Romance is not dead and is certainly not just for the young. Many people dream of finding the one they can spend the rest of their lives with and some have been lucky enough to find theirs. However, while all relationships certainly take hard work and effort from both sides, it can be even more challenging when you’ve been together for decades.
Nevertheless, keeping the spark alive in your relationship well into your senior years isn’t an impossible task. Here are some tips you can follow to keep the love alive in your senior years.
• Keep yourself physically healthy.
While it’s a common assumption that bad health – and the health issues that come with it – is responsible for the diminishing romantic spark in your relationship, this isn’t actually the case. In fact, it has been shown that age is only one factor in the lowering testosterone levels in men – the hormone that’s responsible for their sex drive.
Those who keep themselves in top physical shape showed no decrease in their testosterone levels. Engage in physical activity such as weight lifting to help keep your hormone levels high and yourself in excellent health.
• Engage in new activities.
Falling into a routine can certainly give one a sense of stability but it’s also a good way to kill the spark between you and your partner. To combat this problem, try to engage in new activities because this can cause your brain to release dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good.
This chemical is also the same one our brains release when you’re in the initial stages of your relationship. Trying new things doesn’t particularly equal spontaneity – you can simply plan new activities to try as a couple.
• Openly communicate with one another.
Communication is key to any successful relationship and being together for decades doesn’t change that. In fact, you and your partner may need it more than ever as long-term relationships can have underlying issues and built-up resentments that need to be clarified and brought out into the open.
Talking to one another is a great way to learn more about your partner, especially since they’re not the same person they were at the start of your relationship. Open communication will help you embrace this new version of them and allow you and your partner to fall in love again.
• Have regular date nights – alone.
As you age, it can be easy to lose focus on your relationship because you’re too concentrated on taking care of your children as well as their children and children’s children. However, this is a surefire way to kill the spark.
One way you can combat this problem is by scheduling regular date nights with just you and your partner – no other people whatsoever. This can rekindle the spark and remind you why you chose each other in the first place.
• Have your alone time as well.
While it’s a good thing to spend time together, it’s important that you have some alone time as well. It’s even more essential for retired couples because they tend to spend more time together than alone which can make them lose sight of their individual self.
Engaging in some time to yourself can help you have a better grasp of yourself and feel more appreciative of your partner.
Conclusion
While keeping the love alive between you and your partner is certainly challenging, especially in your senior years, it can still be achieved if you exert the time and effort needed to make things feel more like the beginning again. After all, this is the person you vowed to spend your life with.
