Valentine’s Day is a beautiful opportunity to spend quality time with your partner – but it shouldn't be the only day in the year for celebrating your relationship.
To make Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays or other occasions that bit more special this year (and to strengthen your relationship with your other half!) try these five tips and activities with your partner:
- Set aside uninterrupted time with each other
Being PRESENT is an important element in every relationship. Setting aside uninterrupted time to spend with each other can help to strengthen relationships and create memorable moments together. Place your phone on silent, complete an activity together and enjoy a special day doing something you both enjoy.
- Understand what Valentine’s Day means to your partner
And share what it means to you! Making assumptions that your partner shares your thoughts and feelings regarding Valentine’s Day can lead to disappointment. Open communication is important for a healthy relationship, too. But be mindful that open communication doesn’t come naturally for everyone – it is something you can work on together.
- Learn your partner’s Love Language
Form an understanding on what is important to your partner in a relationship, and deepen your understanding of each other. Take The 5 Love Languages quiz with your partner (complete separately) and share your results to discover which “Love Languages” mean the most to each of you. Don’t be worried if you and your partner have a different love language - quiz results just show what is most meaningful for you in your relationship! Results may also give you some good ideas on how to spoil your partner on Valentine’s Day.
- Do a gift challenge with your partner
For a fun activity and a memorable Valentine’s Day, take part in a gift challenge with your partner. One challenge may be to make a gift using only items you can find in the house. Another challenge which went viral on social media in 2020 is to buy small but meaningful gifts for each other which fit into categories (e.g. something that is your partner’s favourite colour; their favourite snack and drink; something that reminds you of them; something they’ll like; and something you’d like them to try). Another fun idea is to buy each other a funny outfit from an Opportunity Shop and wear them out on a date night (even just a date night at home if it’s too embarrassing!).
- Showing appreciation and reminiscing together
A simple but thought-provoking activity you can do with your partner is to cut small, rectangular pieces of paper (or use post-it notes) and write on them 25 things you appreciate about your partner and/or the most memorable moments you’ve shared together. You can then fold these, place them in two separate jars or boxes (one for each of you), and swap with your partner so that you each have a container filled with special memories and loving words.
Liz Gellel | Communications Coordinator
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