Guest Post
This time of year gets very busy for everyone and if you are not careful, it can be easy to put your relationship (or even friendships) on the back burner. If this rings true to you, I would highly recommend focusing on improving that because over time, you will get into an easy routine of putting you and your partners needs last, which obviously is not very healthy for a growing and thriving relationship.
I know what you are thinking – it is just so easy to get caught up in the chores, appointments, and errands. You’re more than likely wondering how you can even fit more time into each day, in order to prioritize your relationship, but hear me out. It’s possible to do every single thing you are doing now and fit in more time for your relationship by doing your ‘dreaded’ tasks, errands, and chores together. Not only does this allow you to spend more time with your partner, but it also builds a better and stronger relationship, and makes your to-do list more fun, which should be your goal each and every day with the one you love.
So, let’s jump in. Here are five things you can do as a couple to make them more fun:
Working Out
Psychology Today says, “Lab studies show that after jointly participating in an exciting physical challenge or activity, couples report feeling more satisfied with their relationships and more in love with their partner (Aron, Norman, Aron, & Heyman, 2000). Exercise is a perfect example of the type of invigorating activity that can have these positive effects. It’s the physiological arousal, rather than the novelty or challenge of the activity, that drives romantic attraction (Lewandowski, & Aron, 2004). This suggests that sharing a fitness goal (such as training for a 5K or triathlon), taking regular runs together, ballroom dancing, or having a date night at the gym can boost the quality of your romantic relationship.” They also say that other benefits of working out together are improved efficiency of the workout, improved emotional bond, achieving fitness goals, and it can also help you fall more in love with your partner.
Dental Appointments
Now I don’t know about you, but I need a dentist that is patient, calm, and understanding. If I don’t have that, it makes me extremely nervous. In addition to having a nice dentist (more on this in a bit), I think scheduling dental appointments with your partner is a great way to stay cool, calm, and collected. They can help ground you and be with you to give you company in between your appointments. Although they can help ease the nerves, the only way to really eliminate them completely is by having a good dentist that knows what he or she is doing. This is why I do a lot of research beforehand if I am switching up dental offices. Just recently, I searched Google and found local Georgia company, Metro Decatur Dental Group PC. They have fantastic reviews and in a lot of them, people say that Dr. Gary Simms is very calm and knows what he is doing. Their Clinic has grown to provide a world-class facility for the treatment of tooth loss, dental cosmetics, and advanced restorative dentistry. They also offer services such as teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, orthodontics, and more. Metro Decatur Dental Group PC is the #1 dentist in Decatur, so if you are searching for a new dental office, check them out.
Car Washing
Rub a dub, dub we’re washing the…cars. Swift Cover says, “You’d be surprised at how many calories you can lose while cleaning, so strap on your tracker and get ready to feel the burn. It might not replace a session at the gym, but it’s definitely better than being a couch potato. Every time you feel your arms aching from wielding the sponge, you’ll know you’re on the way to becoming a tight and toned muscle machine.” That is a sure way to make it more of an incentive to clean your car, but I was thinking more along the lines of a soap and/or water hose fight. Either way, you are being productive and hopefully having fun with your partner.
Cleaning
I know that most do not think that cleaning could be a fun task to do, no matter who is doing it with you, but try to keep an open mind. My go-to way to make cleaning fun is by blasting music and getting my dance on. We have all seen those viral videos of people dancing while cleaning. Well, they do it because it’s fun! Tackle each room together, making the process go as fast as possible, but don’t forget to sing along, dance together, and make it a cleaning party!
Grocery Shopping
Going grocery shopping together really is a win-win because it improves communication and everyone gets exactly what they want for the week. If you have a farmers market that is convenient to your home, I recommend making a small date day out of your farmers market adventure (aka. grocery shopping). For example, a lot of farmers markets are typically in downtown areas with other stores and restaurants. If possible, start your date off with an acai bowl or a coffee at a local restaurant, or stand. Then, mozy on over to the farmers market, or through any open shops that you want to check out. Make your day an experience – talk about what you want to cook for dinner that week, create a list together, and have fun!