It can be easy to get into the routine of going through your day with the best 20 bonding activities for couples, doing what you need to do, and then sitting down in front of the TV at night with your spouse and trying to watch your favorite show together.
This sort of daily routine can cause you to neglect the things that really matter, especially if you’re married or in another long-term relationship(1) with someone. On any given day, there are 20 different bonding activities you can do with your partner to help keep things fresh and remind you both why you love each other so much.
When you’re in a healthy, committed relationship, it’s important to make time every day to connect with your partner(2). Even if you’re busy with work and family life, there are still plenty of activities that you can do together to help strengthen your bond as you build your family and work towards building the life of your dreams together.
Is It Normal For Couples To Bond At Home?
It is absolutely normal for couples to bond sometimes at home. We’re so busy with our lives that we can forget to take time for ourselves and each other. Even if you don’t have kids or work 40 hours a week, it can be easy to get lost in a normal routine(3). That’s why date nights are important—not just so that you stay connected on an emotional level but also so that you don’t take each other for granted.
What Should Couples Do To Bond At Home Without Breaking Budget?
These activities cost little to no money, but they will bring you closer together as a couple. Cooking together, bathing together, making love, eating together, singing together. These bonding activities will also keep your relationship fresh and new as well as prevent you from taking each other for granted. When we get into routines we stop appreciating our spouses(4)—we lose sight of what brought us together in the first place;
Best Bonding Activities for Couples
The list below will give you ideas to choose from so that your relationship continues to grow stronger with each passing day!
1. Go On A Movie Date
If you’re a married couple who isn’t always sure what to do on date night(5), think back to your courting days. Go out on a movie date! It doesn’t matter if it’s first or fifth date; grab some popcorn and pick out a fun flick you haven’t seen before. If you can barely keep your hands off each other throughout The Hobbit, then stick with action movies.
But if one of you likes horror flicks while another loves rom-com, find something in between that both of you will enjoy. Be warned: You might end up going home early because you don’t want to miss anything! Remember to make time for kisses in between commercial breaks. Even a quick peck is enough to rekindle those butterflies from when you were just dating.
Or, be more daring and try these sexy kissing ideas that will leave him begging for more (even after he has his fill).
2. Paint Each Other’s Nails
Paint your partner’s nails with each other—it’s one of my favorite bonding activities because it feels like you’re dating again. Take turns painting each other’s fingernails or toenails and talk about what you want to do when you grow up (the joke being that at this point in your life, most of us have grown up). Alternatively, try a video game together. My husband and I love playing Mario Kart on our Wii.
I’m not very good, but he is. It makes me feel more connected to him when we play games together.
And if you don’t have time for activity from start to finish, make time anyway! Just sitting next to each other while doing something else is a great way to bond as well. If you’re watching TV, turn off subtitles; if you’re reading a book, set down your Kindle; and if you’re online, closeout of any tabs that aren’t essential. These small gestures(6) help remind couples how much they mean to each other.
3. Buy Each Other Gifts
There’s no single way to bond with your significant other, and you don’t need a certain number of activities to get closer. Buying each other gifts is one of many bonding activities that can strengthen your relationship. Find a thoughtful but inexpensive gift he or she will love—think personalized jewelry or kitchenware—and make a special trip to deliver it.
The key is getting creative and doing something that means something: It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive—just unique! Remember, quality time spent together beats quantity every time.
4. Sing Karaoke Together
In 2000 (the last time we looked at adult bonding activities), it was karaoke that topped our list of favorite ways to bond with a significant other. Singing karaoke creates an environment where partners feel comfortable making fun of each other, and getting up in front of strangers is sure to make you more vulnerable than you would be otherwise.
If you’re not big on singing, check out some local comedy clubs or improv groups—both are great opportunities to laugh together and show off your sense of humor. And if all else fails, there’s always dancing! Dancing can help couples rekindle romance or strengthen their connection by allowing them to express themselves through movement. Plus, dancing is just plain fun!
