :)
ReplyDeletePersonally not married yet but I have learned from watching other couples and no not in the creepy way, that doing just one thing each day to remind each other of the connection between you even if it is just a simple note or text saying you look awesome today! The smallest gesture always counts more than big ones!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Desere! It really is those small, meaningful gestures and moments that make such a difference! I'd rather have a love note every day than diamonds because jewels don't talk and say what's in your partner's heart! Thank you so much for stopping by!
DeleteDesere! You won my giveaway :) please send your mailing info to me at karenrock@live.com thanks!
DeleteI've been married for eleven years, and we still use words like please, thank you, and excuse me. So many people forget to be polite and nice to each other, but it makes a world of difference!
ReplyDeleteKimmy that is such a great reminder !! We tell our children to do that- esp with strangers, but it 's most important to speak politely, kindly, and respectfully to each other! Thank you so much for stopping by the blog. :)
DeleteWonderful advice, Karen. After 45 years of marriage, many of those options are no longer available to us, but we've always been very demonstrative and continue to be. We end every day side by side on the sofa, watching our favorite television shows, sharing a blanket, cats piled on top, the dog at our feet. I wouldn't trade those moments for gold. Another thing you must never be afraid to say to each other is, "I'm sorry." It pulls down that little junk that sometimes gets between you and makes room for the restoring hug. ( I love the image of Pam on a ladder washing her husband's truck. There's another scene for a book.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday, Muriel and the best present is the love you've shared with your husband for 45+ years! Your advice to say "I'm sorry" is so important. An argument
Deletemay end, but ill feeling don't go away until we show our partner that we regret what has happened. This is such an important reminder! Thank you for sharing it :)
I too had to laugh at Pam washing her husband's truck. Some excellent advice, Karen, for keeping romance in your life.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Marion :) I hope Pam sends us a picture of her doing that... No pressure Pam!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. My husband and I have always worked hard to make time for one another. We try to take one vacation a year without the kids. We go out on date nights, which is much easier now that the kids don't need a babysitter!
ReplyDeleteYour yearly getaway is such a treasure, Amy! It must give you both so much joy to plan it and think about it during the daily routines of life! Greg and I are planning a getaway this year and I can't wait!!
DeleteSuch great suggestions, Karen! I'd like to try every one. Rick and I try to keep our marriage alive by having lunch out together whenever we can. (It started when we realized it can be less expensive than eating out at night.) That's when we really talk and focus on each other--getting away from household and job concerns.
ReplyDeleteAnd something Rick does for me sometimes that I still appreciate, is letting out of the car in front of a store or restaurant so I don't have to walk in the cold, rain, or heat. (I wish he were that sweet about other things!)
Awwwwwww! Rick is such a gentleman and a romantic :) letting you out so that you don't get cold or rained on is a great way that we can reinforce our love in small ways that mean so much. I also appreciate your tip about the lunches. It would save money which means more time getting out together :) thanks so much for stopping by the blog , Dale.
DeleteGreat tips!! Now that our only daughter has left the nest I make sure I set the table every evening so that we can sit and talk and eat together instead of watching t.v. all night until bedtime. We go out to dinner every Friday night. We hold hands as often as possible. And one of my favorites....when I'm on the exercise bike upstairs in the morning when my husband is leaving for work, he writes me a sweet note wishing me a beautiful day and calling me his "Sweet Tea". I have kept all of them. We celebrate 20 years of marriage in Sept. 2014. What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, your post made me smile and smile! You and your husband have such a loving relationship and all of those beautiful gestures make your love grow. I LOVE that he leaves you love notes in the morning. What a wonderful way to start the day! Wishing you a romantic New Year. Thanks so much for stopping by Heartwarming :)
DeleteGreat tips, all time-tested advice. We've been married 31 years, and later this month my husband retires. I'm thinking of it as a second honeymoon. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth! And congratulations on 31 years of marriage :) I love that you and your husband are thinking of his retirement as a second honeymoon. Very romantic :) thank you so much for stopping by Heartwarming!
DeleteThanks so much for sharing these awesome suggestions, Karen. I totally needed to hear them today. My husband and I have done weight loss challenges together as New Year's resolutions, and those havw always been fun.
ReplyDeleteHah! I need help getting my husband motivated to join me in eating better! I'm trying to diet but he keeps making steak and all kinds of tempting stuff! You and your husband are doing it right, Carli! Thanks so much for stopping by Heartwarming!
DeleteMy heartfelt thanks to everyone that participated in the blog giveaway! I loved hearing how you kept your romance alive! Desere, you are the winner of the giveaway! Congratulations :) please email your mailing info to me at karenrock@live.com and I will mail your book out ASAP!
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