Valentine’s Day is a yearly reminder to celebrate your significant other by doing something romantic for them, whether it’s dinner and a movie or flowers delivered to their door. However, if Valentine’s is the only day you remember to spice up the romance factor in your relationship, it may be time for you to do some rethinking.
There’s no better time to rethink the level of romance in your relationship than in February. Not only because Valentine’s Day is around the corner, but because it’s also Creative Romance Month – a time for you to reflect on creative ways to celebrate you and your partner’s love for each other.
If you’re looking for some romantic ideas, check out these helpful tips to turn up the heat in your relationship everyday.
Unplug from your phone
Our phones can be the biggest distraction from romance. The temptation to scroll through our social media feeds or play mindless games leads us to disengage from the moment we find ourselves in with our partner and puts a serious damper on any potential for romance. If you find that you and your partner’s time together is spent quietly looking at each other’s phones without communicating or acknowledging each other in the real world, it’s time for an intervention.
Putting down your devices while you’re together inspires genuine connection and conversation. Without the distraction of a phone screen, you’ll be each other’s distractions instead, which is the perfect recipe for real romance. You don’t have to quit your screen time cold turkey, but making an effort to decrease your phone use when spending time with your significant other is a great way to show that you value the time you spend together and appreciate them.
Schedule time together
Another major obstacle for regular romance is a busy schedule. Remembering to make your partner a priority while you’re both juggling work projects, family obligations, and busy social calendars is difficult, but necessary.
The best way to make time for your relationship is to mutually schedule it the same way you schedule the rest of your obligations. While sharing a schedule together may not seem totally romantic – except for the organizationally-obsessed among us – it’s an essential way to remember to spend quality time with each other amid life’s daily chaos.
This is especially important the longer you’ve been together, as many couples let the romance fade when other obligations take priority. Keeping a schedule doesn’t mean that you can’t still be spontaneous. If you know there’s a time when you’ll both be free, there’s always the opportunity to surprise your partner with a weekend getaway to a local bed and breakfast.
Having a schedule ensures that you’re able to keep romance in mind and always be planning ahead for your next adventure together.
(Just be sure to remember to pack the necessary essentials amid your spontaneity – such as condoms, birth control, or generic ED medication.)
Celebrate small milestones
Celebrating small milestones in your relationship, such as monthly anniversaries, demonstrates that you care about each other and gives you an excuse to do do something fun together. Small celebrations help to keep the romance at the forefront of your relationship, as rather than waiting for a yearly anniversary or your partner’s birthday, there’s always something to look forward to together on at least a month-to-month basis. This way, you’re never taking your relationship for granted, and you’re always demonstrating to your partner how much they mean to you.
Demonstrate love through action
There’s no better way to say, “I love you,” than through your actions. Not all romance is necessarily about a diamond ring or a bouquet of flowers. Often, the best way to show you care is to think beyond yourself and anticipate your partner’s needs. Whether it’s cleaning up the house, picking up something from the grocery store without being asked, or giving them a genuine compliment unprovoked, demonstrating you care by what you do is a powerful way to demonstrate your love and appreciation for them.