In the day-to-day, happiness doesn’t always look like radiating joy all the time. It doesn’t look like giddily texting each other all day or greeting each other with passionate kisses every time you reconnect. Even though that may still happen occasionally, long-term couples tend to measure happiness and healthiness a little bit differently. While each couple is different, what all happy couples have in common are little things that significantly impact their relationship.
Relationships ebb and flow, and there are times where things will be better than others. Likewise, there will be hard times and bumps in the road, but there are things that partners can be sure to do that can add to the overall long-term happiness of their relationship.
Here are some things that every happy couple does:
- Fight less, kiss more because partners do fight, even if it’s about silly things. Every time one of you starts arguing, take a moment to kiss each other instead! Fights are overrated, find common ground and skip to the reconciliation part!
- Eat a meal together every day
Whether it’s breakfast in bed, a quick sandwich lunch between a workday, or an order-pizza-in dinner, make time to share a meal. By detaching from all the crap that goes on in the world all day long and enjoying food with the one you love most – you create special memories that strengthen your bond.
- Text less, speak more
We keep in touch all day long by text. However, no emoji is ever as expressive as the smile in someone’s voice. So, instead of texting endlessly, take a break from your tasks, dial, and talk to your lover for ten minutes.
- Go on trips, both big and small!
People plan long vacations – destinations that have been on our bucket list forever. Then, before we know it, we end up delaying trips because of something or the other. Less planning and more action is what we really need. Simply take a day trip on Saturdays, or hop on to a train and see where you end up.
- Go out less, hang out more
It’s great to go out with, especially when we’re with friends. But then people sometimes forget to spend any “couple time” together – just the two of you. So stay in somedays, doing nothing in particular except enjoy each other’s company and maybe learn a bit more about your partner.
- Find that “you and me” hobby
He likes playing soccer. You like dancing. Both can accompany each other to these things. But everyone needs something special you both love – and love more because you do it with each other. Maybe painting, maybe karate… but it’s high time you discover it – together!
- Buy less stuff, make more memories
Couples buy each other presents all the time. Sometimes they’re for birthdays and other milestone occasions. Other times, gifts can be random things for those “just because” moments. But what we ignore sometimes is that a gift is about more than an object – it’s about the act of giving and the love behind it. What we need to be gifting each other are experiences – shared smiles, shared happiness.
Just because you and your partner have been together for a while doesn’t mean the passion has to wane. By taking time out of your day and week to be mindful of your special bond, you can continue to build a love that will last. When you focus on creating those “little” moments of joy and connection, you both can learn something new about each other. Plus, you can create new avenues to strengthen your communication skills and cultivate special memories that will get you both through even the rockiest of times – together.