We’re all at home these days. Even as parts of the country begin to open up, things just feel different. Quarantine affects everyone, but its impact has been particularly unique for couples who live together. It means alone time, all the time, so it may take a different type of focus to boost the romantic connection. Gaps or flaws in the relationship can feel more accentuated without the distractions of normal everyday life. “Just the two of us” has taken on a whole new meaning.
When you’re together all day, everyday, it can be easy to allow the relationship get stale. The good news is that there are many things we can do to prevent that from happening. One of the best ways to build a happy relationship is to never stop trying. Putting in effort is the key to growth, and if you both do it consistently, your physical and emotional connection won’t feel so depleted.
Here are 8 things you can do while you’re both at home to boost your romantic connection:
Get moving
We love to do at-home workouts together because of the way in which they impact our physical and emotional connection. Even just 15 minutes of movement can completely transform your mood. If you can both gain access to that endorphin boost simultaneously, your feelings towards each other will change for the better. Being active can mean so many different things depending on your interests. Maybe HIIT or body weight exercises aren’t your thing. If you enjoy the outdoors, go on a long walk, run, bike ride, or hike. If you are into yoga or pilates, try signing up for a virtual class on Zoom, or look for a free video on YouTube. Anything works as long as you’re engaging in some form of activity together.
If you’re having a hard time figuring out which at-home exercises to do, check out a few of our favorite ones here: https://www.kimandroy.com/at-home-workouts/
Skip out on TV during dinner
TV has an appropriate time and place, and we’d never suggest cutting it out completely, but what would happen if you went a few nights without it during dinner? Even if you typically leave it on just for background noise, there’s something special about sitting in silence together. It leaves more space for you to be honest with each other about both the good and the bad. You can bring your food out to a balcony, backyard, or quiet park near your house for an even more serene environment. There will come a time where you will both be distracted at dinner again by busy restaurants, friends and family, and other responsibilities, so take advantage of the opportunity you have now to eat or cook in peace with your partner.
Step away from the iPhone
How many times have you asked your partner to get off his or her phone? Probably a decent amount, and you’re likely both equally guilty. Phones and social media have become just about as necessary as drinking water or breathing air. And now that many people are working from home full time, it’s easy to let the constant flow of emails bleed into time you should be spending winding down with your partner. Try turning your phones off or switching them to airplane mode for a few nights per week. Again, no need to go cold turkey, but just experiment and see what you think. We’ve found that the time we gain back together helps to stimulate meaningful conversation, fuel new ideas, and keep us doing the things that make our relationship healthy and happy.
Do something new together
More time at home means less time commuting, running errands, and doing things that take you away from one another. One way to boost your romantic connection is to do something together that neither of you have done before, like learning a new language, taking an online course, or cooking an untested recipe. Not only is it fun to learn new things, but it’s also a great way to work as a team to accomplish a goal. And who knows, maybe the activity you decide to try will become your new “thing.” Every relationship can benefit from fresh ideas and perspectives.
Talk about your goals
Goals fuel growth and as we know, growth boosts romantic connections. You likely have things you want to accomplish in the short and long-term both individually and as a couple. It’s healthy to discuss shared and personal goals, but life gets busy and couples can forget to talk about the things they want to achieve and how they can help each other get there. More alone time together gives you an opportunity to have these conversations more frequently. It’s attractive to listen to your partner explain where he or she wants to be in life, and pursuing shared goals will allow you to remain connected. Quarantine is a perfect time to create a refreshed list of individual and shared goals, talk about them, and figure out the best ways to support each other.
Plan a staycation
People go on getaways so that they can press pause and take some time away from their everyday routines. Although vacations are likely off the table for now, staycations are not. There are plenty of things you can do in the comfort of your own home to break away from the mundane. When your connection feels stale and it feels like you’re doing the same thing day in and day out, sometimes all the relationship needs is some spontaneity. Turn your bathroom or bedroom into a spa, cook a fancy dinner, or camp out in your backyard. Play around with it and don’t take yourselves so seriously.
Walk down memory lane
When you feel like you need to boost your romantic connection, try taking a trip down memory lane. Reminiscing about the start of your relationship will likely bring back some really great, and probably pretty funny (and slightly embarrassing) memories. You can even do things to remind yourselves of the first few weeks or months of your relationship, like cook the food you ate on one of your early dates, rewatch the first movie that you saw in theaters together, or walk or drive to a place that brings you both back in time. It’s not beneficial to live in the past all the time, but sometimes it helps to go back to the beginning to remember why you got together in the first place.
Write down what you love about each other
You know you love each other, but too much of the same can make you forget why. Fixating on flaws without recognizing what makes your relationship worthwhile will burn you both out. One simple way to boost your romantic connection is to write down a list of the things you love about your partner. Not only will it make your person feel good and more confident, it will also help you remember why you fell in love with them in the first place — both sides win. And you can keep your lists, date them, and refer back to them in the future.
Every relationship will have peaks and valleys, but you can either use this time at home to strengthen your connection, or let it fall flat. What else are you all doing to boost your romantic connection? Reach out to us and let us know at kimandroy.contact@gmail.com.
Originally published at https://www.kimandroy.com on July 4, 2020.
