Honeymoon period over? Here's how to navigate the next phase of your relationship.
Since we're all friends here, I'm just going to come right on out and say it: Not all relationships are silver, shiny and sparkly forever. Many people give up on their relationship after the can't-keep-your-hands-off-each-other period has ended because they think they're not in love anymore. In reality, they're entering a new phase in their relationship — real love.
Navigating the storm (and keeping the spark alive!), aren't as difficult as you'll make them out to be. We talked to YourTango expert Julia Flood, owner of New Start Therapy, and got some tips on how you can keep those flames burning all relationship long.
1. Show that you care — and keep showing
Flood suggests that you always, always keep in mind just how important consideration is in a relationship. Whether it's asking how his day went, checking in to see how his friend who's pregnant is doing, or just asking a basic "Is there anything I can do for you?", longevity in a relationship — especially the type that leads to long lasting love — comes from being grounded in the basic understanding that you care and are considerate of one another. Plus, as your relationship matures, a partner who wants to do things for you is hot.
2. Be on the same team
We're not suggesting the two of you share the same opinion and take the same stance on every argument (because that would be boring), it's important to remember that you're both on the same team in the end. Sure, you might prefer Pepsi while he doesn't understand how anyone would live without the taste of a cool CocaCola — but in the grand scheme of things, what does it matter? Teamwork makes the dream work.
3. Romance requires a little work
The worst part about exiting the honeymoon phase and walking straight into a real relationship is learning that real romance requires real work. (Did it just get real up in here or is that just me?) Sometimes, you've got to tell your guy you want flowers. Remind him that it's your anniversary. It doesn't mean you're failing at romance to have to schedule in the things that are important to you — it means that you're smart enough to know how to keep a romance real.
4. Laugh with each other
If I had a nickel for every time someone told me how important laughter is for a relationship, I'd still be poor. But you know what? Laughing together — and I mean genuine, real, from the belly up laughter — does wonders for your relationship. During the honeymoon phase you're so carefree, lovable and overwhelmed that the silliness is just part of the whole process, but when you're in the thick of it, sometimes it's easy to forget how good a laugh feels — especially when you're sharing it with the person who means more to you than anything.
5. Schedule sex
It's simple: plan when you're going to have sex. Make a promise. Stick to it. And shed the clothes. Planning to have sex has the stigma attached to it that you're old, shriveled up, boring and disinterested. In fact, it's just the opposite. Scheduling a little hanky panky ensures that you'll both get it — and knowing ahead of time what you and your partner plan to do between the sheets makes the night ahead a whole lot kinkier. You'll spend all day thinking about it. Talk about a turn-on!
6. Listen to each other
Best advice? Never stop listening to each other. During the honeymoon phase, your relationship is so new and so inviting that you're so caught up in the other person. You want to hear every story, feel every emotion — and once you're past that, it can be easy to forget just how important real, genuine listening can be. If he's had a bad day, hug him and hear him out. If his boss is giving him hell at work, be there when he needs you. It will only deepen (and strengthen) your bonds.
7. Date each other
It's so easy to say it — and it almost sounds a little cliché — but going out on dates together throughout your relationship keeps the romance alive. So when he asks "Dinner at 7?" Tell him you can't wait.
1. Up The Kinky
Upping the kink factor in your relationship can actually be a great way for those of us who are more vanilla to break out of shells and experiment with something new. It can also be a way of feeling closer to our partner.
"This being said, there may be behaviors that you are just not open to doing and that is OK too," says Dr. Kat Van Kirk, a clinical sexologist, marriage and family therapist, author and host. Partners should have enough sensitivity to work you into these behaviors as well as be ok with some hard and fast boundaries. Many people into kink have learned to be very good negotiators sexually as very few people have exactly the same proclivities.
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2. Relax
Relaxing allows you to be more aware of your sexual energy, enhances sexual feelings, and frees you up to respond sexually, says Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting about the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage.
For example, allow time for morning sex when you are still relaxed from sleep, or after a nap. Save some water by showering together sometimes and let nature take its course. Maybe summon up your teenage hormones and try some naughty petting in the backseat of your care after date night. Whatever you do, just go with what feels natural, and make sure to have fun. That's what great sex is all about.
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3. Write A Dirty Story
Many men get off on porn, ladies on erotica—but we all love a bit of scintillation. Make it more personal with a service like Hoochy Mail Service, suggests Denise Beauregard, owner of Urban Intima Inc., an online intimate apparel retailer.
