Relationship Wellness

February is relationship wellness month! I think with my recent post and knowing that we can all improve in one area or another I thought this was a perfect awareness to bring light to. So I found some great tips I thought I would share with you.

Create Intimacy - Ok so this is one of PC's and I's biggest problems. I think it's all too easy to get caught up in daily life and lose that. We work opposite schedules, have different days off and only see each other a few days a week. Here's a few things I think we need to try.

• Lie down on the bed and spend two minutes looking into each other's eyes without saying anything. (Blinking is OK.)
• Next time you're in bed pull the covers over your head and have a whispered conversation. If you whisper first he'll probably whisper back—it's incredibly intimate.

Speak - I think we forget to talk to each other sometimes. I don't mean that we don't say anything, but we aren't really talking to each other.

• Say something positive—anything at all. Researchers have found that happy couples have a ratio of five positive comments to each negative comment.
• Compliment something that he's improved upon.
• Tell him he makes you a better person, and then tell him how.

Kiss every day for at least 10 seconds - This may sound silly, but the research shows that couples that connect through physical touch every day are happier overall in their relationships. Now at times, the last thing you may want to do is kiss your spouse; I understand that. However even if we are not feeling something, sometimes the action changes how we feel. So plant a big one on your spouse tonight!

Compliment your spouse at least once a day. Yep, I know I fail miserably at this one, but I'm going to try harder.

Go on a date - PC and I used to go on a date every week. We have slacked off. I find that when we go on our weekly dates I felt so much closer to him.

I found these tips at Mental Health Matters and Your Tango.

I also purchased The Love Dare app for the iPod touch. I'm going to do my best to get my marriage back to where it should be.