So you’ve settled into a bit of a routine. Your evenings consist of plopping yourselves down in front of the goggle box and flicking through the channels desperately trying to find something that can hold your interest and inject a little escapism into you otherwise drab existence.
Communication between you and your girlfriend is limited to squabbling over whether to watch the latest installment of her favorite soap opera or that live football game on the other channel, and afterwards you find yourselves descending into a resigned and uncomfortable silence.
# Cook a meal together
And by this, I don’t mean warming up a tin of soup or throwing together a hastily prepared sandwich. No, what I mean is try cooking something special – something Thai, French or Moroccan – something that’s going to take a lot of time and that’s going to produce a really special result.
Cooking is great as there are so many tasks that you need to allocate between you both, keeping you busy and focused, but allowing plenty of time for chit-chat and pleasant banter. This is especially good for men who struggle with chat after a certain amount of time but, if they have something else to do with their hands, allows them to relax their thoughts a little and respond more naturally in kind. Additionally, you get to eat a gorgeous candlelit gourmet meal together, drink a little wine and then you can succumb to the allure of a romantic evening!
# Dress each other upSounds a little strange this one, but essentially what is meant is choose each other’s clothes before going out. Arrange a date, and the same day that you are later due to go out together, make to time to have a little shopping trip first. The only difference is that you choose each other’s outfits.
You do have to be quite open-minded about this, and sensible, as she probably isn’t going to be too impressed if you ask her to go out dressed in a corset, mini-skirt and crotchless tights, but try your best to accept the other’s choice and commit to wearing those same clothes on your date. It’s quite scary doing this at first, but it’s fun! And you might just enjoy wearing something that you normally wouldn’t.
# Learn a language together
This is another good tip to get some quality, fun time together. Everyone wants to learn a new language, right? But it can be a bit monotonous and tedious doing it on your own. Getting your partner learning with you can not only help you both to progress at a far greater rate than you would otherwise, but you can also do fun things like have “lingo time” every night, where you’re only allowed to use your newly learned language. There can also be something sexy about having her speak a foreign language and, conversely, could make her that bit more attracted to you. Bonus!
# Go for a picnic
It doesn’t get much more classically fun or romantic than this. Good weather on the cards? Then get your hamper loaded up, throw it in the back of the car and drive off somewhere where the ambience matches the occasion. Just remember, the trick to a good picnic is in the detail. Make sure the presentation is good, and throw in a couple of fun quirks like homemade fortune cookies with silly or romantic messages, or a fun board game like twister.
# Paint each otherYou can do this indoors or outdoors or you could even combine it with number 4! But get some cheap paints and brushes, some hardboard or card, and sit there painting each other’s portraits. It doesn’t matter if you have the artistic inclination of a depressed accountant, just give it a try, and try your best. You may be surprised by the result – just remember not to show each other the paintings until you’ve both finished in order to maintain the element of surprise.
# Play strip, tell and dare poker
Everyone knows what strip poker is: you lose a hand and have to remove a piece of clothing. Simple. In strip, tell and dare poker, however, there are some altogether new elements. You will need a dice and every time that you lose a hand, you have to roll it. 1-2 and you have to remove an item of clothing. 3-4 and you have to tell your partner a sexual fantasy that she has previously been unaware of. Roll 5-6 and you have to perform a sexual dare, the choice of which is entirely at your partner’s discretion. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination!