Infatuation Rules
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk Pexels Logo Photo: Pavel Danilyuk

How to strengthen a relationship?

6 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship Set aside time together. ... Make ordinary things feel more special. ... Find a hobby or interest that you both can get on board with. ... Remind yourself that no family or relationship is perfect. ... Take time to remember and talk about special moments in your relationship. More items...

What bores a narcissist?
What bores a narcissist?

Ramani adds that narcissists not only get bored easily with new things, but also new people. Her theory is that narcissistic reward-sensitivity may...

Read More »
What gets taken down on TikTok?
What gets taken down on TikTok?

Content on TikTok first goes through technology that identifies and flags potential policy violations, such as adult nudity and violent and graphic...

Read More »

We Want Your Feedback! Please give us feedback on one of our weekly question and answer articles. We value your time so the evaluation will only take 3 minutes or less, we promise! Take the Survey »

6 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship

By Hannah Butler, Extension Intern Cindy Jenkins, USU Extension Assistant Professor

School is almost back in session, you’re running your kids around for activities, you’re trying to make time for yourself, and the list of to-dos goes on and on. Having children is great, but about 67% of new parents experience a drop in marital satisfaction after a new birth of a child (Shellenbarger, 2005). So, with so many things going on, what can you do to nourish your relationship with your spouse?

Seeking to connect is incredibly beneficial but it can be daunting to try and find time to do so. However, creating moments of connection does not have to be a huge part of your to-do list and can be done through very simple means.

Here are 6 simple ways to start strengthening your relationship:

1. Set aside time together.

Spending time together is important in building any connection. As your family grows, the time you can spend with your partner seems to decrease. You can make this priority by setting aside 20 minutes each day just for the two of you, no distractions. You may want to schedule a weekly date night so you can leave the house and spend one-on-one time together. Creating moments just for the two of you can make such a world of difference (Abreu-Afonso et al., 2022).

2. Make ordinary things feel more special.

You can make ordinary things special by using them as a vessel to help you spend time together. Maybe you can weed the garden together or you can help your partner work on the car (Harris et al., 2016). 3. Find a hobby or interest that you both can get on board with. Planning time to invest in a hobby together can help you find another avenue through which you can spend time together alone (Tenginkai et al., 2017).

Will a narcissist ever stop cheating?
Will a narcissist ever stop cheating?

Unfortunately, they don't. If they felt any guilt, they would perhaps be able to change their behavior and stop cheating. No consequence is enough...

Read More »
What percentage of affairs succeed?
What percentage of affairs succeed?

According to WebMD, the “in love” stage of an affair lasts 6 to 18 months, on average. And around 75% of the marriages that start as affairs end in...

Read More »

4. Remind yourself that no family or relationship is perfect.

Every person you know has gone through some sort of stressor in their personal and family lives. It’s important to remember you aren’t the only one who may struggle (Tenginkai et al., 2017). 5. Take time to remember and talk about special moments in your relationship. Take time to reminisce on all the good memories you have. Share those memories with your partner (Abreu-Afonso et al., 2022). 6. Be kind to each other and express love for each other in front of your children. Expressing love can be as simple as complimenting the breakfast your partner made. Doing so in front of your children helps them see how others should be treated. It also helps your partner feel appreciated (Harris et al., 2016). Try taking a few minutes out of each day to work on a few of these simple methods. Be patient with yourself and your partner and look for results over time.

References

Abreu-Afonso, J., Ramos, M. M., Queiroz-Garcia, I., & Leal, I. (2022). How Couple’s Relationship Lasts Over Time? A Model for Marital Satisfaction. Psychological Reports, 125(3), 1601–1627. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211000651 Harris, V. W., Bedard, K., Moen, D., & Álvarez-Pérez, P. (2016). The Role of Friendship, Trust, and Love in Happy German Marriages. Marriage & Family Review, 52(3), 262–304. https://doi-org.dist.lib.usu.edu/10.1080/01494929.2015.1095268 Shellenbarger, Sue. “Not in Front of the Kids: Documenting The Emotional Toll of Parental Tension.” Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition, vol. 245, no. 122, 23 June 2005, p. D1. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.dist.lib.usu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=17399009&site=ehost-live Tenginkai, G. S., Chadha, N. K., & Sharma, C. B. (2017). How to maintain a strong marital bond? Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 8(9), 1093–1095.

What is not normal in a relationship?
What is not normal in a relationship?

Emotional abuse is not normal in any relationship — long-term, short-term, or otherwise. If you've noticed your partner trying to control you, put...

Read More »
Which emotion is stronger love or fear?
Which emotion is stronger love or fear?

Love is stronger than fear, but fear will win out unless we allow love to empower sacrificial action in the world. Love is stronger than fear, but...

Read More »
What's the hardest language?
What's the hardest language?

Mandarin Chinese Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language...

Read More »
What is silent treatment in relationships?
What is silent treatment in relationships?

What is the Silent Treatment? The silent treatment is a refusal to verbally communicate with someone, often as a means of punishment, emotional...

Read More »