How to Put Fun Back in Your Marriage
A 2000 study by psychologist Arthur Aron of State University of New-York Stony Brook showed that couples who share new and exciting activities have better relationships. And according to Howard Markman, psychologist and co-director or the University of Denver's Center for Marital and Family Studies, the more you invest in being fun and a friend to your partner, the happier the relationship will get over time. There are many ways you can add fun to your marriage or bring it back.
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Instructions
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Make time to have fun. Hire a babysitter for your kids or find a family member who is willing to babysit while you spend time with your partner. Move schedules and errands to make time to be with your spouse. Decide on a weekly date night and stick to it. Plan dates on advance, write them in your calendar and follow through with them.
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Plan fun dates. Look online or in a newspaper for fun shows or activities in your city. Plan the activities in advance and schedule them. Make a list of fun activities you would like to do and have your partner also write her own. Trade lists and decide on an activity from your partner's list to try. Schedule the date. Each partner takes the responsibility to make all the arrangements for the chosen activity on the partner's list.
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Be playful with your partner. Talk about funny stories in your day or find jokes to tell your partner. Watch comedies or stand-up comedians on DVDs at home. Read the comic section of the newspaper together. Laugh at yourself and try to make your spouse laugh.
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Have fun at home. Tackle home projects together and be silly and playful while performing them. Do chores, clean the yard and cook together. Watch movies with your spouse once the kids are asleep. Play board games, video games or cards. Stay up late just talking.
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Try new things. Take turns to choose new activities you would like to do with your partner. When it is your turn, your partner has no say in the activity you choose and needs to follow through, the same when it is his turn. Look for activities you have never tried in your city, such as rock climbing, an art lesson or dancing classes.
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Go out with other couples. Plan a dinner or other activity with friends who are married. It is fun to be with other people, and you can also have fresh conversations. Plan a game night and invite friends over. Hire a babysitter even if you stay home so you only have to worry about having fun or wait until the kids are in bed to be with your friends.
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References
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