Everyone loves to feel appreciated. Whether you just started dating or have been married for 30 years, it’s important to show your gratitude and appreciation for your partner. Expressing how grateful you are isn’t just reserved for holidays and special occasions and being grateful is more than just saying”thank you,” though you should say that regularly. It’s about showing you care through actions. Luckily, it doesn’t take big, lavish gestures. These simple ideas will do the trick.
Ask about your partner
Hopefully, you’re asking one another “how was your day?” on a regular, if not daily, basis. Understanding each other and how you both feel The longer you spend together the more you learn about one another. At times it can feel like you’ve plateaued, like you’ve learned everything there is to know about one another. Luckily, that’s not true! When the conversation lags, begin asking each other random, specific questions that inspire anecdotes you might not have shared with one another before. “What was your favorite childhood toy?” “What was your favorite holiday memory?” and “Who was your favorite teacher?” are good places to start that will open doors to trips down memory lane.
Ask “how can I help?”
Stress can get the best of all of us at times. When your loved one seems overwhelmed, ask the simple question of “how can I help?” Sometimes the answer might be that you can’t, but asking shows you care. The very important part is not to ask if you won’t act on the request.
Write a note
Never underestimate the power of a love letter. Write dow nor take turns jotting down your favorite memories together in a shared journal. If wordsmithing isn’t your thing, don’t worry, a simple post-it note on the mirror or tucked away in your sweetheart’s wallet saying how much you love them is
Make something
Create something symbolic of how much you love and appreciate one another. Give the gift of a scrapbook, a photo album or any myriad of romantic Pinterest crafts. And if you’re not DIY-inclined, even better. Trying your hand at something new shows you care and will make your gift that much more sentimental, even if it doesn’t look exactly like the picture you modeled it after.
Take on a new responsibility
If your spouse is always the one to take out the trash or do the dishes, help lighten their load by completing the task without being asked. More importantly, don’t draw attention to the fact that you were the one to do it. This is about helping and showing how grateful you are that those tasks are usually done for you. It’s not about getting the credit, as hard as that may be to accept.
Hold Hands
Connecting as a couple is as simple as holding hands. Interlocking your fingers sends an instant message that you’re glad you’re together. A simple tight squeeze as you walk shows you care and that you are thinking about your love, even if you’re walking in silence at that particular moment.
Clean up
Pick up after yourself. Sounds simple right? But when the days are long and you’re tired it can be easy to leave dirty dishes in the sink, forget your mug on the coffee table and dump your clothes on the floor. These all seem like small indiscretions, but leaving a mess behind for the other to clean up can quickly become a routine, even if you don’t mean for it to be. Ending the day with a clean home creates a more relaxing environment and a fresh start to the next day.
Express gratitude daily
At the end of each day, get together and share what you were grateful for that day with one another. Whether it was the delicious cup of tea you had or the successful project you finished at work, expressing gratitude is proven to increase mood and will also bring the two of you closer together.
Featured image by Camila Cordeiro