5. Have A Fun Game Night
Game nights are fun bonding activities that can be less expensive than going out and can also be more enjoyable than binge-watching Netflix. Try simple board games like Scrabble or Boggle or a great family game night activity like Taboo (instead of watching TV).
You can also organize competitions where you guess how many ping pong balls fit in an empty fish tank—or try 2000 paper clips instead! Another option is to have a DIY night where you create something together: make your own candles, play with playdough, or build something from scratch.
6. Sleep In The Same Bed
Studies have shown that couples who sleep in separate beds are less happy in their relationships. Get some quality time with your partner by laying next to each other—even if you’re not going to sleep. By contrast, couples who spend eight hours a night apart may be predisposed to divorce.
If you don’t think you can handle sleeping together, at least try to spend an hour or two every day together. This will give you something to look forward to and help rekindle the romance in your relationship. Plus, when it comes to getting into bed, more often is better than less. The more frequently you get intimate with your spouse, even without having sex, the happier both of you will be in your marriage.
According to research from Brigham Young University, people who had sex once a week were happier than those who had sex less frequently. Those who had it more than once a week were even happier still. But frequency isn’t everything:
People in sexually active marriages reported greater happiness if they felt like they could confide in their partners about problems, compared with those whose partners didn’t want to hear about what was on their minds.
7. Visit Local Landmarks Together
The four most visited landmark destinations in America are all monuments, according to Travel and Leisure magazine. These include the Empire State Building in New York City (roughly 4 million visitors per year),
Independence Hall in Philadelphia (1.6 million visitors), Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota (800,000 visitors), and The Alamo in San Antonio (600,000 visitors). Perhaps these sites could be your next great bonding activity as a married couple? After all, who doesn’t love a good selfie or photo opp?
8. Go Out For Coffee And Conversation
Caffeine is a great conversation starter and mood booster. Going out for coffee provides a chance to catch up with your spouse on how their day went. If you’re looking to keep it low-key, grab a seat at an outdoor café and talk about your hopes, fears, and future dreams.
Even if it feels like there isn’t much going on in your life, chances are you can find some common ground in reminiscing over past memories. Even if you don’t know what to say, simply listening to each other will be beneficial—after all, most people feel like they aren’t being heard enough.
Also, while some may view going out for coffee as a frivolous expense, consider that spending money on experiences instead of things makes them more memorable and enjoyable.
As Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton says: Money can buy happiness, but only to a point…[W]hen basic needs are met, extra money does little to boost happiness further. This is why putting money toward things like experiences (like coffee dates) or helping others might make you happier than buying yourself that new outfit or gadget.
Best Bonding Activities For Married Couples
The list below will give you ideas to choose from so that your relationship continues to grow stronger with each passing day!
1. Cooking
The beauty of cooking together is that there are no specific rules to follow. Experiment with a few recipes, then try your hand at creating something totally new. If you’re not sure where to start, be inspired by a favorite cookbook or recipe website. Then make it your own and add in personal touches as you go along.
Keep in mind that different ingredients and flavors will encourage conversation about how things were growing up or how much food means to you—and what memories come along with those tastes and aromas. A meal made from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated; even simple tasks like chopping vegetables can get conversations flowing.
So get creative, use your senses, and let your culinary creativity flow! Finally, cooking together is important in bonding Activities for Couples.
2. Cleaning The House
You may think that cleaning your house isn’t a bonding activity. That’s because you haven’t tried it yet. You see, to make sure you get a full-body workout while simultaneously bonding with your spouse or significant other, there are two things to remember:
Don’t clean your house by yourself (because why would you want to do that?) and don’t clean with chemicals (because … why would you ever want to expose yourself to potentially toxic(7) substances?
Unless you’re in need of an intense detox.) Instead, find an eco-friendly cleaner like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner—and then grab a broom and get going! For added fun, try these tips from Huffington Post blogger Erika Jensen on how to create bonding time while doing chores together.
