Couples Activities That Will Strengthen Your Relationship in the New Year

Many people dream of the day they meet "the one" and hope that they'll fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after with their perfect partner. 

In reality, relationships simply aren't as easy as they seem in movies or fairy tales. They require lots of love, but also honesty, commitment, and effort to build and cement those special bonds between two people. 

And one of the best ways to strengthen such bonds is to spend more time together trying new things and fun activities.

Here are some super examples of couple activities that can stregnthen your love and bond to each other.

1. Start Cooking Together 

Cooking is one of the best activities to do as a couple, and many partners have a lot of fun preparing ingredients and cooking up delicious meals together before sitting down at the table to enjoy them side by side. 

You can try cooking together at home with your own innovative recipes and ideas. Sign up for a meal delivery kit service if you need a helping hand, or take cooking classes together if you're both beginners in the culinary arts. 

This activity is good for increasing intimacy, and there is no shame in needing to take a cooking class in order to master this skill. However, there is also no shame in failing at it together, either.

2. Visit Each Other’s Hometowns 

Your hometown is most likely one of the most important places in your life. You'll have a lot of memories there and many associations and stories rushing through your mind as you walk around, seeing the streets you know and the sights you remember so well.

Why not share all of those stories and memories with the person you love the most? 

Visiting each other's hometowns can be a really great way for couples to discover more about each other, sharing secrets and stories from their past.

3. Volunteer in a Selfless Way Together

Perhaps you and your partner are looking for things to do that won't just benefit yourself, but could also benefit your local community or the world at large. If so, it might be wise to consider volunteering together. 

There are countless nonprofits and organizations in need of volunteers to help out with all sorts of duties, and doing this sort of work as a couple can really help to build your connection as you both strive to make the world a better place.

4. Set Long and Short-Term Goals Together 

Studies show that people tend to work more productively and progress further in their lives when they have clear goals and objectives in mind. The same logic can apply when building your relationship with a special someone too.

There are lots of different goals you can set for yourselves. You both might like to lose a set amount of weight over the course of the year, for example, or save up a certain amount of money, or try something new once a month. 

Whatever your goals and aspirations happen to be, setting them and sticking to them together can be a great way to make them happen.

5. Visit a Museum 

Every trip to a museum is an opportunity to broaden your perspective by learning more about others. That’s a skill set that is also very useful in a healthy relationship, which is what makes museum visits such valuable activities to do as a couple. 

Talking about and comparing your experiences in the space may also lead to other, broader conversations about the way you see and experience the world.

6. Get Couple Tattoos 

Another creative ways you can show your love and commitment to your partner is to get a tattoo in honor of the bond you share. A lot of people do this, and it can be a great sign of love and trust if you and your partner choose to find a tattoo artist together and get a matching couple tattoo.

There are all kinds of designs you can decide between for your couple tattoo, from side-by-side images that match up when you and your partner stand next to one another to special symbols or pieces of text that mean something special to the two of you. 

All you have to do is to find the best tattoo studio and schedule your consultation with the artist to find out what is the best tattoo style for your couple.

7. Workout or Take Workout Classes Together 

Working out is much more fun when you do it with a partner. If you've ever had any trouble trying to get in shape in the past, or if you and your partner are both fitness fanatics and want to share that passion together, why not try taking some workout classes with one another?

There are plenty of couple-friendly workout classes you can find at local gyms and fitness studios, and some classes are designed specifically with couples in mind, with unique moves and trust-based exercises you and your partner can do together.

8. Start a New Tradition Together 

Part of what makes any relationship special is the memories you make along the way, and the special traditions that make your bond unique. 

It can be lovely to see couples carrying on the same traditions and practices year after year, and starting a new tradition can be a fun way to show your commitment and look forward to a bright future together.

There are all kinds of traditions you can decide on together, from something simple like making every Friday night your “pizza and movie night” to a monthly tradition of visiting the beach or a local park and having a picnic together.

9. Complement Each Other at Least Once a Day

Over time, compliments can shift your partner’s overall perspective of themselves and their outlook on life.  

If a partner has a negative self-image or is consistently being negative about situations, it is may very well be the other partner’s fault for not supporting/complimenting them.

In Conclusion

All of these activities and many more can help to bring you and your partner closer together, allowing you to find out more about each other and feel more connected than ever before.

Couples activities are helpful for all couples in any stage of their relationship, so let these ideas inspire you to spend more time together. Give them a try and start building your relationship bonds today.