10+ Exercises for Couples: How to Improve Your Relationship at Home

Do you want to improve your relationship with your partner, but don’t know where to start? Well, it’s time to get creative in the home. There are many exercises that couples can do at home that will help build communication and intimacy. This blog post is for anyone who wants practical advice on what they can do right now to make their relationship better!

Schedule an Activity

One thing that has been found helpful by some experts is scheduling time to spend together. Even if it is just watching a movie, you are still actively spending time with your partner and having fun!

In addition to scheduling this time together, it is important that each member of the relationship schedules time for themselves as individuals. This promotes independence between each partner which makes the other person feel special instead of like they’re competing for your time! Creating an “us time” is also important. This means having your own activities or interests outside of the relationship, but which you enjoy doing as a couple from time to time.

Active Listening

Another at-home strategy is called active listening, which entails simply repeating back the speaker’s words and engaging in linear conversation. This means really focusing on the other person when they talk or telling them afterward how much you appreciated their thoughts, emotions, and opinions.

Spend Time with Friends and Family Together

Spending time with friends and family as a couple has also been found to be an important factor in a healthy relationship. In fact, some research shows that couples who have a happy marriage are more likely to spend time with friends and family than those in unhappy marriages.

Do the "Self as Sender" Technique

Another technique you could try at home is called “self as sender.” With this technique, one person first shares something about themselves and then asks the other what they may be feeling or noticing after hearing this information from their partner. This helps each person get in touch with their own feelings and thoughts about the other person.

Go on a Date

Although cliche, a scheduled date can help couples feel more in tune with each other. This is especially true when they make time for activities that interest the other person or ones with which they feel less comfortable but are willing to try. Scheduling a date will make it clear to the other person that you want to spend time with them, and make sure they feel valued. Couples can also create a “date kit” for each other by packing up something their partner enjoys doing or is interested in trying out. This act of kindness shows your partner how much time and consideration you’ve put into thinking about them.

Journal

Couples can also try to use a journal together where they can express their thoughts and feelings with one another and about the relationship. Journaling as a couple teaches each partner to take responsibility for their feelings and thoughts, instead of blaming the other for how they feel.

Try a New Hobby

Trying a new hobby as a couple such as cooking, painting or playing an instrument can also be a fun way to spend time together. Recently, couples have been trying mindfulness exercises together. Mindfulness and/or progressive muscle relaxation can help couples release tension in both partners at bedtime or during a date night! Your muscles will start to relax as you tense them using your hands, feet, then thighs, chest, and neck until finally relaxing with your eyes closed.

Design a Space in Your House for Each Individual

Especially during COVID times, it is important for couples to have their own space as well. This means both partners should each have a personal area where they can go and not feel the need to constantly stay in contact with one another all day long. You and your partner could work together on designing your spaces with your own interests in mind. While time together is very important, individual time and space are equally important to a healthy relationship. Couples should also have their own interests and hobbies outside of each other. This will help them keep balance in their time together, as well as give you both something new to talk about whenever you get the chance!

Set Aside Time to Talk

Set aside time for one another every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes each. You could spend this time talking about your feelings, going on a walk together or having some quiet conversation. What you do in this time is less important than the fact that you’re taking time for each other. Make your home a safe space for one another to share feelings and thoughts without fear of judgment. One way couples can do this is by having “talk” times where they turn the TV, phone or computer off and just talk about their days, emotions, worries, or dreams with less distractions interfering.

Use this time to try a conversation game or share an experience from childhood that you remember fondly. When sharing these things with your partner, be mindful of the mood you’re both in. If it’s a difficult time for one or both of you, then don’t share those memories and instead do something else. This is an important exercise because it helps people get to know their partners better by learning more about them as people.

Try Something New in the Bedroom

Lastly, couples can try something new in the bedroom! If they have been on the same routine for years with no variation, give it some spice and flip roles every now and then. Experimenting sexually is not only exciting but also leads to improved intimacy and knowledge about your partner.

Achieving your goals as a couple can be done by setting attainable and realistic expectations. It is important that you take the time to invest in your relationship. The fact that you are even searching out exercises to improve your relationship shows you are committed and interested in deepening the intimacy with your partner. If you need more assistance in improving your relationship, reach out to me today!

Boston Couples Therapy