3. Eating Together
When researchers studied married couples over a 20-year period, they found that eating dinner together most nights of the week was one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. If you have kids or work late and dinner time seems impossible to pencil in during your jam-packed week, it’s worth finding ways to connect at another time during your day.
It doesn’t have to be a sit-down meal; grab a coffee on your way home from work, take turns cooking dinner for each other (or order takeout), or set aside some time before bed to chat about your days.
The important thing is that you find some way to make sure you spend quality time with each other every day—it will help strengthen your bond and give you something positive to look forward to all week long.
4. kissing
As you probably guessed, kissing is a great way to bond with your significant other—and since it’s free (in most cases), it’s a great option. In fact, couples who kiss frequently are more likely to report feelings of love and trust toward one another.
According to Dr. Aron, the notion of positive emotions leading to positive attitudes and behaviors was first formally described by psychologist Walter Cannon more than 50 years ago. Simply put, when we feel good about something or someone, we tend to behave in ways that will make us feel even better. So if you want your relationship to flourish over time, keep those kisses coming!
Whatever you choose to do on your game night, remember to keep it lighthearted and playful so that everyone has fun. Kissing is an important aspect in bonding Activities for Couples.
5. Making love
According to an ancient Chinese proverb, A man who has intercourse with his wife will live a long time. To help keep that promise, here are some ways you can get more love and affection into your daily routine 1. Make eye contact and smile when talking to each other.
Make it last at least 10 seconds, which is how long it takes for a positive feeling to be transmitted from one person’s brain to another’s through eye contact alone. (Try counting slowly in your head.) Then look away briefly before looking back again—it shows interest in what they’re saying without making them feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about their appearance.
6. Exercising
One activity that will get your blood pumping and help you bond is exercising. According to a study published in The Journal of Marriage and Family, couples who exercise together are more likely to express their affection with hugs and kisses. You can do virtually any form of exercise together; just make sure it’s something you both enjoy!
For some fun ideas, check out our post on how to spice up(8) your morning jog. Remember, though: don’t push yourself too hard or take unnecessary risks—you should always stay safe when you’re working out.
7. Set Up A Romantic Picnic
In 2000, a study published in Emotion found that romantic(9) picnics are one of the couples’ favorite things to do together. A 2014 study from Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute that followed 102 long-term married couples over 14 years revealed that those who engage in fun date nights and small activities like decorating a shared space at home report higher levels of satisfaction with their marriage.
The best part? It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or expensive; it just has to be something you both enjoy doing together. From cooking dinner to watching a movie on your couch, these 20 ideas will get you started on your way to an even stronger relationship(10). (Want more ideas? Check out our post on 50 date ideas.)
8. Bathing Together
Taking a long bath together can be just as fun as a bubble bath. Light some candles, play some soft music and let your spouse rub your shoulders or back. There’s nothing like a good conversation in candlelight to create a romantic atmosphere! Make sure you have lots of nice-smelling soaps and shampoos that you both enjoy.
You may even want to share a bar of soap with each other, so you can lather up together. Take turns massaging each other while you relax in front of a warm fire. If you don’t have time for an entire bath, try taking quick showers instead.
9. Planning Together
To bond with your spouse, it’s important to make time to spend together. Plan a date night at least once a week and include time with your friends or kids as part of that date (after all, family members are also part of your support network). Come up with a list of two or three things you want to do—and then actually get out there and do them. Did you know you can play laser tag in more than 20 states?
Did you ever build a fort when you were younger? Now is your chance! It doesn’t matter if it sounds silly; what matters is that you spend quality time together doing something fun. Planning together is very essential for bonding activities for couples.
Final Thought On Bonding Activities For Couples
Thanks for reading this post to the end, I hope you will engage in the above bonding activities for couples for a better and deeper relationship(11) with your better half.
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