How to Reignite and Maintain the Spark in Your Relationship

Carousel Ranch, Where Therapy is Disguised as Fun

Falling in love may be something that just happens, but many couples find that, after a while, love, passion, all those little sparks, become a matter of choice. And some days that choice — the choice to continue being devoted to your spouse — doesn’t always come naturally or easily.

There’s nothing wrong with this, all relationships — friends, family, lovers — require a certain level of effort. When you’ve been with someone for a long time, it’s easy to get swept up in the day-to-dayness of your lives — work, carpools, cooking, cleaning, paying the bills — until suddenly you realize… the spark has fizzled.

Without getting too science-y, a spark is simply energy that passes between two conductors, energy that triggers ignition and combustion. It’s just a little bit of applied chemistry. What does all this mean when it comes to the spark in your relationship? We think applying a little extra energy can go a long way to recreating the chemistry you once shared with your partner.

So, if the spark in your relationship needs a little attention, read on to see our tips for reignition…

Keep Your Partner “In the Loop”

Stay Present

While this phrase might be more readily applied to the workplace — making sure business partners don’t miss out on important information on that big deal — it’s just as crucial to keep your life partner “in the loop.” Experts say that your ability to verbally communicate with your spouse or partner will significantly enhance your relationship. And because it can be easy to lose touch with each other when you’re busy, being together or talking intimately “when you get time” isn’t enough. Try applying some of the go-to rules for being present in the workplace to being present at home.

Put away your phone

Ironically, shelving your phone for an hour or two will increase your ability to communicate. How many side-eyes would you get from your boss or co-workers if you were scrolling through your phone during a meeting or business dinner? Plenty! Apply that same rule to dinner with your partner.

Daily Rundown/Nightly Recap

How many meetings/zooms/recaps/rundowns do you do during your workday? A lot! While no one wants to “schedule” their homelife, studies have found that when couples can share their thoughts at the end of the day, it increases their feelings of intimacy and gratitude for the relationship. So, while it may feel sterile to schedule meetings with your partner, the results are anything but.

Retreats

We know, we know, the word brings to mind annoying team building exercises like laser tag and endless rounds of two truths and a lie (ugh.) But the actual definition of retreat is “the act of withdrawing into safety and privacy.” Whether a formal getaway, or meeting at midnight for ice cream in front of the fridge, make time to retreat with your partner and create your very own cone of safety and privacy.

Go on Dates

Stay Friends

While the term “Date Night” has become overused — dare we even say schmaltzy — there are some super-solid reasons, backed up by some super-solid psychology for dating your long-term partner or spouse. One of the most substantial rationales for making time to “date” your significant other is that planned time together enhances not just your intimacy, but your friendship, and friendship is a critical part of any intimate relationship. So try dusting off your dating skills with some of these ideas…

‘Tis the season for romance

Let the weather inspire your perfect date. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, there’s always a little romance in the air.

Revisit your first or your favorite date

Cast your mind back to the beginning of your relationship — all the butterflies and excitement — and do it all again!

Commit to visiting/eating/seeing something brand new every month.

Start with the sights/pastimes one or both of you have always wanted to see or try, then use this exercise to spend time together planning, or plot to surprise one another!

Understand Each Other’s Love Language

It Takes All Kinds

You might be waiting for words of affirmation while your partner is busy making you breakfast — the best way they know to show you love. Understanding each other’s love language can help you avoid conflict and show your partner affection in ways they understand it.

Learn your own love language.

To be able to communicate to your partner what makes you feel loved you must first learn to recognize your own love language. What makes you feel loved and supported? Once you are able to speak your truth, your partner will more easily be able to speak theirs.

Make it fun!

When it comes to learning the language of love, books and quizzes and card games abound! Commit to enjoying the experience of learning your partner’s love language.

Practice makes perfect.

Okay, maybe not perfect, but actually taking time to practice your and your partner’s love language helps to let one another know you’re committed to getting to know each other even more deeply.

Add Some Spice in the Bedroom

Listen To Mae

Movie star and sex symbol Mae West once said, “Sex is an emotion in motion.” Nearly a hundred years later, science has proven her right! A series of studies found that individuals with an active, satisfying sex life experience higher levels of well-being, and moreover that “sex predicts affection and affection, in turn, predicts sexual activity.”

Let’s look at some of Mae’s immortal advice on ways to spice things up in a relationship…

The end of another busy day. I can’t wait till I get back to bed. If that don’t work, I’ll try to sleep.”

— Mae West in Myra Breckinridge

Mae might not have been thinking about mattresses when she uttered that line but, believe it or not, experts say that your choice of mattress can improve your sex life. The folks at Shape Magazine have put together a comprehensive list of the best mattresses for sex based on bounce, firmness, silence and… yes, “vigorous activity.” It’s an article after Mae’s own heart!

“Marriage is like a book. The whole story takes place between the covers.”

— Mae West in Sextette

Okay, Mae, sex isn’t the whole story in marriage, though it comprises some its prime chapters. An article from The Cut assures us that boredom in the bedroom is not only common, but can actually be a good thing, as it forces us to pay attention to the relationship. They say that a bit of storytelling — creating your own erotica with your partner, brainstorming a sexual bucket list, or writing a provocative text to your significant other — are just a few ways to fight ennui in the bedroom.

“Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.”

― Mae West

We’re with you, Mae! But if you need more proof that sometimes slower is better, our friends at Oprah Magazine agree. They write that “slowing down” during sex “helps partners concentrate on touch and movement, which means you’ll experience a more intense connection.” A great piece of advice and only 1 of 20 tips the article gives to help break up monotony in the boudoir.

While it may take a bit of work in the beginning, learning to reignite and maintain the spark in your relationship is one of the most vital things partners can do to honor their commitment to one another.

By Kyla Stewart

Kyla is a former content writer, who decided to start her own blogging site and become a digital nomad. She managed to create a platform where all her previous clients are gathered – so they can merge and learn from each other! Her main motto is “sharing is caring” and her goal is to see the world from different perspectives!