We’ve come a long way, baby. Whether your relationship survived being locked down together for an entire year in one space, or you braved the apps to find new love this past year, it’s spring, and love is in the air! We’ve all collectively been through a lot, and it’s never a bad idea to remind the special partner in your life just how much you love and appreciate them. Thankfully, there are ways to do this that don’t require maxing out your Amex to take them on a getaway. Here’s a simple list of things you can easily do every day to show someone just how much they mean to you.
Hug It Out
Did you know that a hug is literally healing? When we hug someone, our bodies release oxytocin from our pituitary gland, which lowers blood pressure and lowers cortisol. Not only that, the act of embracing another person stimulates our brains to produce dopamine – the pleasure hormone. This is a reason beyond how good it feels to just hug it out with your loved one. Not only that, you should be hugging them often and hard to show them just how much they mean to you.
Small Tokens
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to show someone to put a smile on their face. But, let’s face it, for many people, their love language is gifts, so showing up with a small token of gratitude for them isn’t a bad idea. Whether you’re shopping for your long-term sweetheart or it’s gifts for mom, thoughtful presents like relaxing candles or passing along a book you know they’d enjoy is all you need. It’s more about saying, I’m thinking of you and wanted you to have this.
Hungry Heart
For a lot of us, the quickest way to our hearts is through our stomachs. We’ve heard this most of our lives for a good reason. Preparing someone a meal, you know they’re going to enjoy a massive act of love because you’ve taken the time to shop and prepare just for them. You then have that added bonus of sitting down to enjoy the meal with one another and talk about things, reconnecting after a hectic day. Go further in showing your love in keeping health in mind when you choose your menu. Purchase high-quality, healthy ingredients to nourish them truly. Has your partner been thinking about going plant-based? Cook them a meal showing them how delicious the lifestyle can be.
Walk & Talk
This last year has reminded us just how important our physical health is. Try taking time every day or as often as possible to walk and chat about positive things. Reminding ourselves what we’re grateful for in our own lives as well as about others gives us a boost of positivity that we all need right now. Keep conversation pleasurable, and don’t use this time to talk about things that might be troubling you. Just focus on the smell of the air and the beauty of the world around you while you get your steps in.
Spa Day
You don’t have to book a facial and massage at a salon to show the one you love that you want to relax them. In fact, it may be a lot more meaningful to them if you set something up in your home. Set the mood with candles and aromatherapy and pick out a body oil in a scent you know they like. You take it from there. Give your partner a relaxing foot or back massage; maybe you’re feeling generous and want to give a full body massage. Whatever you decide, this act of helping them unwind and releasing tension from their body for them is a selfless and thoughtful way to keep them smiling.
This list isn’t just for romantic partners, and you can utilize it in friendships or family relationships too. We’ve come a long way together and learned some hard lessons this last year. Showing people how much they mean to you is an easy way to spread positivity and love in this world, making it a better, healthier place for us.
