Relationships require work. Whether you have been married for many years or only have been dating for a handful of months, it is essential that you put in the effort required. Even when you share a connection with someone that feels natural and comfortable, taking additional steps can help to keep your bond strong far into the future. People change as time moves forward, and checking in with your partner every now and again to develop your relationship is a sensible way to work on your connection. Here are some steps you can take for developing your relationship.

Every Day Counts

A very important bit of information to keep in mind is that every single day you spend with your significant other counts toward how you both feel in the future about the relationship. What this means is you cannot rush through a few days of going above and beyond for your partner and then let things slide the rest of the year. Putting in an effort on a daily basis can help to boost your connection, and best of all, it becomes less of an effort the more you commit to the actions.

The trick is discovering what “effort” means in your specific relationship. In many cases, it is beneficial to consider the needs of your partner when you wish to improve your everyday rituals. If you wake before your significant other each day for work, then you may want to start each morning by making a pot of coffee for when your partner gets up. Working on a relationship means acknowledging your partner’s needs and taking the right actions to meet those needs. Little gestures and surprises can go a long way to help keep your bond strong.

Emotional Intimacy 

Being intimate is a big part of being in a relationship. Unfortunately, a vast majority of people assume that being intimate is all about sexual contact. While a healthy sex life is an important part of a healthy romantic relationship, being intimate is about far more than what happens in the bedroom. Emotional intimacy can be difficult to develop, especially when your relationship is still somewhat new. Meeting your partner’s emotional needs comes down to communication, observation, and an understanding of his or her relationship history with other partners, friends, and family members.

For LGBT couples, developing emotional intimacy can be difficult because of cultural norms. For a majority of gay men, the world of hookup apps like Grindr and Scruff have made fleeting sexual encounters a higher priority than lasting connections. Because of this, many men struggle with developing emotional intimacy. Though it might be difficult at times, committing to daily check-ins with your significant other and asking the right questions can help you both figure out how to best handle the emotional needs of the other.

The Importance of Date Night

The longer you’ve been together, the easier it is to feel like you don’t need to put in as much work anymore. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Often, you need to work even harder when you’ve been with a person for a long time because you are both used to each other and your quirks, faults, and excuses. One way to keep your connection strong far into the future is by keeping a weekly date night. This provides you with a reason to always sit down with each other and make the attempt to connect.

Developing a relationship takes time and a lot of work but these steps can help build a lasting relationship. While the bond you share with your partner might be unique, there are some universal tips to remember as you work on it. Remember that no matter how long you’ve been together, putting in the effort and developing emotional intimacy will work wonders for the longevity of your relationship.