Cue the mooshy love songs, things are about to get super cheesey over here.
The kind of cheesey that if you don’t like to eat everything heart shaped on Valentine’s Day then you probably won’t want to read this, kind of cheesey.
This coming weekend, Steve and I will be celebrating our 6 year anniversary. That means 6 years ago, this guy picked me up at a freshman college Christmas party where I was dressed in wrapping paper (yes, one of those super classy wrapping paper and duck tape dresses we’ve all seen on pinterest) and told me he thought I was pretty cute and wanted to take me out to dinner some time. One date lead to another and one phone call and text led to many more before I found myself introducing him to my friends as my “boyfriend”.
Fast forward 6 years and this guy, who somehow found my wrapping paper dress normal enough to continue talking to me, and I now live in the same city and couldn’t be happier together.
Long distance dating, many late night phone calls, being my main support system when my many “failed to have lead to a job” internships had me down, countless train rides back and forth to visit each other, always being my +1 at events and pushing me every day (even when it required to move 7 hours away) to pursue my dreams, this guy has been there through it all and after 6 years of dating he still knows how to give me butterflies:)
Did I loose you yet?
What, you want me to keep going.
Ok, if you insist.
Just kidding, the mooshy part is over. Yes, I promise. Now to the good stuff.
After 6 years of dating, I’ve found I get asked the same questions all the time. “Do you guys still go on dates?” “Do you still kiss each other after that long?” “Do you get bored all the time?”
Come on now people, we’re not dead. So to keep things alive (including people’s perspectives obviously) I’m sharing my top tips for a long-term relationship.
Here are some of the tops things Steve and I have learned throughout the past 6 years!
1. Own Your Own Relationship.
Everyone’s relationship is unique and their own. Maybe you’re the traveling couple who explores new cities together or the couple that loves a movie night in with friends instead of being alone. Maybe you’re the couple who likes to go to sports games and drink a few too many beers together. Whatever it is you enjoy together and what makes you happy together, is what makes your relationship different and perfect in your own unique way.
2. Start Traditions.
When you think traditions, you probably think “oh that’s for couples with kids”, but traditions can start at anytime and if you’ve been together long enough it’s fun to have some started early on. It doesn’t have to be a holiday tradition, but can be something you look forward to together every year. Every winter Steve and I have a tradition of ice skating at an outdoor rink in the park. We try to find new ones each year to switch it up, but it has become one of our favorite things to do when it gets cold.
3. Take turns.
Just like you learned when growing up, take turns. Something Steve and I have found to be important is that we both contribute to the relationship 50/50 style. We take turns planning date nights, picking up the tab at dinner, going out with each others’ friends, making the bed in the morning, cooking dinner at home/doing dishes, etc. Sometimes after dating for awhile you find that “well that person always does that” and then just assume that they will continue cooking dinner or planning date night, but switching it up and taking turns can definitely keep things interesting and not put all the pressure on one person to constantly come up with where to go eat or to do the dishes after dinner.
4. Be Spontaneous.
Ok you’ve been together for awhile and you know each other better than the back of your hand, that doesn’t mean you have to be boring. No snooze fest relationships over here. Surprise your significant other with something unexpected, it can be as small as love notes on the bathroom mirror or a card in the mail or maybe it’s something bigger and you plan a fancy dinner date or romantic weekend getaway.
5. Send Love Notes.
One of the biggest tips about long-term dating that I can give is to say “I Love You” to each other every single day. Although you both know you love each other, it’s always nice having that sweet reminder:) Seems easy, right? Well, guess what..is it! A text, phone call, in person or one of my favorite’s, with love notes is the perfect way to remind each other of your love. Something I’ll never forget is when Steve wrote love notes and hid them in places where I would find them throughout the day (see I told you he knows me like the back of his hand;)). It was the cutest reminder when drinking my morning coffee, opening my lunch at work and getting my train pass out for my commute home to be reminded of his love.
6. Have fun!
We’ve all heard the saying, things aren’t just fun and games but in a relationship…that saying might as well be tossed out the window. We don’t date someone because we’re told to, we date them because we have fun with them and want to be around them. So let your hair loose, don’t go by your planner for a change and have fun together! Try a new neighborhood spot or stay in and play board games.
In a long-term relationship? What have you found to be the best tips and date ideas?