Never Let Your Spark Fizzle
After decades of hard work building your career, now it's truly your time. Retirement should be about enjoying your twilight years with your spouse, exploring things you didn't have time for before, and whittling away the days in blissful romance. This can be easier said than done, but focusing on some key points can help you keep the fire in your relationship going strong well into retirement. Here are 20 things you can do to help keep your marriage spicy.
1. Don't Set An Alarm
You're probably used to waking up with an alarm as it's how you've started your days for decades. However, part of what's nice about being retired is that you don't have to. Prioritizing sleep will allow you to wake up relaxed and refreshed, the perfect set-up for romance.
2. Share Household Chores
It may seem unrelated to keeping things spicy, but an imbalance in household chores is one of the main reasons couples fight. If your partner is doing everything around the house, they won't have the energy or desire to turn the heat up in the bedroom.
3. Be Impulsive
Keep your lives exciting by taking random adventures, dropping in on friends, or going to the cinema or theater. Breaking free from your routine is a great way to keep having fun together.
4. Maintain Independence
As much as you love spending time together, don't underestimate the importance of maintaining your independence as well. After you retire, you'll be spending almost all your time at home together so scheduling time for your individual hobbies or time separately with friends takes on a whole new significance.
5. Keep In Shape
Just because you're retired doesn't give you a license to let yourself go. Staying healthy and fit will allow you to continue looking yummy for your partner.
6. Try New Activities Together
Trying a new activity together that interests you both is a great way to have fun and keep the spark alive. This can be taking a dance class, joining a club, or learning a new art skill.
7. Surprise Each Other
It may seem impossible to continue to surprise each other after decades together, but just remember that it's not. It can be as simple as picking up a bouquet of flowers or as fancy as booking a surprise vacation.
8. Prioritize Intimacy
Intimacy isn't just sex, it's holding hands, cuddling, and kissing too. Maintaining this physical closeness even after you've been together for a long time is key to keeping the flame alive. It tells your partner you're still crazy about them.
9. Celebrate Your Love
Whether it's with an anniversary party or by renewing your vows, having a celebration for your love is a great way to re-ignite some fire when you feel it stagnating. Have your friends and family over and plan a big party reminiscent of your wedding.
10. Prioritize Romance
Don't underestimate the power of romantic gestures. They never get stale, no matter how long you've been together. Wining and dining over candlelight, going out dancing, or delighting in a sunset are some classic examples.
11. Go On Dates
Never stop going out on dates together. Getting out of the house and having a change of scenery, even if it's just down the block, takes on a new significance after you retire.
12. Communicate Effectively
Communicating effectively never gets less important no matter how long you've been together. It's the key to any healthy relationship.
13. Have A Shared Vision For Retirement
Living out a shared dream is the most blissful way to spend your retirement. Communicate with each other early on what you hope to achieve with your twilight years and you'll have the time of your lives.
14. Revisit Your Love Story
Don't you love seeing older couples light up when they talk about how they met? This could be you. Continue to reminisce about the early days of your romance whenever you have the chance and bask in those pleasant memories.
15. Stay Playful
Playfulness is often the sign of a happy couple. Don't take yourselves too seriously and remember to have fun. These years are all about enjoying your time together.
16. Flirt With Each Other
It doesn't matter how long you've been together. Continue to flirt with each other to keep things spicy.
17. Regularly Express Gratitude For Each Other
Don't be one of those old, bitter couples. Always maintain respect and gratitude for one another, after all, you have plenty to be thankful for. This will keep warm, happy feelings flowing.
18. Keep Learning About Each Other
It may seem impossible to keep learning things about each other after so many years but keep in mind all the years you spent working, not spending so much quality time with each other. There's bound to be some things from those years that you never talked about. Additionally, keep things fresh by continuing to explore individual interests and share your thoughts and learning with each other.
19. Work Together On Something You're Both Passionate About
Whether it's volunteering together, taking on a household project, or traveling, sharing a passion is a great way to keep things fresh. After all, excitement and passion go hand-in-hand.
20. Be Kind To Each Other
Too often are older couples synonymous with bickering. Don't be one of those. If you find you're getting fed up with each other, take some time apart and rekindle in a better mood.
