8 Touching Ways to Deepen Your Bonds with Your New Spouse

For many couples, getting married is the happy conclusion of a long-lasting relationship. However, getting married doesn't mean that you'll never need to put in any serious effort to keep your relationship blossoming. Going on dates, taking vacations and giving each other gifts can help you deepen your relationship as it continues to evolve and change.

1. Try New Interests Together

Getting involved in a new hobby or interest with your spouse is a good way to give the two of you new things to talk about and new adventures to experience. Sharing a new interest also helps you form a special bond with your spouse that you don't have with another person. There are many possible hobbies you can explore together, including some that are specifically geared towards couples. Dance lessons, for example, let you spend quality time together while learning a new talent.

2. Schedule Dates

Once you're married, you might think the time for dating is over. However, dating your spouse is a great way to maintain your original connection and deepen your bond. While you're on a date, you're free of the distractions of dirty dishes and work stress. You don't have to go on frequent dates to gain a deeper relationship; even a monthly special night out at a favorite restaurant can help boost your relationship. These dates might even help you keep your favorite dating memories alive while creating new ones.

3. Turn off Distractions and Talk

Spending time with your spouse while indulging in some favorite activities, such as watching movies, is a great way to connect with each other. However, spending time together while enjoying entertainment doesn't allow you much chance to talk with each other. Eliminate the distractions for at least a few minutes each day while you're together so that you can talk about your day and really listen to each other. Taking a walk is a great way to have distraction-free time with your partner.

4. Gifts and Thoughtful Acts

Giving your spouse frequent gifts is a good way to show your love and appreciation. These gifts don't have to be major purchases; buying your spouse some of the best undershirts for men or a bar of luxurious French soap are affordable ways of show your love. You can also show your feelings by performing simple acts of kindness. If your spouse normally takes the trash out, you could take it out one day to give him a break. Giving undershirts, soap, and performing other small acts of kindness may go farther than you think when it comes to maintaining your relationship.

5. Learn to Listen

Improving your listening skills is a good way to strengthen the bond between you and your spouse. After a hard day of work, your spouse may want to simply vent her frustrations to you without getting advice in return. Acting as a sounding board helps your spouse feel better and helps you learn more about your partner. Listening skills are also essential for effective communication between you and your spouse. If you are good at listening and seeing another person's view, you can avoid unnecessary arguments.

6. Take a Vacation Together

Vacations are a good way to recharge and get away from the stress of the daily grind. When you and your spouse travel, you get a chance to spend quality time together while experiencing things you might not indulge in at home. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a fancy vacation; even traveling to the next town over can give you and your spouse plenty to do and enjoy without any distractions.

7. Establish New Traditions

Part of marriage is establishing your own family unit with you and your spouse. One great way to make your marriage seem more like a family is to establish new traditions. For example, you could decide to travel to Hawaii for Christmas every year or host a party for every Halloween. You can use ideas for your traditions from any source, such as childhood memories, foreign cultures or your own imagination. Setting traditions gives you and your spouse shared memories and gives you something to look forward to each year.

8. Put Your Marriage First

When you get married, it's time to shift some of your priorities around. While you shouldn't feel that you need to give up your identity upon marriage, putting your spouse first will deepen your relationship and help your partner realize how important they are to you. This doesn't mean that you can't still spend time apart; spending time with your friends and family is still important. However, learning how to stay no to a movie with friends when work has kept you away from your spouse for a few days is a good step to take to keep your marriage strong.

Marriage isn't the end of building your relationship. If you want to keep your marriage and your bond with your spouse strong, you need to keep putting in time and effort.