In the hustle of everyday life, it’s easy for fun to slip through the cracks in a relationship. Yet playfulness and shared joy are essential components of a healthy, thriving partnership. The good news is that it’s never too late to infuse your relationship with a little more fun! Whether you’re just starting out or have been together for years, making time for fun can strengthen your bond and create lasting memories.
The Importance of Fun
Renowned relationship expert John Gottman emphasizes the significance of fun in relationships. Simply put, Gottman’s research proves that couples who play together, stay together. Why? Because shared enjoyment and playful interactions can deepen connection and mitigate conflicts. When couples prioritize fun, they often experience increased positivity, better communication, and a stronger sense of togetherness.
Simple Ways to Bring Fun into Your Relationship
At Core Values Counseling, we’ll remind you again and again that having fun with your partner is key, and we’ve already written quite a lot about it! Pulled from our blog archives, here are a few time-tested tips for upping the fun factor in your relationship:
1. Make Time for Play
Just like you schedule work meetings and appointments, schedule time for fun. Whether it’s a regular date night or spontaneous adventures, carving out time for playful activities is crucial. In this post on one of the Gottman Eight Dates, we underscore how engaging in new and exciting activities can reignite the spark and bring fresh energy into your relationship.
2. Rekindle Friendship
Before romance, there’s friendship. The foundation of any lasting relationship is a deep, enduring friendship. Rediscover the joy of simply being together, whether that’s through shared hobbies, inside jokes, or lighthearted teasing. Investing in your friendship can lead to a more fulfilling and fun partnership. And who doesn’t want that?
3. Embrace Spontaneity
Life can be full of surprises, and so can your relationship. Being spontaneous, even in small ways, can inject a sense of excitement and unpredictability that keeps the relationship dynamic. Whether it’s a surprise weekend getaway or an impromptu dance in the living room, these moments of spontaneity can break the routine and bring you closer together.
4. Celebrate the Small Moments
Not every moment has to be a grand adventure. Sometimes, the simplest things can bring the most joy. In this post, chock-full of 20 great tips, we make the case that even little gestures, like leaving a sweet note or planning a picnic in the park, can bring warmth and laughter into your relationship.
Bringing Fun Back into Focus
If your relationship has been feeling a bit too serious lately, it might be time to focus on fun. Take inspiration from our blog post All Work, No Play, and remember that a balanced relationship is one where work and play coexist harmoniously. Fun isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. By prioritizing it, you’re not only enhancing your relationship but also creating a joyful, fulfilling life together.
So, start small, be intentional, and watch how the simple act of infusing fun into your relationship can lead to deeper connection and lasting happiness.
And if you want to kick things up a notch, consider attending one of our upcoming Art and Science of Love or Art and Science of Love 2 workshops. These are great opportunities to tune into one another, build your friendship, and have some fun along the way!
Photo by Jared Sluyter on Unsplash
