Every dating relationship needs romance to stay alive. Most couples have little issue with finding romantic ideas to share with their partner early on, but after the new relationship energy has worn off it may take a bit of time and creativity to get the romance flowing again.
Without romance, couples can easily fall into a rut of day-to-day living. What was once hot and steamy can become boring, routine or even sibling-like. So how do you keep the romance alive, even when you’ve got a busy household with other responsibilities? You add one (or more) of these romance ideas every week to find the spark the two of you have been missing.
Offer up a massage
Whenever you have time, offer up a massage to your partner. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long affair with candles and massage oils; a ten minute hand reflexology treatment will provide the similar results in your love life. Buttocks, legs, feet, shoulders or a whole body treatment work too, just make sure to have some pleasant smelling lotion on hand to allow for smooth-flowing movement.
The only downfall to giving your partner a massage is if you automatically assume that a massage equals a request for sex. Your partner will pick up on these cues and may not get that warm, fuzzy feeling you were hoping for – instead thinking that in order to receive a massage, they need to allocate time for sex as in their love life well. Remove any other attachments to the massage, and just give your partner one because you know they’ll love it.
If anything else happens – great! But don’t expect or require more than a smile and thank you. Massage bars (as opposed to oil) are a lovely, inexpensive and unique way of giving a nice gift to your partner. Why not grab one or two to use over the coming months?
Talk your partner up in front of others
Be aware when your partner is within listening distance. Then, when its appropriate, tell whomever you are speaking with how appreciative you are of your loved one. This could be as simple as saying, “You know, I still get butterflies sometimes when I run into my partner unexpectedly,” to something as detailed as a play–by-play of the luxurious morning pampering you received unexpectedly a couple of days prior.
As long as you don’t share personal confidences and are communicating with positive intention, regularly share with others how much you appreciate your dating relationship and see how it impacts your interactions – for the better.
Take notes of what your loved one likes
When your loved one mentions a romantic idea or item in passing that they’d enjoy, write it down on a personalized yet private “romantic idea wish list”. There is no need to show your loved one that you have such a list, but make sure these romantic ideas are something you carry around with you at all times (say a piece of paper tucked into a corner of your wallet or a tiny notepad in your purse).
Then, when your loved one express interest in a particular item or romantic idea – say a CD, book, movie, trip, culinary experience, concert, sporting event or gizmo – jot it down. When an anniversary, birthday, celebration or “just because” day rolls around, you’ll have a large list of romantic ideas and gifts to pick from that will show how much you care and pay attention.
Handwrite a love letter
It is rare to receive any sort of handwritten letter these days, and that’s exactly why you should write and mail a love letter to your partner. A simple card with a thoughtful passage will suffice, although a one-page love letter detailing why you think your sweetie is special is a simple romantic idea that can do wonders for any relationship.
You can also leave love letters in specific places you know your date will find and appreciate – such as in their lunch bag, at the bottom of a pair of socks, or scrawled across a cookie with their favorite kind of icing.
Find romantic things to celebrate
Some people are fond of celebrating every occasion in their lives, whereas others couldn’t be bothered. No matter what kind of person you are currently dating, why not think outside the box and find new, romantic things to celebrate, together?
A full moon is a perfect example of a romantic thing to celebrate. Make a picnic for the two of you and camp out somewhere private to enjoy the moonlit ambiance. For video game lovers, throw a party for two when an anticipated game is released, complete with blankets to snuggle up with and lots of munchies for an all-night affair. Did one of you just finish a huge project at work? Why not get dolled up to the nines and go out for a night on the town?
Birthdays, holidays and your six month anniversary together are also causes for celebration, but make sure to create a unique celebratory experience that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Find ways to be romantic every single day
Being romantic comes down to being aware. Although this list of romantic ideas is a great point to start from, it is in no means exhaustive. Just as each of us are uniquely wired individuals, each person needs and craves romance in a different way.
Listen and be aware of what your partner is saying to you every single day. If they bemoan a social obligation, surprise them with a special piece of clothing perfect for the occasion. Are they partial to flowers? Then go outside and grab a couple of blooms from the garden to put alongside their morning meal.
Know they hate doing a particular chore or errand? Do it for them. Have they been running ragged of late with no time to themselves? Give them a day off and pamper them with things that refuel them personally: a beloved book, video game, spa treatment, trip to the beach, or home cooked meal.
Sometimes these types of romantic ideas go unnoticed – which can be a tad unnerving. If that’s the case, give your partner a kiss and let them know you took care of things for them, or have a special surprise to thank them. Then, leave it at that. It may take a little bit for the act to sink in, but it your forethought and kindness will be appreciated as long as you are romantic because you care – and not because you are expecting a specific reaction in return.
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