3 Ways To Bring Fun Back Into Any Kind Of Relationship

Relationships: they’re hard! They take time, they take energy, they take work — and they can get really routine, really fast.

Like our daily grind or the general malaise of the week (or month … or year), the connections we make with other humans can get a little stale, too.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to keep things interesting, fresh and fun — and you don’t need an AmEx platinum card or timeshare in the Caribbean to make the most of the relationships that matter.

Whether you’re thinking of your best friend since childhood, your new partner-in-crime co-worker, or your partner you just moved in together with — try these 3 ideas this weekend or down the line, and get back to loving the one you’re riding with.

1. Unpack an Unplanned Day: every day is like life — the journey is the destination. But the rigors of trying to relax can make us rigid – and lose sight of the joys available in spontaneity and living in the moment. Decide on a chunk of time – say Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm – and see where the world takes you. On a long drive to nowhere and everywhere, a dinner you would’ve never seen before, or other undiscovered treasures — strapping in for a ride into the unknown with another creates a sense of solidarity and lets you share a new experience with fresh eyes and an open mind, together.
2. Play 36 Questions: According to a recent NY Times article, asking these 3 sets of 12 questions engenders a sense of intimacy between its participants. There’s more to everyone than meets our eyes or history together — asking questions like “Do you have a secret hunch of how you’re going to die?” or describing what your perfect day looks like brings extra love and connection to even the tightest relationships.
3. Staycations: Everyone’s favorite recession move: try it! Book an Airbnb or a cool hotel for a night — it’ll change how you look at things, and how you look at your partner or friend!

Whatever your pleasure, whoever in your life you might be thinking of, relationships are worth it. They’re worth your time and always worth finding ways to have a new pair of glasses to see things differently.