Whether you have been with your partner for a couple of months, years, or decades, there is no denying that feeling a sense of closeness to your partner is essential for keeping the relationship going strong. There are days when you’re happy with how things are going, but there are also days when you feel disconnected from your partner and like your relationship lacks intimacy, and that is okay. Relationships, like life, are full of ups and downs, and while we all enjoy the ups, it is the downs that show just how strong the relationship is.
We all know that relationships take work, and if you are feeling as if your relationship is lacking excitement, there is no need to worry as there are plenty of things you can do to reconnect with your partner. Below, a list of seven underrated ways for fostering a sense of closeness in a relationship and connecting more intimately with your significant other.
Be loving and kind – even during off days
As a partner, you take on a variety of roles, including being the best friend, a lover, and a source of emotional support and understanding. As such, you ought to be there for your partner at all times, even if they’re having an off day. In fact, this is often the time they need your love and support the most, and can result in you feeling closer and more connected to each other.
That being said, don’t make the mistake of weighing your actions and comparing what you and your partner are or aren’t doing. Love shouldn’t be a competition, and being loving and generous is something that should come naturally when you’re in a relationship instead of being a strategic move for getting the upper hand.
Engage in deep conversations
Communication is essential for cultivating a healthy and loving relationship, and it goes beyond those everyday conversations. That’s not to say that talking about your day and discussing everyday things isn’t important. It simply means that connecting with your partner on a deeper level requires having deeper conversations, ones that involve your plans for the future and your life together as well as the ones involving sharing your passions and things you are looking forward to.
Being vulnerable and honest with your partner and having them open up and talk about their own feelings and plans for the future is a great way to break the everyday monotony and it might also help you discover some other things that you two may have in common.
Understand the power of touch
Engaging your senses is a powerful way to feel connected with the other person, and the sense of touch is no exception. Connecting with your partner through touch is a powerful bonding experience, and it doesn’t always have to be done in a sexual manner.
Something as simple as hugging your partner for a couple of seconds can create chemistry and help you feel more intimate, and the same goes for giving back rubs, cuddling, and touching your partner’s hair. These actions don’t always have to lead to a make-out session or sex, but there is always a possibility that they will take place afterward. Which brings us to our next tip…
Ask for what you want
Sometimes, connecting more intimately with your partner means literally that – being intimate, revealing your deepest desires, and exploring them. This is by no means an easy feat, and it takes a lot of courage to get vulnerable, strip away your feelings and bare the soul, asking for what you really want and being open and direct.
But if you manage to do it, it can open up a world of possibilities and allow you to explore your sexual fantasies with your partner, whether it means dressing up in costumes, role-playing, or introducing some exciting adult toys in order to spice up your romance in the bedroom and break out of your routine. Sex is one of the most intimate acts and it can turn into a true spiritual experience if you manage to let go and surrender to your partner and the present moment completely.
Spend time doing your partner’s favorite activities
Your partner and you may share certain interests and hobbies, but chances are, there are probably a couple of things that you don’t usually share. This can be a great opportunity for connecting with your partner. Find something your partner is really passionate about and then offer to spend the day doing their favorite activities after which they can do the same for you.
By enjoying the things that they’re passionate about, not only will you feel closer to your partner, but you’ll also learn more about them, which will help you understand them better as an individual.
Schedule time for each other
Whether it’s the exhausting deadlines or other daily stresses, life often gets in the way, but that’s not an excuse for not spending any time with your partner. This is why it’s important to carve out some time in a day for your partner.
Schedule time for each other so you can be fully present and enjoy those moments entirely, whether it means enjoying your morning coffee together, going on a romantic date night once a week, or staying in and watching a movie you both like.
Speak your partner’s love language
Even if you’re busy and don’t really have too much time to spend together with your partner, use every opportunity to communicate your feelings using your partner’s love language. Whether it means hugging them or holding hands, doing something thoughtful such as preparing their favorite meal or dessert, or texting them during lunch break, little acts like these show that you care.
When you understand what your partner wants and you speak the same love language, it’s easier to foster connection and create a sense of intimacy, whether you’ve been together for 5, 15, or 50 years.
Wrapping up
The emotional disconnection between partners occurs for a number of reasons, but fortunately, there are ways to foster a sense of connection and get closer to your partner. The trick is to use every day as an opportunity to make your partner feel loved and appreciated.
You know what they say: ‘It’s the little things in life that matter the most’, so make sure to do something for your partner every day, no matter how small it may seem, and watch as the two of you connect more intimately in some of the most underrated yet highly effective ways.
