Make Love, Not War: How to Make Your Relationship Shine in 2013

New Year’s resolutions tend to have a bad reputation, but did you know that they could help to keep your relationship fun, solid and stable in 2013?

While we’re all for making positive changes in your life all year round (and not just at New Year’s) we think that making resolutions as a couple at the start of the year can have a majorly positive impact on your relationship.

Here are a few suggestions for resolutions-for-two that will ensure your relationship remains healthy, happy and fun all year long.

Resolution: Have more fun together.
Over the holidays, fun is at the forefront of our minds and we relax, loosen up and enjoy getting goofy with our other half. However, once the New Year has been rung in and the Christmas tree has been put away, fun tends to slide off our radar. Make a resolution with your man that the two of you will devote one day a week to just having fun together (we recommend having ‘Sunday Funday’ every week). This added boost of playfulness and laughter will help you reconnect and ensure that you keep smiling together.

Resolution: Make sex a priority
All too often, modern life gets in the way and our sex life starts to suffer. It’s important to remember that as well as bringing you closer together as a couple, sex can also boost your mood after a particularly crap day at the office, make you feel better if you have a headache and relax you if you’re stress out of your mind. Make a resolution to have sex at least twice a week. Your relationship will thank you for it. Promise!

Say goodbye to fights in 2013 and get your love on instead

Resolution: Stop bickering
Make a resolution to stop nit-picking and having a go at each other over stupid things (like leaving the toilet seat up or forgetting to put the milk in the fridge after breakfast). If you have a serious issue, bring it up with your partner, but do it in a constructive manner. Pick your battles. When you sense a fight is brewing, stop, take a deep breath and ask yourself: “Is this worth disturbing the peace for?”

Resolution: Be honest
When it comes to having a great relationship, honest communication is key. We all know that it can be hard explaining your feelings to your other half, particularly if you just know that he won’t ‘get it.’ But just try to be open and honest anyway. Make a resolution that the two of you will try to be as honest as you can. You could find that your relationship develops an even deeper connection than before as a result.

Resolution: Listen
Don’t automatically nod as he tells you about something you couldn’t care less about. Don’t interrupt him. Sit down, look him in the eye, pay attention and ask him follow-up questions. Engage with him and show him that yes, you do genuinely care about what he has to say to you. Listening, much like honest communication, is one of the best things that you can do for your relationship.