Read Your Way to a Better Relationship
The news is predicting that next week will start to look like Spring around here. Good thing since another day of snow would drive me completely crazy. This year has been the longest winter that I can remember. In a few short days, we'll get to descend from our metaphorical winter caves, dust off the snow, the dreary winter gloom and realize there there's work to be done. At least at my house, we've let ourselves gain a few pounds (to keep us warm of course), we've let our house get messy (things have been busy and I'm on deadline!) and our relationships need a little pick me up.
It's time to spring our butts into gear--physically, mentally and emotionally. But how? The weight, well that's easy. Let me rephrase, the workouts are not easy, but you know what to do--it's the same every year. Hit the gym (or exercise videos if you're like me and prefer other people not watch), consider getting a trainer and change your eating habits.
The mess? It's time to throw stuff away. Give yourself an entire weekend to get your house back into shape and ready for the open doors and windows of spring. I swear you still have a dining room table, you just need to find it (like a fun expedition to discover those letters you received back in November).
But your relationship, eh? There's work to be had! Have you noticed that your relationship has slowed down in all senses of the word since the craziness of the holidays have passed? It's natural to ride a relationship wave, but you have to continue to push it back up to the crest rather than down it. I think the easiest way to get started is to start reading romance novels. Strange advice from a romance writer, right? Maybe I'm a little biased, but they certainly have all sorts of relationship benefits pushed between pages.
Reading a romance novel can help you realign yourself with that romantic frame of mind--a frame of mind that is easy to lose when you're focused on all the other little things in life. Reading about the little and big gestures the characters make helps get your mind turning on what kind of little (and big) things you can do for your partner. Take your partner on a surprise getaway this spring, a picnic in the park or even just pick up their dry cleaning for them. Every little thing counts! Most importantly, they remind us how important those things really are to the other people in our lives.
Romance novels can also help put you back in touch with your sexuality, especially if you happen to read the erotic ones (*hint, hint*). Winter can keep us feeling a little less than sexy and far from being in the mood. Let spring and your favorite book shake the feeling loose by reading about some of the sexy love scenes between the characters. Women are turned on mentally versus men who are turned on visually, so reading an erotic romance novel can help you get turned on before bed and help keep sex on your mind throughout the day.
In the same vein, romance novels can also improve your sex life by introducing you to new role playing ideas, dirty talk and sex toys. Keeping things new and interesting is bed is imperative to having a satisfying sex life, so allow your book to broaden your mind and be open to the idea of getting a toy from Adam and Eve or to dressing up as someone else for the night. Here are some fun role playing ideas to get you started, but I'm sure once you get started you'll be able to come up with plenty of your own!
Finally, reading a romance novel can help improve your communication. Delving into the character's love lives can help you recognize facets of your own relationship that you aren't happy with and push you to express those feelings. Comparing your love life to a fictitious one is not necessarily realistic, but it can make you more reflective. And with reflection should come action. Use your book as a catalyst for a much needed conversation.
Reading a romance novel will not fix your relationship, but it's certainly a great place to start. Fixing, improving and strengthening your relationship will take mutual work, effort and communication coupled with a great read. Spring is here, what are you waiting for?
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It's time to spring our butts into gear--physically, mentally and emotionally. But how? The weight, well that's easy. Let me rephrase, the workouts are not easy, but you know what to do--it's the same every year. Hit the gym (or exercise videos if you're like me and prefer other people not watch), consider getting a trainer and change your eating habits.
The mess? It's time to throw stuff away. Give yourself an entire weekend to get your house back into shape and ready for the open doors and windows of spring. I swear you still have a dining room table, you just need to find it (like a fun expedition to discover those letters you received back in November).
But your relationship, eh? There's work to be had! Have you noticed that your relationship has slowed down in all senses of the word since the craziness of the holidays have passed? It's natural to ride a relationship wave, but you have to continue to push it back up to the crest rather than down it. I think the easiest way to get started is to start reading romance novels. Strange advice from a romance writer, right? Maybe I'm a little biased, but they certainly have all sorts of relationship benefits pushed between pages.
Reading a romance novel can help you realign yourself with that romantic frame of mind--a frame of mind that is easy to lose when you're focused on all the other little things in life. Reading about the little and big gestures the characters make helps get your mind turning on what kind of little (and big) things you can do for your partner. Take your partner on a surprise getaway this spring, a picnic in the park or even just pick up their dry cleaning for them. Every little thing counts! Most importantly, they remind us how important those things really are to the other people in our lives.
Romance novels can also help put you back in touch with your sexuality, especially if you happen to read the erotic ones (*hint, hint*). Winter can keep us feeling a little less than sexy and far from being in the mood. Let spring and your favorite book shake the feeling loose by reading about some of the sexy love scenes between the characters. Women are turned on mentally versus men who are turned on visually, so reading an erotic romance novel can help you get turned on before bed and help keep sex on your mind throughout the day.
In the same vein, romance novels can also improve your sex life by introducing you to new role playing ideas, dirty talk and sex toys. Keeping things new and interesting is bed is imperative to having a satisfying sex life, so allow your book to broaden your mind and be open to the idea of getting a toy from Adam and Eve or to dressing up as someone else for the night. Here are some fun role playing ideas to get you started, but I'm sure once you get started you'll be able to come up with plenty of your own!
Finally, reading a romance novel can help improve your communication. Delving into the character's love lives can help you recognize facets of your own relationship that you aren't happy with and push you to express those feelings. Comparing your love life to a fictitious one is not necessarily realistic, but it can make you more reflective. And with reflection should come action. Use your book as a catalyst for a much needed conversation.
Reading a romance novel will not fix your relationship, but it's certainly a great place to start. Fixing, improving and strengthening your relationship will take mutual work, effort and communication coupled with a great read. Spring is here, what are you waiting for?
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