There is nothing that requires more dedication and attention than a successful relationship. That being said, it really is true that the more you put into a relationship, the more you will get out of said relationship.
Add to that the difficulty that comes when you and your spouse become parents, and you have a relationship that may seem impossible to perfect due to the limited time you have together, the new stress, albeit good stress, of a new child and the fact that you are both inexperienced at this new phase of life.
Amidst all of this chaos, either with our without children, there is always the need for gratitude and appreciation. I mean, many books and endless blog posts have bene written about the importance of sharing your appreciation for your spouse – probably because it is one of the most important things that will either break your relationship/marriage or push it into uncharted levels of happiness and ultimate fulfillment.
Speaking from experience, I have sadly found myself on both ends of this spectrum. I have put my relationship second while pursuing positive things like career advancement, only to quickly learn that it is better to pay attention and treasure the things that matter most. In this case, your relationships.
The following 5 tips are what I have found to accentuate a marital or similar relationship, promising that with just a small ounce of gratitude will come bountiful happiness.
1. Learn to Be Grateful for What you Have
First, you have to adapt a mindset of being appreciative. It is hard, actually near impossible, to find anything to be grateful and appreciative for if you are not capable of recognizing what to be grateful for. You can take this one step further by having a discussion with your significant other about all that the two of you have to be grateful for. It will make a big difference.
2. Make Date Nights Part of Your Life
Look guys, and ladies, I know that a date sounds relatively old-fashioned in a sense. If going to an ice cream parlor and having an ice cream sundae together sounds silly to you, perhaps you should change your mindset. The whole point of a date is not about what you go do, it is about doing something together, having fun while doing so and making happy memories. It is on the regular dates I have with my spouse that we have the most fun.
3. Look for Ways to Help
Have you ever had to pick up after your spouse? I use the verbiage “pick up” because your mentality was that you had to go out of your way to take care of something that was bothering you? If so, slightly tweak that mindset to something like, “what can I do today to help out my spouse?” Guys, simply ironing your spouse’s shirt, making the bed or taking out that trash without being asked will go a long. long way.
4. The Gift of Relaxation
Undoubtedly, every individual in any relationship is experience some type of stress at every moment. We are all beyond busy with everything that life throws our way, so having a moment to relax and take your mind off everything stressing you out will do wonders. In fact, just a short 15 minute break of meditation or a basic massage has been shown to increase productive directly after that break. These small gestures of relaxation will reward your relationship just as much as it will your spouse personally.
5. Small Gifts
Sure, flowers and chocolates are great gifts. No, really, they are great gifts. Here is a little hack – when you gift your spouse a small box of chocolates and a simple bouquet of flowers, write a simple note like, “Everyday is a special day with you.” Keep in mind, when you give gifts on days that you are supposed to give gifts, they carry almost no meaning compared to a random, completely surprise gift.
The Contemporary Dad is a modern day stay-at-home father running an online marketing business and elevated portrait studio. Give him follow at www.thecontemporarydad.com
