3 Ways to Reconnect With Your Partner
With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, people everywhere are reflecting upon one particular emotion- love. Whether you are in a serious relationship or are enjoying your solo time (or anywhere in between), recognizing the love that you have in your life is an important and healthy thing to do (and we really should be doing it year-round). If you do find yourself in a committed relationship, you may be struggling with a common issue that couples have- how to remain connected despite other factors. After all, our daily lives pull us in a milion different directions and, oftentimes, we're lucky to even have an hour to eat dinner with your partner before falling into an exhausted lump in bed. Therefore, we've compiled a list of some good ways to reconnect with your significant other:
#1: Put your phones down.
My husband and I are definitely guilty of breaking this rule. Oftentimes, we are both checking email, social media, or playing a game while in each other's company. Experts agree that this type of isolating behavior can ultimately be detrimental to relationships. Wendy Walsh, clinical psychologist and founder of AskALoveGuru.com, says, "If you haven’t put your family and your relationship on a technology diet yet, this is the year to do it. Nothing is killing communication faster right now than guys starting at their iPhones while girls are trying to talk to them at the dinner table, or vice versa." Make a rule to leave the phones/laptops/tablets off and away while you are with one another, and engage in conversation, instead.
#2: Take a trip together.
Oftentimes, a change of scenery is exactly what you need in order to rekindle some romance in a relationship. Consider going somewhere meaningful to you as a couple; head back to the place where you got engaged, or where you first took a vacation together, or where you both realized that you loved tasting wine. Escaping to a place that is close to your heart will help to revive those feelings of spontaneity and romance.
#3: Be grateful for one another.
Oftentimes in the midst of our hurried lives, we forget to express gratitude to those around us, especially our partners. Try to get into the habit of noticing and acknowledging when your significant other does something nice for you, even if it's as simple as unloading the dishwasher. Getting into the habit of saying "thank you" can generate feelings of closeness and it allows one another to feel appreciated.