Daily Sweet Things to Do for Your Spouse

Doing something sweet for your spouse daily helps to create a strong relationship for years to come.

If you want to nurture your relationship with your spouse and ensure that you have many long, happy years together, there are many things you can do every day. Some sweet gestures are simple but are often neglected. Sometimes half a dozen small things can mean more than something time-consuming or expensive. Surprise your spouse and show you care.

Love Languages

Determine what will be meaningful to your spouse. According to Gary Chapman, relationship counselor and author of "The 5 Love Languages," everyone has a different mode of communication, or ''love language," with which they express their love and through which they know that they themselves are loved. Your spouse's love language may be physical affection, loving words, helpful deeds, quality time together or gifts. Depending on your spouse's preferred mode of communication, a surprise love note or a poem may mean more than a bunch of flowers or a car wash, or vice versa. If you are not sure, ask how to show your love to your spouse.

Compliments

Compliment your spouse on the little things. While you may be acutely aware of everything your spouse has not done, the tasks neglected, the things doing poorly or forgotten altogether, it doesn't help to remind your spouse about these things all the time. When your spouse does something well, even something small such as making a cup of tea or tidying up after the kids, praise your spouse. When your spouse mows the lawn, offer a big hug. If dinner was particularly delicious, describe how much you enjoyed it. Everyone likes feeling appreciated and this creates a positive cycle in your relationship where your spouse continues to choose actions that result in feeling loved.

Breakfast in Bed

Make your spouse breakfast. If your spouse enjoys eating breakfast, this special treat will mean a great deal. If your spouse is not particularly fond of eating in the morning, bring some coffee or tea on a nice tray with a newspaper or flowers. It will start your spouse's day off well and likely earn you a snuggle. If one or both of you are on tight schedules in the morning, make breakfast on Saturday and get your weekends off to a happy beginning.

Share the Load

Do something to make you spouse's day a bit easier. There is no end to the tasks you can do to lighten the load. Sneaking an extra load of laundry into the washing machine at night after your spouse has gone to bed may help with the next day's chores. Buying items such as milk and bread without being asked will be appreciated. If your spouse mentions something pressing that must be done, offer to do it yourself. Or even better, offer to do it together.

References

• The 5 Love Languages; Gary Chapman
• How to Love; Gordon Livingstone
• The Telegraph; Lifeclass: My Wife Never Shows Me Affection
• Crosswalk.com: Increase the Affection in Your Marriage