At the beginning of every romantic relationship, we tend to experience that feeling of butterflies in our stomach that makes us fall in love with the wonderful person we’re dating. However, after that initial rush and exhilaration dies down, it can be common to find yourself in a relationship rut, regardless of how long you’ve been together. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that all love is lost. Here are some ways you can make your long-term relationship feel new and exciting again:

Leave room for small surprises

In the early days of your relationship, you probably surprised your significant other with a lovely bouquet or even a sexy text in the middle of the day, just because they were on your mind. If you want to bring some excitement back into your relationship, surprise your partner with small gifts, such as beautiful flowers, a bottle of fine wine or a thoughtful card, even when it’s not a special occasion.

Since you know your partner much better now than you did at the beginning of your relationship, you have a big advantage now, as you know exactly what they like and enjoy. Not only will a small gift of appreciation put a smile on your loved one’s face, but it will also show them that you’re still as in love with them as ever.

Show your love and affection

Saying "I love you" stops holding such a significant meaning when you’ve been repeating it for years to each other. Instead, showing your affection and appreciation for your partner might be exactly what you need to rekindle those fond feelings, and make your relationship fresh again.

So, try to show genuine excitement when you see your significant other, and make spontaneous gestures of affection a regular part of your daily routine. Even something as small as holding hands, making extended eye contact or a passionate make out session can be easy to overlook in a long-term relationship, but it’s essential for keeping the romance alive.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Apart from affection, physical intimacy is also an incredibly important part of every romantic relationship. However, when you’ve been with your significant other for years or even decades, it’s completely natural for your sex life to become a bit too repetitive and monotonous.

For that reason, it might be a good idea to start experimenting in the bedroom, in order to make a deeper, more intimate connection with each other. You can do this by watching erotic movies together, changing positions and locations, or even by living out a sexy fantasy. You can also incorporate some racy adult toys into your love life, to get in touch with your bodies on a more intimate level, and discover a new form of pleasure.

Go on date nights together

Even though living together in a loveable home is beneficial, spending all your time on the couch won’t do much for your relationship. Instead, it would be a good idea to start scheduling regular date nights together, preferably once a week, in order to have something to look forward to together.

From romantic dinners and movie nights to a picnic at the beach under the stars, the date you plan is entirely up to you. At the end of the day, it’s not about the date itself; it’s about planning a special activity together that will help bring up those feelings of excitement you used to have at the beginning of your relationship.

Explore new and exciting experiences

While surprising your loved one with small gifts you know they’ll adore is great for keeping the loving feelings going, sometimes you also need to try something new and exciting in order to improve your chemistry. So, don’t be afraid to try an exhilarating activity or even travel to an exotic destination together.

The rush and excitement you experience with these activities is bound to bring you closer together. What’s more, when you make new memories as a couple, you will be able to make a deeper, more intimate connection.

Even though it’s perfectly natural to experience fluctuating passion in any long-term relationship, the spark can easily be reignited with one of these incredible tips.