Hoochy mail is a free online erotic mail service that allows users to customize erotic stories written by the sender to the recipient. They can be romantic, sexy, or off the wall. If you were to send this to your significant other (his personal email only please, no need to peak an employers' curiosity) well, let's just day this move can make a man come straight the hell home.
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4. Sexy Surprises
Most occasions, we send flowers, candy, maybe a teddy bear. Kick things up a notch with a delivery like Spicy Subscriptions, which discreetly delivers fun and flirty romantic surprises to your door. Every month you'll be treated to romantic gifts, fun toys, massage oils, lingerie and more, which you can then "try out" together!
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5. Communicate
The best beginning for a lovely sexual encounter is a good, honest and open conversation, says Tessina. When you were new lovers, you talked and sex was easy. Frequently make time to "catch up" with each other over an unhurried dinner or breakfast. Express your hopes and dreams, clear the air, and you can both relax. From there, it's not such a long distance into the bedroom.
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6. Sexy Scavenger Hunt
Select 12 items to hide around the house unbeknownst to one another and write out your clues. As each one of you find a clue you take a roll of the dice and do the roll, says Beauregard. The possibility of 24 acts of love and lust minimum, what thrill and this does not take into account any of the main events.
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7. Be Flexible
Physical agility can be helpful, but emotional flexibility will really
improve your sex life, says Tessina. The longer you and your partner are together, the more you need options. Quickies are great fun when you're pressed for time, and morning hanky panky can make the whole day more exciting. Take things up a notch with a touch of role-play, says Tessina.
Act out all the silly, forbidden or exciting fantasies like nurse and patient (or doctor), children "playing house", famous movie star and adoring fan, or your two favorite characters from a soap opera, novel or movie. If you feel a little silly, laughter will only make it more fun.
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8. The Key Is Give & Take
Open a dialogue about what really turns the both of you on and don't do it while you are in the middle of having sex. Be honest about what scares you and why. Lots of people who think of BDSM assume that it's all whips and chains but in actuality there are a whole spectrum of behaviors from mild spanking to light bondage with silk ties.
"It is both partners' responsibility to be gentle and really know what they are doing; while remain opening and communicating their needs. For instance, most people in the kink community know that it is the "bottom" or the person having things done to them that is actually in control of the play," says Dr. Kat.
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9. Evaluate The Situation
If you removed all of the negative self-talk from your head, are there situations that titillate you, even a little? Some guys feel the need to get over the idea of feeling threatened by a woman who is kinkier than he is. Some are afraid of being judged by others if they ever found out and some, well they are just not wired that way.
"Once you've looked at your fears, I always suggest trying something new. If you don't like it, you can always communicate that. I find that most people don't know what they are missing though. Once you can learn to open up sexually, often times you feel emotionally more connected as well just by sharing the experience," says Dr. Kat.
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10. Touch Me
If you're thinking "the idea of sex is nice but I'm way too stressed to get there," get your partner an aromatherapy massage candle to slow things down and heat things up, suggests sexologist Emily Morse, host of the podcast Sex with Emily.
Just light the candle and let it make a nice pool of warm luxurious massage oil (it's not waxy or hot), then drip it from a foot above those body parts (yours or your partner's) that need special attention. Start massaging the oil into the skin and go from there. You can even use them on my self as a body moisturizer every day.
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11. Play
The couples that play together, stay together. Once you put away the Monopoly set, pull out a sexy board game to get you going and get you in the mood, says Dr. Morse. Try the Love or Lust board game, if you want some flirty fun or the Bondage Seductions Game if you've been wanted to kink things up.
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1. Get Buzzed
A vibrator will enhance your sex life with or without a partner. You can get one to enhance your solo time and find those other pleasure spots, like the Fifi for extra G-spot stimulation or try Lifestyles' His and Her pleasure massagers, which provide wonderful vibrating stimulation for men and women, says Dr. Morse. Ring in the New Year with a buzz, not a hangover.
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Upping the kink factor in your relationship can actually be a great way for those of us who are more vanilla to break out of shells and experiment with something new. It can also be a way of feeling closer to our partner.
"This being said, there may be behaviors that you are just not open to doing and that is OK too," says Dr. Kat Van Kirk, a clinical sexologist, marriage and family therapist, author and host. Partners should have enough sensitivity to work you into these behaviors as well as be ok with some hard and fast boundaries. Many people into kink have learned to be very good negotiators sexually as very few people have exactly the same proclivities.
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Credit:
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