Romance comes easily at the beginning of a relationship. Everything is new, thrilling, and romantic gestures are abundant. Once the newness is replaced with familiarity and you settle into everyday life with your partner, the excitement and spontaneity can fade. It's natural to get swept up in the day-to-day monotony of life and take your partner and your relationship for granted. However, the myth that long-term relationships inevitably get dull and passionless is just that: a myth. Partners who make an effort and prioritize their relationship strengthen the fabric of their relationship to weather any storm and keep the intimacy thriving long term.

By following some of the tips below and adjusting them to fit you and your partner's needs, you can infuse the fun and excitement back into your relationship.

• Date each other often - Making date night a regular occurrence can do wonders to take you out of the everyday rut, provide new experiences and shared memories, and ensure you spend quality time with your partner.
• Learn each other's "love languages" - Do you know how your partner likes to give and receive love? The five "love languages" are words of affirmation, giving/receiving gifts, acts of service, spending quality time, and physical touch. With insight into your partner's "love language," you can communicate affection in a way that makes a significant impact. To learn more, visit https://www.5lovelanguages.com/. 
• Take something off their plate - If your partner is always the one doing a particular chore, perhaps it's time you stepped in and did it for them once in a while. Make sure you take the time to do it correctly, though, so your partner doesn't have to redo it. Something like doing the dishes might not seem romantic, but they will see the act of freeing up their time as incredibly loving and thoughtful.
• Create unplugged moments - Turn off the television and put your phones away. Take some quiet time to be with your partner without interruptions.
• Pay compliments - We can tend to take our partner and their actions for granted over time. Acknowledging when your partner does something you're proud of, pointing out things you love about them, and thanking them can improve the way both of you feel.
• Touch, touch, touch - Don't underestimate the power of physical contact outside of the bedroom to keep the romance alive. Intimate moments such as giving each other massages, taking a hot bath together, and dancing in private brings you in touch with your partner, literally and figuratively.
• Redefine the honeymoon - Honeymoons don't have to be only for newlyweds. Make a new tradition to go on a couple's vacation without the kids once in a while to destress and reconnect.
• Get a hobby - Spending time together is important, but so is exploring your passions as an individual. Having a hobby or pursuing an interest improves your mood and quality of life and gives you something new to talk about with your partner.

The bottom line is if you take the time to refocus on your partner and prioritize the relationship, your passion won't fade. New experiences, surprising moments, and tender affection provide for a full and exciting life together.