Keeping The Romance Alive? It’s As Easy As One, Two and Three…

There's a common misconception that when it comes to long-term relationships, the elusive spark that initally brought you together can fade away over time.

As the months and years pass within our relationship, we start to give up on the idea of excitement and passion and settle for companionship rather than romance. Companionship is when you simply exist with your partner, don't spend that much time with him and neither of you is actually satisfied with the way that things are.

A lot of couples in long-term relationships, whether they're married or not, are convinced that attaining a level of companionship is simply as good as it gets when you've been together for so long. But did you know that it's perfectly easy to keep the passion alive in your relationship regardless of what stage you're at?

According to some new research, long-term couples who actively seek romance and passion and work hard to keep the fires of desire burning within their relationships actually have more satisfying partnerships than couples who are happy to relax into mere companionship.

So how can you keep the spark alive? Well it's as simple as one, two and three...

Want to get the passion pumping in your relationship again? Here's how...

One: Tell him what you need
Amazing and all as your boyfriend is, he's not psychic. He can't actually read your mind. Because of this, it's important for you to be open and honest about what it is that you need from him. One of the main reasons why people are so unhappy in long-term relationships is that they start to feel as though their partner doesn't know what they need from them. Chances are he's completely clueless, so give him a helping hand. It will make both of you happier in the long run.

Two: Always be respectful
If you feel angry over something, give yourself a time out. Relationship experts agree that the best way to deal with conflict in a relationship is to take a deep breath, come up with a logical approach that best expresses what you want to say and talk it through in a calm atmosphere. Name calling, verbal attacks and giving him the cold shoulder may get you what you want, but do they really solve the deeper issue behind the argument? The best thing you can do for your relationship is to learn how to express your feelings in a non-threatening and respectful way. Doing this will help to open up a calm discourse between you and your man that will (hopefully) lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Three: Bring 'the new' back into your relationship
Surprise him, take him out on a date, have a spontaneous weekend away together, take up a new hobby together. By doing new things and bringing a level of excitement and fun back into your relationship, you'll start to recapture the feelings you felt at the start of your partnership when everything was new, fun and exciting. This will help both of you to feel satisfied and happy during the long-term. Make fun and new adventures a priority and you'll start to feel more connected and happy as a couple.