With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget that special person in your life. It’s easy to get impatient with those around you. But this is the person you need the most in your life. So, take a deep breath, do some relaxation, and lower your expectations for the holidays. Remember, your partner is one of the things that make your holiday special, so here are some tips to remind him or her of that.
- Leave a little sticky note on the mirror reminding the person of how special they are. Who wouldn’t like to see something like that just before going to bed or waking up?
- Take time to laugh. I’m guessing you and your partner have some shared jokes that only the two of you have. Or perhaps something funny or embarrassing happened that always makes you laugh when you reminisce about it.
- Look at photos of the two of you. Have you been together a long time? When is the last time you pulled out pictures and talked about old times. It will remind you of the years together.
- Go on a date. My guess is if you have been together several years, some of the romance in your relationship has faded. Why not get dressed up and go some place the two of you can enjoy, whether it is a romantic restaurant, a movie, or a picnic.
- Write a love letter. Have you ever done this? My guess is if you do, the other person will feel extremely special. In today’s world of technology, getting something hand written is a gift. And if you write those special feelings down, your partner can go back over them and feel the love and warmth of the sentiment.
- Do something thoughtful. Do it unexpectedly and your partner will feel special. You know what your partner would appreciate. Is it running an errand, preparing a special meal, giving him/her a massage or foot rub, or something else?
- Practice giving 1 minute hugs. We all have 1 minute in our day where we can make our partner feel special. If you time a hug for 1 minute, you will be surprised at how long it is. It may even feel awkward at first, or you may giggle. It’s all-good. When we hug our partner, oxytocin is released, which is our bonding hormone. It is also released in breast milk.
- Compliment the other person. I don’t know of anyone who wouldn’t like to be reminded that they are handsome or beautiful, or they look nice. Remind the other person that they are a good partner, parent, son, daughter, etc. It feels good.
- Listen. It is so easy to go about our day while we are talking to our partner. But to truly listen and maintain eye contact is a whole different story.
- Validate feelings. Doing so will make your partner feel understood and respected. You may not understand their feelings, or agree with them. But, feelings are neither right nor wrong. We all come about our feelings from our life experiences, and everyone’s is different.
- Share some of the reasons you love your partner. Even though you know you love each other, it is nice to be reminded why.
- Ask questions. This shows the other person that you are interested in what they have to say and want to hear more.
- When making plans, check in. If you plan on having a night with the guys or girls, be sure that it works with your partner’s schedule. Perhaps they have something else going on, or will need to watch the kids. If it will affect them, they deserve to know. Also, if you are going out as couples, it is polite to check in to be sure your partner doesn’t have any conflicts or objections.
- Respect each other’s boundaries. Perhaps one of you needs some alone time, or is more private that the other. Treat your partner how he or she wants to be treated. Just because it works for you doesn’t mean it works for your partner. Honor each other’s differences.
- No phones, TV or reading materials at the table. Dinnertime is the one time that you have together without any other distractions. Make this time meaningful, as it may be the only real quality time you get during the day. If you are reading or watching TV, you are checked out and not focused on your p
