Can you remember how you felt at the start of your relationship? We imagine you were walking around the place with a stupid grin on your face, thinking about your man constantly and just generally feeling as though you were on cloud nine, right?
Yes, the start of a relationship is always a fun/scary/exciting time. And likewise, the first year of a relationship is usually filled with intense passion, lots of love and embarrassing in-jokes that the two of you would never dare to share with your close friends.
However, as soon as that initial year is over, things start to change. You become familiar with your man. You don’t laugh at his jokes as much. The frantic, passionate sex you used to have is replaced by regular sex after Homeland on a Tuesday night because both of you are tired and have early starts the next day.
What we’re trying to say is – real life takes the shine off your romance. But don’t panic, this is perfectly normal and something that relationship experts refer to as the end of the “honeymoon period.”
And while there’s nothing wrong with the end of the honeymoon period, it can mean that things in your relationship start to get a little boring or a little stale.
If you feel as though the excitement has dimmed a little on your relationship, here are a few simple tips to help you make the honeymoon period last for as long as possible.
Sometimes it can be hard to keep the spark alive, especially when real life gets in the way
Change your perception: Try to remember why you fell in love with your man in the first place. List all his positive points and remind yourself of the things that made you so crazy about him at this start. When you first fell in love with him, you considered him to be perfect. Start viewing him in this manner again and you could find those feelings of excitement and passion start to come back gradually.
Be realistic: You need to be honest when it comes to viewing your relationship. Understand that things can’t be ‘happily ever after’ like a fairy tale all the time. Relationships go through rough patches and occasionally things crop up in life that make us stumble. Know that your relationship is never going to be perfect – don’t set yourself up for a ‘happily ever after’ that your man can’t deliver. Remember that he’s only human too.
Get creative: Show your partner how much you care for them by finding creative ways to tell them that you love them. Leave a note in his work bag, send him a text to see how his day is going, make a point of kissing him goodnight when you switch off the lights – all these small acts help to keep the passion and love alive.
Don’t be afraid to try new things: New things and excitement go hand in hand, so if you feel like your relationship could use a breath of fresh air why not try something new with your man? Go somewhere you’ve never been before, take a class together or try something different in the bedroom. Look for new things that you can do together that will help you to bond as a couple. The more time you spend together, the more you’ll be able to remember why you started seeing such a great man in the first place.
Fall in love all over again: Romance the ordinary and really appreciate all the things you do with your man on a daily basis. Appreciate the fact that he gives you a lift to work in the mornings, appreciate that he picks you up any groceries that you need on his way home. Appreciate that he’s always willing to help you out when you need it. By noticing and appreciating the small things, you make room for love to grow. Fact.
