Celebrate Valentine's Day All Year Long

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Celebrate Valentine's Day All Year Long

Ideas for Couples

So, it's almost February, and you will have noticed that increase in red, white, and pink all over - especially in card stores and florist shops. Valentine's Day often carries a lot of expectation for both singles and couples.

For singles, I've created a list of 15 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day as a Single.

What about couples who, perhaps, enjoy Valentine's Day, but also want to enjoy that “Valentine's Day” feeling all through the year?

The following are 10 simple tips to make everyday Valentine's Day:

1) Start every day with a good morning hug and kiss. This affectionate connection will start your day off right, and will keep you feeling close even when life is hectic and stressed. It's also great to kiss, at least briefly, when you get home from work. This establishes a sense of intimacy between the two of you.

2) Create regular “date” or “couple” time. Plan this first. Many times, couples (especially those with young children) attend to everything else first and their relationship last. While, sometimes, this is absolutely necessary - sometimes it's not. In these times, it is really helpful to build in “couple” time (a date out for dinner and a movie, or a walk in the woods) first, and to plan your other responsibilities around it. You'll find that, with a regular pattern of spending time with your spouse, you'll feel naturally closer and fight less.

3) Turn off the television and decrease time on the Internet. One study indicated that people who spend several hours a day watching TV and surfing the Internet (combined) were more likely to be depressed. Depression can show up as irritability, loss of interest, and low mood which can drive a couple further apart. Keep your hands off the remote control and the keyboard, and spend some of this time together instead.

4) Dress up for each other. It is great, now and then, to get back in touch with the vibrant, dynamic, sexy person you were when you first met. Take the time to look nice for each other and to create special occasions to dress up and fan the flames of attraction.

5) Look each other in the eyes. Very often, couples communicate without making eye contact. This can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings and anger. Instead, when you are talking to your partner, make eye contact, and hold it. This will help you both feel more like a team and can smooth out any rough spots in your communication.

6) Keep up with your manners. “Hello and goodbye, please, and thank you” are small ways to keep showing appreciation which can enhance the experience of intimacy. Plus, it's good role modeling for your children, teaching them about courtesy and respect, and valuing others.

7) Encourage a bit of mystery. Most couples begin to take each other for granted because they share all aspects of physical intimacy such as undressing in front of each other, leaving the door open while using the bathroom or while performing personal grooming, etc. It can do wonders for your relationship by encouraging a little mystery now and then. “I wonder what she's doing in there…?” “What did he do to look so good?”

8) Touch each other every chance you get. Nothing communicates closeness and companionship like touch. Hold hands, touch each other on the arm, stroke his or her cheek. Physical affection is a great way to support your connection as a couple.

9) Flirt like heck. Keep the flirting alive in your relationship, tease each other and appreciate each other, and allow your attraction to stay alive. Even if there are some things you wish were different about your partner find ways to appreciate everything you can and do this both verbally, and through your body language, too!

10) Repeat. Regular practice of each of these strategies will help you keep the excitement and passion alive, making every day your personal Valentine's Day.