If You’re Stuck In The Roommate Phase With Your Partner, Here Are 3 Ways You Can Reignite That Romantic Spark
On a long enough timeline, I think we all end up in the roommate phase of a relationship. I mean, I don’t think I personally know anyone who hasn’t ended up there at some point or another. It’s inevitable, even if you have the best of intentions!
When the honeymoon phase is long gone in the rearview mirror, it’s easy to feel like your partner is just a roommate and nothing more.
Life is chaotic. Careers are chaotic. It’s hard to find time to be yourself in the world we’re living in, let alone find time to devote to your significant other. And if you have kids on top of everything else? Forget it.
On the one hand, it is nice to feel so comfortable with your significant other that you can coexist peacefully as roommates, but let’s get real: it takes work to reignite the romantic spark you once had.
Luckily, it doesn’t exactly require a herculean effort. There are a few really easy things you can do with your partner to stir up those butterflies once again.
Don’t Forget The Importance Of Showing Affection On A Daily Basis
Roommates aren’t lounging around doing the whole Netflix and chill thing while holding hands or cuddling up close. They’re also not cooking dinner together and sharing kisses in between playing sous chef either.
Relationships become super routine, and that means showing affection usually slows down or stops over time. It’s normal; don’t freak out if you think I’m singling you out here.
So, don’t forget the importance of showing affection on a daily basis. I will shout this from the rooftops if I have to, and you can write it on a note and stick it on your laptop if you have to remind yourself.
Prostock-studio – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Even little things like holding hands while doing mundane activities or smooching your partner when you come home from work help to keep the love alive, I promise.
Don’t overestimate how meaningful tiny acts of affection are. They’re a perfect way to remind one another of how much you really mean to the other person.
Make Painfully Regular Things Extraordinary
A lot of tasks become painfully regular, like grocery shopping, or running out to fill your car up with gas, or heading out to the wine store, or dropping mail off at the post office. Painfully regular, am I right? Well, make them extraordinary by taking your partner along for the ride.
One thing I recently started doing is inviting my husband to go grocery shopping with me, and honestly, it’s something I look forward to now.
The whole reason you even have a partner is that they’re special to you and someone you want to do things with. Otherwise, you should just be single.
And bringing your partner with you to boring things helps you spend more time with one another. You can make things fun, like grocery shopping and planning out things to cook together for dinner this upcoming week. It definitely will make you feel more connected and like you are in this together because you are!
Set Time Aside To Go Out On Dates (Or Stay In For A Date Night)
Roommates don’t go on dates, so make sure you are literally setting time aside to go out on dates with your partner (or stay in for a date night if you prefer).
Get dressed up and try that new Italian place on the corner. Have a scary movie night in honor of this upcoming Friday the 13th. Go apple picking since it’s fall already, or pumpkin picking, or both, because there’s nothing wrong with being this level of basic.
Make sure you make time for your partner and time to disconnect from all the insanity of your day-to-day lives so you can better reconnect.
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