How To Translate The Honeymoon Phase Into Lifelong Passion
Staying loved-up after the honeymoon phase is easier than you think. It just requires a bit of effort.
When you get married, life couldn’t be better. You feel happy, beautiful, and on top of the world. You have that bridal glow. It’s a wonderful time, and everything is perfect.
The honeymoon phase usually lasts for about two years, and then the relationship tends to settle down. You still feel happy, but real life starts to kick in. If you don’t already have children, you start thinking about family planning and what your future will look like together. You still want to hold onto the romantic parts no matter what comes, so what can you do to make the honeymoon phase last forever?
The Key Is To Keep Things Fresh
The honeymoon phase is exciting and full of passion because everything is brand new. You’re discovering new things about each other, you’re experiencing new things together, and you’re growing in intimacy.
When a couple experiences a decline in their marriage quality, it’s usually because they’ve become habituated and complacent. This has an apathy component, so you’re likely to take one another, and your relationship, for granted.
The secret to creating lifelong passion like it was during the honeymoon phase is to keep your marriage fresh and exciting. You want to stay curious about life and continue putting effort into the relationship.
Here are the top seven ways to do that:
1. Date Night
According to a study conducted by the University of Virginia, couples who dedicated a night each week to each other were 3.6 times more likely to feel “very happy” with their marriage, compared to those who spent less quality time with their spouse.
Date nights strengthen relationships in many ways, including improving communication, intimacy, and commitment. Planning to do new things together keeps the relationship fresh and alive. So get out of the house, make a reservation, and enjoy some one-on-one time together.
If you’re stuck for date night ideas, read our articles here and here for some great tips.
2. Learn His Love Language
The 5 Languages of Love, by Gary Chapman, is all about how we like to receive love, which is important to keep the romance alive. Does your husband feel more loved by words of affirmation, or does he prefer physical touch? What about quality time, receiving gifts, or acts of service? When you’re an effective communicator of love, it can greatly strengthen and enrich your marriage. You can take the quiz to find out what both your primary love languages are.