Everyone has their own preferred way to give and receive love, and they’re known as the five love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and giving/receiving gifts. Knowing your own love language and the language of your partner helps you understand each other’s needs in the relationship.
The most commonly preferred love language is quality time—spending one-on-one time with a partner, whether it’s doing an activity together, watching a movie, or just sitting in the same room doing different things.
If you or your partner prefer the quality time love language, here are five tips for expressing it:
1. Commit to Weekly Date Nights
Once the honeymoon phase wears off, you might not feel the need to spend every moment together—but it’s still important! For those that prefer quality time, spending time together is a priority. A great way to make this happen is to plan weekly date nights.
They don’t have to be elaborate! Watch a movie together, try a new restaurant, or go for a walk. It’s the perfect way to make time for each other while giving you something to look forward to every week.
2. Put the Phone Down
Quality time is all about being in each other’s presence. It’s hard to truly enjoy that if you’re on your phone the whole time! It can be tough to ditch the phones nowadays, but it’s necessary to ensure you’re able to communicate and truly listen to each other while you’re together.
3. Start a New Hobby Together
Have you always wanted to try a new sport? Or try out cooking or baking? Try it out together! It’s a fun way to spend time together while keeping your relationship fresh. Find something that you’re both interested in and give it a shot!
4. Take a Road Trip
If you have some free time, why not take a road trip? It doesn’t have to be somewhere far away—a nearby city you haven’t explored, for example. The trip is exciting, and so is planning together! Make a road trip playlist of your favorite songs and plan stops along the way. It’s a great way to strengthen your bond!
5. Communicating Your Needs
Good communication is the glue that holds any healthy relationship together. If quality time is more of your partner’s thing and you’re not sure how to express it, ask them! On the other hand, if you’re the one in need of quality time, express that to your partner.
Being open and honest about how you prefer to receive love is crucial to a happy relationship, so remember to tell each other exactly what you need.
Even if you and your partner have different love languages, there are still plenty of ways to ensure you keep each other happy! By understanding and appreciating what each other needs, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy, long-lasting relationship.
