It’s never too late to do your best to improve your relationship. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to assess your relationship and learn new ways to be a better spouse. From telling her you love her and going out of your way for her to showing him you care by paying attention to the little things, being a better spouse takes effort but pays off. If you’re interested in how you can be a better spouse, read on for four ideas.
1. Bringing Romance Back and Anniversaries
Romance can be all about semantics. Love is an action. While technically a noun, viewing the word as a verb will change everything in your relationship. Instead of saying you love her, show her. Like the saying that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ you can show your sweetie how much you love her by showing her you’d marry her all over again.
Do you have an anniversary coming up? Are you looking for a special way to spend Valentine’s Day? Why not recreate your proposal with a lab created diamond engagement ring? You don’t have to spend a lot on a second engagement ring. You’ll still get the same sparkle in her eye with a synthetic diamond. While the same rules apply, looking for cut, color, and clarity, you can take more risks this time. Instead of getting her an identical diamond, what about proposing again with an emerald or another favorite gemstone?
2. Being Transparent and Accountable
One of the perks of marriage is that, ideally, people share everything. From secrets to hopes and dreams, a lifelong commitment means wearing your heart on your sleeve. At the same time, it can be difficult to be completely honest and entirely open to everything. In the context of a forever relationship, you’ll find yourself balancing kids with work, finances, and playtime. As a result, things can get complicated easily.
Maybe you struggle with being honest with your wife about your need for alone time. Part of being a better husband could be as simple as being transparent about your true feelings and offering compromises on the amount of time and quality time you spend together. When you’re happier, it will rub off on the relationship. In appeasing her, you aren’t helping anything authentic happen, and you risk losing your bond together.
3. Showing Affection
Maybe you work long days, just had a baby, or are too stressed out to remember that men need affection, too. If you find yourself forgetting to tell him you love him, have stopped leaving notes to remind him, or have stopped showing romantic interest in him, it’s time for a refresher.
Consider ways you can show him your affection and remind him of how much you love him. Make room for quality time when your full attention’s on him.
4. Supporting Dreams and Autonomy
One of the best ways to show love is by allowing a person to be their true self. Instead of trying to change your partner, support them where they’re at. Encourage honest conversations about their wants, dreams, and needs and give them space, support, and even financial backing to make those passions realities. They’ll love you all the more for it.
In the end, being a better spouse is something anyone can work at any time. Make a deal with your partner to do one nice thing for each other once a week, and to work on the act of loving versus the sentiment. See what happens. Plan fun and romantic adventures together, too. The odds are, that with a little practice and some new intentional habits, your relationship will be better for it overall.
