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Maintaining Intimacy


Maintaining intimacy in a long term relationship can be very difficult for a whole range of reasons. To keep things working we need to spice up relationships rather than let the reasons below rule:

  • We get lazy with maintaining the intimate encounters until they stop happening altogether.

  • We are busy and tired at the end of our day and don't save any energy for our relationship.

  • We lose interest either through illness or lower libido or, for him possibly, erectile dysfunction.

  • We just stop working at it.
  • But to have a truly fulfilling relationship, it must include intimacy. This is your life partner. This is the person that cares for and understands you better than any other person on the planet. Maintaining intimacy is what underlines that deep personal connection.

    So how do we go about restoring the connection? Below are some suggestions to spice up the relationship with your significant other. Use it as a starting position, and then let your imagination run wild!

  • Re-start Communication
  • So much of our communication on a day to day basis gets reduced to shorthand. We don't explain because we don't need to explain the daily stuff.

    But when we need to talk about what we want and what we need from the relationship, it needs time and space. And speak plainly, not in coded language.

    If you are tempted to talk like a Barbara Cartland novel simply because saying things out loud is too embarrassing for you, you will end up with a poor result.

    Writing him a heartfelt love letter might work better.

    You may need to explain to your partner some of the physical changes you are experiencing and talk about solutions you might employ together to overcome them.

  • Set the Mood
  • You might suggest a joint bath or shower before going to bed together. A refreshing wash before bed is both a compliment to your partner and a wake up oportunity for you. Slough off the day with a shower and climb into bed fresh. It's so much nicer.


    Try to make it special in some way. Fresh sheets, flowers in the bedroom, maybe some candles and massage oil. Try something a little different to set a special mood. Make it a bit of a production. Seduce him!

  • Move the goalposts
  • Try to introduce something surprising to the encounter. Spend an evening discovering all the errogenous zones for each other that you have forgotten about, without actually making love or touching obvious spots.

    Have you been doing the same routine year after year? Perhaps you are both bored. Suggest something a little different without scaring him! You may be surprised right back.

    These are just a few suggestions. I don't know what will work for you, but I do know that if you do nothing, that is exactly what will change, nothing.

    And that has to be unsatisfactory for both of you on some level.

    Couples who are able to negotiate this phase of their union (because it is a very common hurdle) report a deeply satisfying relationship as a result. It's got to be worth a try.

    For more on spicing up your sex life, there is a good article available on specific methods here.




    Return to Relationship Questions from Maintaining Intimacy

    Other articles in the Relationships section:


    New! Comments

    Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

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    The quality of our relationships are an important link with how happy we are and by extension, our overall health and wellbeing.

    Marriage Advice
    If your long term marriage is a little stale here is some marriage advice. Keep up the respect and add a little spice to keep things cozy with your partner.

    Love Secrets
    Long term relationships are the bedrock of our society. So we need to take these love secrets and make sure they're not secrets anymore!

    Maintaining Intimacy
    It's difficult maintaining intimacy in a long term relationship unless you have a good attitude and an active imagination.

    Dating Again?
    Are you about to revisit the wild world of dating in search of a new partner? We have some very good tips if you're ready to get back in the saddle!

    Online Dating
    Online dating used to be for the dateless and desperate, but not anymore. It's respectable now and considered a genuine way of improving your odds.

    Relationship Advice for New Partners
    If you are beginning a new partnership, here is some relationship advice on how not to lose ME when you become WE.

    Finding Old Friends
    If you've found yourself wondering whatever happened to whats-her-face, it might be time to use the internet for finding old friends and reconnecting with long lost girlfriends.

    How to make friends
    Life circumstances can sometimes leave us isolated. You need to learn how to make friends quickly to get back into circulation. We have a list of recommendations to get you mingling again.

    How to end a relationship
    Once you decide you need to end a relationship, it's just as important to then work out how to end a relationship so it's done right.

    Letting go of a relationship
    Letting go of a relationship can be very, very difficult, but it can make the difference between leading the life you want, and not.

    Relationship questions
    When reviewing the important things in life, relationship questions inevitably arise. The quality of our relationships are an important link with how happy we are and by extension, our overall health and wellbeing.

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