It's the little things that make her swoon.
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To be clear: Despite what rom-coms and the above headline might imply, romance isn't simple. In fact, there's no formula, fix, or surefire move that will automatically make you worthy of a Luther Vandross lyric. That's because romance depends on so many factors—from your relationship status (are you courting or are you comfortable?) to all the other internal stuff that you bring to a relationship, a rendezvous, or any one moment in time. And that's not even including the factors like self-esteem and trust that influence how we give and receive romantic gestures throughout our lives.Despite romance's complexities, that doesn't mean you can't improve your amorous arsenal with your partner. After all, isn't the whole point to dance with your beloved through life in sync, close together, and maybe even a little sweaty, too? So read on, and learn how to raise your romance-level through the roof.
1.Hug Like a Dog
Hugs and kisses should have energy, says Dr. Jessica O'Reilly, host of the @SexWithDrJess Podcast. "Use your dog's energy and enthusiasm as inspiration," she says. "When a dog greets you with a wagging tail and affection, it calms your nerves and makes you feel loved."
2.Text an Emoji for No Reason
Shoot her the old "heart eyes" in the middle of the day.
3.Give This as a "Just Because" Gift
A favorite Instagram post of the two of you, printed and framed.
4.Commit to One Minute
Take 60 seconds every day to do something that makes your partner feel important, says O'Reilly. That can be anything from making their tea to warming up the car to cleaning a laptop screen. "Small favors pack a huge punch in terms of maintain the connection," she says. "When you make them feel important, they benefit from a boost in serotonin, which can help you ignite passion in the relationship."
5.Thanking for the Little Things Means a Lot
Say thank you for things you take for granted, like grocery shopping or any kind of run-of-the-mill responsibilities, says O'Reilly. It reduces the resentment and increases the harmony, she says.
6.You Can Never Go Wrong With Extra Attention
To the neck.
7.Warm Wins
Greet your partner exiting the shower with a towel you just took out of the dryer.
8.Memorize the Law of Floral Relativity
Getting flowers < knowing which flowers to get < Surprising with flowers for no reason at all.
9.Memorize the Law of Domestic Relativity
Doing chores < doing your partner's chores < cleaning the toilet/sheets/towels before they need cleaning.
10.Memorize the Law of Social Media Relativity
Posting < commenting < keeping it to yourself.
11.Prepare More Meals Together
Ava Cadell, Ph.D., author of Neuroloveology: The Power of Mindful Love & Sex, recommends a fruit salad as the go-to dish. "I know it sounds simple," she says, "but once you stand by side, slicing juicy mangos, peaches, oranges, plums, and apricots, it won't be long until you'll be feeding each other the succulent fruit."
12.Back Off Sometimes
Smothering may work for butter, gravy, and marinara, but not for relationships. Time alone makes for better time together.
13.Say These Phrases More Often
"You look…"
"Miss you."
"Wanna dance?"
14.Say These Phrases Much Less
"Wanna [other verb]?"
"I think."
"Dilly dilly."
15.New Never Gets Old
Date night for long-term couples should use strategies from short-term couples: Trying something new each time. Studies show that novelty is good for romance. It can be as simple as driving across town for dinner to get away from routine spots or more elaborate outings like doing some kind of weekend retreat that focuses on something like cooking or yoga.
16.Take Turns Taking Charge
Goes for decision-making, meal-making, love-making.
17.Sugar Needs to Overpower the Salt
Research shows that when communicating with a partner, you need to make five positive comments for every negative one, says Sadie Leder Elder, Ph.D., associate professor at High Point University who studies romantic relationships.
18.It's Better in Real Life Than in an Emoji
A wink is only effective if it comes sparingly and selectively.
19.Volunteer Together
Research shows that those who do something altruistic outside of the relationship have a better connection.
20.Write More
Love notes are good. I'm-sorry notes are better.
21.Cheer!
Treat good news from your partner the way you would a sporting event. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found better relationship satisfaction when a person was very enthusiastic about good news from their partner.
22.Play
Ping pong.
23.Untether When You're Together.
A Baylor University study found lower relationship satisfaction when couples perceived their partners choosing their phones over them.
24.Don't Try Too Hard
Cliché that doesn't come off like one: Wine, pizza, and a movie. Cliché that does: 4-foot tall stuffed animals.
25.Share
Dessert. The remote. Laps.
26.Do Not Share
Toothbrushes. Offices. Sub-tweets about your relationship.
27.Schedule Some Stealth Convo Time
If logistically possible, carpool every so often. It's a chance to catch up and slow down in an otherwise hectic schedule.
28.Get Away
Hike a little more. Hustle a little less.
29.Accordion the Way You Touch Each Other
Vary from so-so-so-so light to love-love-you tight.
30.Shop for Smells
Candles can bring different scents into your home, but you can make the smells even more personal by taking a trip to a spice or herb market and picking out ones you both like, Cadell says. Combine them to make a customized bowl of scents for the bedroom.
31.Summons Your Inner Detective
Notice something that never gets noticed.
32.Give In
You don't need to win every disagreement. The willingness to sacrifice is a big component of increasing connectedness in a relationship, Elder says.
33.Practice Patience
Undress yourselves slowly and silently, Cadell suggests. Watch. Listen. Wait.
34.Good Ears Will Never Let You Down
Tune in for birthday-present hints starting at 180 days out, not 180 minutes.
35.Text for More Than Logistics
Wordplay is foreplay.
36.After-play Is As Important
One recent study showed that both relationship and sexual satisfaction increased when as much time was spent being close with each other after sex as it was beforehand.
37.Customize Every Toast
When you clink glasses, say something short, say something specific, say something sneaky. "For helping our daughter with her history project" trumps "Cheers."
38.Volley, Volley, Volley
Ask more than you answer.
39.Add This to Your Shopping List
One of Cadell's favorite ways to sweeten sex is a game using honey, your body, and blindfold.
40.Use Your Bathroom Better
Shave her legs. Shave his face. Hot water, lather, steam, skin, and sharp objects make a cocktail of trust and sensuality.
40.Keep Your Eyes Open During Sex
Especially at the most vulnerable moment, Cadell says. "Even sexier than seeing is to truly feel like you are being seen," she says.
41.Get Away to Get Together
Vacations, even for one night, can start the simmering. Vacations, if they involve bathing suits and bodies of water, raise the temp to boiling.
42.Read the Most Important Sentence in This Whole Piece
The most underrated use of your own tongue: Biting it.
43.Surprise More
Remembering a wedding anniversary is a given. Remembering a stealthier anniversary—a first date, a first sight—is golden.
44.Forgive Mistakes More Easily
People with high self-esteem report having higher levels of connectedness, Elder says. Part of that comes from feelings of unconditional love—the kind that parents give children, she says. That doesn't mean you can't have conflict, but forgiveness shows relationships are less fragile.
45.Share Content
Send an appropriate-to-your-partner story link with the subject line "reminded me of you."
46.Walk the Dog Together
And not as a chore. It's a time to bond, a time to chat, and a time to—literally and metaphorically—show that you're willing to be the one to clean up the crap.
47.Commit to 15 Minutes
One night a week, help each other stretch before bed.
48.Be Kind
To your partner's other circles—friends, family, co-workers—even if you mix together like OJ and toothpaste.
49.Compliment
Accomplishments as much as—if not more than—appearances.
50.Hold Hands
When nobody is watching. When everybody is watching.
Ted Spiker