Activities to Try With Your Spouse for a Stronger Marriage

Getting married is a real privilege. You and your partner say your vows and agree to love and uphold each other for the rest of your lives. It can be an exciting day when you say yes to your loved one, and no married couple would disagree that you are in for an adventure.

However, marriage takes a lot of work. You may often hear that cliche, but it is 100% true. If you plan to coast through your relationship, putting in minimal effort and relying on the feeling of love to get you through the next 30, 40, 0r 50+ years, then it is going to be a struggle. A marriage requires proactive investment by both parties to be successful.

One of the simplest ways to put effort into a marriage is to continue doing activities together. You can think of this as dating. Never stop looking for things to do and try with your spouse, as these activities can bring you closer together and add more intimacy to the relationship. Here are a few ideas that you should consider.

Cook Together

Depending on the couple, there could be a differentiation of tasks that occur in the home. Maybe one of your cooks more than the other, or you both take turns preparing the meals. One small step that can improve your relationship is cooking together, especially for a nice meal. This time in the kitchen can be very valuable as you work together to create a challenging dish, laughing at the mistakes and encouraging each other from the successes. There are some places where you can even go out for a date and cook together for a class. Find a challenging recipe that intrigues both of you and work together to create the end product. If it tastes bad, at least you made it together and had fun.

Go Dancing

Combine physical fitness with intimacy by learning to dance together. Depending on where you live, there may be lessons for every form of dance. Head to a ballroom dance lesson to learn about this classy artform, or enjoy the health benefits of country swing dancing that is a little more upbeat and casual. As you learn the steps together, you will become closer, all while laughing together and feeling the rhythm of the music. It is a great way to spend an evening, and if you like to travel, it can be fun to explore the local culture by searching for dance lessons nearby. Plus, you will have an activity to do when you are in the comfort of your home.

Consider Counseling

The words “counseling” and “therapy” may sound scary to certain individuals. Perhaps you see them only as solutions to a failing marriage, not something for healthy relationships. However, couples counseling can be beneficial for all types of couples, whether they are struggling with communication or are thriving. The reality of marriage is that, at some point, there are going to be challenges. It would be helpful to have some known strategies for dealing with these challenges by having attended counseling together in the past. While this may not be a fun, adventurous activity to try, it can nonetheless be a massive benefit to your relationship.

Attend an Art Class

The feeling of accomplishment that you get when you create something original is tough to beat. Now imagine getting to do so alongside your spouse. Taking an art class together is a fun idea that lets you stretch your creativity and imagination. You could attend a portrait class, a woodworking session, or a clay sculpture course. There are many forms of art, and you never know what hidden talents or passions may be discovered when you both try something new together.

Learn a Language

If you are looking for a long-term investment that will require a lot of work, then learning a new language with your spouse could be a unique option. There are lots of online tools to help you learn a new language, and doing so alongside your spouse can make it even more fun. You can challenge each other to work harder, testing out what you have learned and working together to reach your goals. The added benefit of learning a new language is getting to use your knowledge if you travel to a country that speaks that language.

The Time Matters More Than the Activity

Something to keep in mind as you experiment with these activities is that what you are doing does not matter as much as the time spent doing it. For example, you could take an art class and find out that neither of you has any skills whatsoever. In fact, your clay creations may have been a complete mess. But the important thing is you tried something new, and you did it with each other. Keep that in mind for all your dates and activities. Focus on building the relationship rather than perfecting whatever activity you are doing.