Why You Should Never Stop Dating Your Wife (or Significant Other)

Life gets busy. Work, kids, school, responsibilities — they all pile up and before you know it, you’re living parallel lives with the very person you promised to love forever. But here’s a reality check: the effort you made to win their love is the same effort you need to keep showing to maintain it.

When you first met your wife, fiancé, girlfriend — your person — you probably went above and beyond: spontaneous gifts, surprise dinners, weekend getaways. But once marriage and real life took over, those gestures likely became fewer and farther between. It’s understandable, but also dangerous. Neglecting to nurture your relationship can have disastrous consequences.

America has one of the highest divorce rates in the world — and while there’s no magic cure, part of the problem is that we’re the busiest culture, always hustling and always distracted. It’s easy to forget what truly matters.

Good news: you can start fixing it today. Right now. Here’s how:

1. Small Gestures Matter

Send a random text or call during the day just to say you love them, that you’re thinking of them, or that they make you happy.

Better yet, pick up a small gift. It’s not about the price tag — it’s the thought that counts. Maybe it’s a favorite snack, a candle, or a book they’ve mentioned wanting. Little surprises show you’re paying attention.

2. Thoughtful Planning

Take it up a notch. Plan a dinner — whether it’s at a restaurant or something you cook at home. (There are endless simple recipes online if you’re not usually the chef.)

If schedules are packed, put it on the calendar. Book a sitter, block off the evening, and make a real plan. Even if it’s weeks away, the anticipation is part of the magic. Call the restaurant ahead, ask for a cozy table, or reserve a spot at that new place they’ve been wanting to try.

3. Intimacy Requires Intention

Let’s be real: when you’re exhausted, intimacy is often the first thing to go.

Here’s a suggestion: schedule it. Yes, sex by appointment might sound clinical, but it doesn’t have to be. Make it fun. Send a flirty text or a calendar invite for when you know you’ll have the house to yourselves. The build-up can be just as exciting as the act itself.

Remember when you were dating, and you’d send messages about how excited you were to see each other? Bring that energy back.

4. Customize Your Efforts

At the end of the day, you know your partner better than anyone else. Not every idea will be a home run — but consistent, genuine effort will always hit the mark.

There’s no perfect blueprint, but showing love intentionally, the way you did when you were first falling for each other, can breathe fresh life into your relationship.