Some couples have a hard time thinking of how they can connect together in a meaningful way. Watching TV or a movie together generally doesn’t count, as you aren’t interacting together (the exception to this rule is explained at the end of the post).
- Have a consistent date night, at least once a month – but twice a month is better.
- Plan a vacation together – sometimes the planning and anticipation can be more fun than the vacation! If you can’t afford a fancy vacation, plan a nice day out, driving to cool spots together in the car. Think about where you’d go, what route you’d take, what music you’d listen to, what you’d eat, etc. A big trip can be fun to plan as well, even if it is a few years out. Watch YouTube vides together exploring cool places in the world, trying to decide how your dream trip would work.
- Come up with an adventure together
- Decide how to greet and leave one another; ex: what happens when someone gets home from work
- Express small acts of affection toward each other
- Set health and fitness goals together, and find ways to support one another
- Take at least ten minutes a day to have uninterrupted conversation focused on each individual person
- Hold a weekly relationship check-in meeting. This is where you will first review the positive things that occurred specifically in the relationship that week and discuss any missteps that happened as well. Also, address the upcoming week and how you can support one another through it.
The Movie Exception: if you ad your spouse are big movie buffs and have been excited and waiting for a specific movie to come out for a long time, then going to the movies together is ok – but ONLY if you talk a lot about the movie after it is over.
