As the new year approaches we are all inclined to make our New Year's resolutions. We want to loose weight, stop smoking, save more money, go back to school, work less, play more, volunteer, the list goes on and on and we work tirelessly trying to acheive all our goals.
This year, why not take a different, more romantic approach and sit down with your partner and create a list of shared resolutions. I'm not saying "quit smoking together', although I would recommend it!! What I'm talking about is more romantic in tone. I found a few great ideas online with a "romantic" approach for couples. Here are some of my personal favorites!
My number 1 favorite is from a blog last year by Grace Pamer who has the most fantastic idea to have a romantic resolution of the month!
"Christmas is that loving and warm-hearth kind of time in every couple’s life that culminates in a New Year’s Eve of romantic bliss that is exactly what you were looking forward to, right? Ok, maybe not. Let’s be honest, for many couples, the romance fizzled out well before the second Christmas you spent together and all you have time for now is wiping the baby’s bottom instead of wrapping presents. However, with the stress of Christmas behind you, the New Year is an ideal time to set aside your Christmas grievances and ‘bah-humbug’ winter cynicism, to re-kindle your romance. So I’ve put together this New Year’s resolution for relationships guide to help give you some ideas to make 2013 the year of romance once again!
New Year’s resolutions that fail by the second week in January are common, probably because they weren’t life-enhancing tasks anyway. But it you see your relationship as your greatest asset, (or even if you don’t but know that it should be) then these romance-aimed resolutions will actually be worth making the time for. If the payoff is greater than the pain of organizing it, you’ll actually do it, right? If you and your partner haven’t been on each other’s side lately, consider what a great difference it could make to the year ahead if you started rooting for each other like your own personal cheerleaders."
We will make our partner feel desirable. Lou Paget, author of The Great Lover Playbook (Gotham Books, 2005), says that physical contact is the best way to say, "I want you." That means deep kisses instead of just light pecks, and real hugs rather than shoulder grazes. Paget says that women especially need to be aware of this. "Men are so used to having to approach women, that when a woman goes to him it sends a powerful message -- namely, I feel safe in your space, I like your body, I want to do something with your body," she says.
We will be marriage-centered, not child-centered. Many parents believe that the best way to care for their children is to put them before their marriage. Atwood says this isn't true. "The most powerful gift you can give your children is a strong, loving marriage," says Atwood. That's why it's important to have some regular kid-free time with your mate. Christine, 37, from Winnetka, Illinois, likes to tag along on business trips with her husband, Dave, so they can some enjoy some alone time in the evening. They also like to have lunch with each other on national holidays, when Dave is off. "This is one of our favorite things to do. We get a sitter and head into the city for a long lunch and walking down Michigan Avenue," says Christine.
We will create an exciting vision for our future. "Most couples just drift through each year, caught up in the day-to-day grind, never stopping to ask, 'What do we want out of our life together?' says Atwood. But nothing bonds a couple like creating a common vision of your life together. "That's what cements a true partnership," she says. For example, instead of seeing a financial planning as a chore, talk to your mate about your goals for your savings. Buying your dream home? Moving to Aruba? Opening a bed and breakfast? Planning and dreaming with your mate will create a solid bond.
I Hope I gave you some great ideas! I would suggest bringing the idea up over a romantic dinner at home with flowers on the table and your partners favorite food and music.
Happy New Year from Team I Do! Romance!