Each of us has love language types essential for building happy and healthy relationships, as well as for having a better connection with your partner. You can learn more about love languages in the summary of The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. In this article, we will focus on the quality time love language and tips on how to show this type of love.
Identify your common interests
To spend more time together, you need to determine how you want to spend this time. For example, if you want to go in for sports together, ask your partner what kind of sport they would like to try. It could be golf or cycling. The main thing is that you both enjoy and benefit from it. If you both love to cook, it's a great idea to do it together!
Sometimes, partners can be different in their hobbies. In this case, why don't you try something new for both of you? For example, go hiking in the mountains or swimming? The main thing: continue learning about each other. You can read tips from relationship experts in our summary of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
Put the gadgets away for a while
In today's world, we are surrounded by more information than ever before, from news, social media, and emails. Many of us spend hours on our gadgets during the day and can't concentrate on anything else without checking our phones every 5 minutes. This can be a serious problem that will interfere with your relationship if you or your partner have a quality time love language.
Imagine that you went out on a date to a really nice place to spend time with each other. However, your partner is constantly distracted by notifications on their phone and “drops out” of the conversation from time to time. Most likely, this would not make you feel appreciated. That's why gadgets should be limited to the moments you can devote to each other.
Plan regular dates
For people with this kind of love language, it is vital to spend time together regularly and go on dates. But this does not mean that every time it should be a trip to a restaurant, because a walk in the park, a simple trip to coffee or a movie can also be called a date. Even the simplest things can help you strengthen your connection with your partner and have a good time.
If you're both bored with the usual walks and banal dates, it's time to get creative! Why not go to a pottery workshop or a concert of your favorite band together? Such experience will bring you both a lot of pleasure and you will be able to discover new hobbies.
Be present in the here and now
One of the main misunderstandings that people with a quality time love language may have is that you can be physically close but mentally far away. Imagine that you and your partner go for coffee together and sit across the table from each other for an hour. However, one of you is constantly responding to work-related messages because they need to present a new project soon, and the other is thinking about renovating the house.
In such moments, even though you are physically close, you can be far apart. Therefore, spending time with your partner and trying to postpone other things that may prevent you from focusing on your loved one is really vital. This is the key to spending quality time together. If you’re struggling with staying in the moment, check out our summary of The Power of Now for insights on this topic.
Organize days “just for two”
In the constant whirlwind of work and household chores, we may not have enough time to spend quality time with our partners. This is normal because in adult life, we have many responsibilities to fulfill. What is the solution to this problem? From time to time, you can organize days for just the two of you! It can be 1-2 times a month, but the main goal is not the number of such days but their effectiveness.
Set aside a day when you and your partner can put things aside and do something just for the two of you. It can be anything: a trip to another city, shopping together, gardening, or just watching your favorite TV show. The main goal of such a day is to spend as much quality time as possible with your loved one without unnecessary worries and distractions.
Listen actively to your partner
In a relationship, it’s fundamental not only to talk about your needs and desires but also to be able to hear your loved one. Quality time love language involves active listening on both sides, and if you master this skill, it will be much easier for you to find a common language with your partner. It will also increase trust and understanding between you.
The main obstacle to good communication in a relationship is the ability to listen but not to hear what your partner is saying. These are different things because listening is automatic, but hearing implies understanding your partner. To experience fewer misunderstandings and conflicts, you can learn from our summary of You’re not listening.
Go on unexpected adventures together
To make your time together interesting, try to diversify it. Why not go on a short trip or go to the seaside to admire the waves? This is how you create valuable moments together that will remain in your memory forever.
If you don't have any ideas on how you can surprise your significant other, try asking your friends or the Internet will always help with fun date ideas! Another good idea would be to talk to your loved one and find out about the little dreams that they have long wanted to realize. It could be a trip to a festival or a trip to the mountains. Why don't you help them realize this idea?
Quality time is not about the number of minutes but about the depth of the emotional connection between people. Caring attitudes, sincere communication, and shared moments without distractions can significantly strengthen relationships. Using these tips, you can better understand your partner and show them your love in the way that is most meaningful to them.
Small traditions, active listening, and adventures together make the bond between people stronger and warmer. The main thing is to be present not only physically but also emotionally because these are the moments that are remembered for a lifetime.
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