Spice Up a Dull Marriage With Quality Time

It's not just about how often you spend time together, but rather how you spend it. That is what makes time with your spouse satisfying.

Remember in the beginning, when it was just the two of you? As your fascination with each other settled, you both brought friends and relatives into your intimate circle. Yet, the nucleus of your life was still the two of you. Making time for a marriage relationship is not always easy. It can be particularly hard because both of you come home tired. Along with chores waiting, and children clamoring for attention. So what gives?

There are many ways to spend quality time with your spouse. This doesn’t mean abandoning everything for your spouse or living in each other’s pockets. What it means is that, along with the changes that happen in life, including family, you need to stay in touch with the relationship that started it all.

Prioritize some of the things in your life. Do you really need to be working all that overtime? Must you be the only parent to do the carpooling, volunteering, etc.? Think of your life as a budget, with time allotted to the essential things, such as, work, children, and you as a couple. Make sure there is enough time for all of these. If not, you’ll need to make some changes. Here a some simple ways that can be built into a daily routine.

Date Night

Date night is a time for couples to spend together. Start by setting a date night with your partner on a regular basis and stick to it no matter what. This way, you will know when the next date night is coming up and can plan accordingly so that both of you can enjoy yourselves without any stress or worries about work or other obligations.

You can go on a date night, take long walks together, or spend some time doing something you both enjoy. It can be a movie, trip to an art gallery or local museum, going for ice cream in the summer, a coffer at Starbucks, romantic dinner at home, picnic or just a walk in the park. Whatever the activity, it is important that it be something that both people enjoy.

Pillow Talk

Romantic pillow talk is a great way to create a connection between you and your spouse. It is a way of connecting with them on an emotional level and it helps you understand each other better. You go to bed with each other and have to wake up to each other. So why not start a simple ritual of just catching up on your day before and after you fall sleep.

Make the discussions light-hearted and positive. Share something from your day that made you happy. Talk about what makes both of you feel loved and appreciated. Use terms of endearment (aka pet names) like “baby”, “honey”, or “sweetheart” when speaking to each other.

Compliment your partner and speak about the things you love about them. Talk about what you want in the future together. Talk about your personal goals and dreams. Do this as frequently as possible and in no time, you'll find that romantic pillow talk allows you to feel more connected with each other and help likely make you both fall in love with each other again.

Cook Together

If you have to eat, why not spend time cooking together? This can be a great way to bond with your spouse and spend quality time together in the kitchen. Even if you're not much of a cook, there are tons of recipes online that you could try. You could also order in premade meals that have already been prepped for easy cooking.

And if you are the type that cannot or will not cook. Ordering in from a restaurant and then taking the time to serve the meals in a romantic setting still works. The importance is to use food as an aphrodisiac to foster more intimacy (in-to-me-see) and communication.

Take a Hike

A romantic walk is a wonderful way to spend time with your significant other. It doesn't have to be a long walk, but it should be one where you can talk and kiss while you're enjoying the scenery.

The best time for a romantic walk is usually in the evening or on a weekend when you have more time to spend with each other. You can take a stroll through the park or around town, or you might want to go for a hike up in the mountains.

A simple walk can be a romantic and intimate experience. The only requirement is that both of you be present. Switch off your cell phones and worries of the day. Walking is a form of mediation and allows you to be present. Incorporating this little ritual on a weekly basis can do wonders for the mental state of your marriage.

Quality time spent together is important for the health of a marriage. Relationships stagnate and lose their vibrancy, buried beneath the everyday stresses of living when both partners/parents are working. That being said, it is important that you do make time for yourselves. It will only help your relationship in the long run, and it will also help you feel less stressed and more balanced as a person.