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Relationships

How to Refresh Your Relationship at 50, 60, 70, and Beyond

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Most long-term relationships start to lose their sparkle from time to time over the years. “When you’ve been together a while it’s very easy to get complacent and find yourselves drifting apart,” says relationship counsellor Caroline Buchanan, who’s author of The 15 Minute Rule (Buy on Amazon, $13.99). “But with just a few minutes’ conscious effort every day, you can soon have things back on track.”

In your 50s

You both lead busy lives, juggling work and home commitments and barely have a minute for each other. Here are a few ways to help you make it work.

Make a “wheel of life.” — Is your life out of balance? Draw a large circle on a piece of paper, then divide it into areas representing the amount of time and energy you devote to each part of your life like work, relationship, children, friends, and grandchildren. Is one area much bigger, or smaller, than the rest? Are you devoting too much time to your friends or work and not enough to your partner? It could be time to change your priorities.

Get excited about the future. — “Attitude changes everything,” says Caroline. “So instead of bemoaning the fact your children have left home, be grateful for your freedom. Haven’t you both been waiting for years to have time to yourselves? Well, here it is — so don’t waste it! Surprise your partner by asking if he’d like anything special for dinner, or suggest a trip to the movies.

Spend 15 minutes REALLY listening. — “Everyone can spare 15 minutes, so you have no excuse,” says Caroline. Simply turn the TV off and give your partner 15 minutes to talk about anything he wants — from his rotten day at work, to his plan to buy a new motorbike, or his dream to sail round the world. Listen hard and don’t interrupt — then swap roles. Do this regularly and you’ll be amazed how much you can learn about each other.

Top Tip: Don’t compare your relationship with others. Everyone is different and every partnership requires different things to make it work.

In your 60s

You probably have more time together than you’ve ever had — so here’s how to really enjoy it.

Create new routine. — Make the most of any new-found leisure time. Take turns making each other breakfast in bed, go for a morning coffee once a week at a local café, swim together, buy (or rent) a DVD box set of your favorite comedy and watch one episode every night. “Even the smallest changes can invigorate you both and give you something different to talk about,” says relationship expert Paula Hall.

Do something scary… and fun! — Push yourselves to do something completely different. It could be anything from taking up tennis to learning Chinese or going on a roller coaster. Sharing an experience that is initially challenging will shake you out of your comfort zone and bring you closer together – as well as impressing your friends and family!

Good sex starts at breakfast. — Sex isn’t just the act, it’s everything about the relationship and how you treat each other from the moment you wake up. “If you wait until the evening to start being nice to each other, it isn’t going to work out so well,” says Caroline. Take time throughout the day to share a joke or give him a hug, and it’s likely you’ll feel much more in the mood for love.

Top Tip: Need a hug? “If he’s not the cuddling type, ask him to show you that you’re loved in other ways,” says Caroline. “Cooking dinner, putting the garbage out, or bringing you a surprise cup of tea are all signs that someone cares.”

In your 70s

You’re both wise enough to know what’s really important and even if you don’t argue very much, your relationship can feel dull. If this sounds familiar, here’s how to liven it up.

Change the record. — Do your conversations center around tasks that need to be done, or complaints when they’re not done properly? Stimulate new topics of discussions by joining an organization you both feel passionately about.

Plan an adventure: Whether it’s a two-week holiday or a day out doesn’t matter, just make sure you plan it well in advance. “Planning a shared experience is worth as much as the experience itself,” says Caroline. So do your research and take advantage of out-of-season special offers on advanced train tickets, hotel, and flight bookings. If you’re not sure how to grab an online bargain, get someone to help you.

What could you do better? Stop waiting for him to change. If you start making changes yourself, it’s very likely he will follow. “You can’t ask your partner to do something you’re not doing,” says relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam. “For example, if you compliment him or praise him for doing something right, he may initially be astonished, but he will eventually get the message and return the favor.”

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Yours.

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