The festive period is full of wonderful food, games and company, but sometimes, days can go by before you realise that even though you’ve been around your partner 24/7, you haven’t had much quality time alone together. Not with all those family members you’ve been hosting.
Now it’s January, though, and your living room finally resembles an actual living room once more, you have the mental space to reconnect. It might be easier said than done, of course, even with the best will in the world, but there are things you can buy to inject fun, romance and intimacy back into your relationship.
From cards to spark honest conversations that don’t feel intimidating, to the perfect recipe for a cosy night in, these are simple ways to focus on one another. Plus, they’re a whole lot cheaper than therapy as a first port of call.
So, finish those
Christmas leftovers and make space for a renewed sense of connection. Amazon Prime Subscription, Amazon, £7.99 per monthWatching boxsets with your partner can bring you closer, a study concluded a few years back – and I wholeheartedly believe this. Making time to snuggle up together, to discuss and debate what you’re watching and to look forward to the same thing, can be powerful in a relationship. An
Amazon Prime membership means your next series is just a few clicks away. (Psst: Modern Love is a good one to start with).
Buy it now. Bateaux
London Thames Sunday Lunch Jazz Cruise for Two, Red Letter Days, £98Getting out and doing something fun together is a brilliant way to create new memories. And what better way to do it than floating down the river with delicious food and live music? The relaxed atmosphere will help offset the intensity of the festive period.
Buy it now. Connect, The School Of Life, £20We chat all the time with our partners, but not always about what really matters – those topics that can reintroduce the spirit of fun, foster intimacy and spark memories about your unique bond. This pack of cards contains 100 questions designed to invite connection and closeness. In short, it’s magic in a box.
Buy it now. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Amazon, £2.10When stakes are high, emotions intensify and conversations can easily spiral out of control. Understanding how to communicate what you really feel without destroying your relationship is a skill you’ll be able to use time and time again, both inside and outside of your relationship. Everyone should read this book – twice.
Buy it now. Date Your Spouse From Your House, Amazon, £7.62Just because Christmas has taken a toll on your bank account and the weather is cold and grey, that doesn’t mean you can’t go on some brilliant dates – just do them indoors. This brilliant book offers up 52 budget-friendly ways to ‘get out while staying in’. Ever gone on a date in your pyjamas? Bliss.
Buy it now. Disney Pixar Collection, On Buy, £76.39Need to keep the kids busy so you and your partner can have a bit of downtime? After Christmas, where the younger members of the clan come first, it’s time to shift the balance. Relax the screentime rules and let them chill out in front of the telly with these
Disney classics.
Buy it now. Exploding Kittens Game, John Lewis & Partners, £16The words ‘exploding kittens’ don’t immediately conjure up the idea of romance, but this game of strategy is a brilliant way to inject humour into your relationship. Think of it as a kitty-powered version of
Russian roulette. Not only is it fun, it stops us watching TV and gets us chatting – even if it is about kittens.
Buy it now. Three Month Food Truck Recipe Kit Subscription, Not On The High Street, £26Staying in and cooking a new meal together is an opportunity to try something new together. This food truck subscription combines recipes that are a mix of influences, both traditional and modern, to recreate world-class cuisine at home. Plus, it means no fights in the supermarket.
Buy it now. Spa Of The World™ French Lavender Massage
Oil, The Body Shop, £15When we think of going to bed with our partner, we think of two things: sleep or sex. But what about having a massage session? It’s an intimate way of exploring each other’s bodies, relaxing and looking after one another. Plus, it’s a dream if you’ve spent the day hunched over your desk in an office.
Buy it now. Roll Play Foreplay Dice, Love Honey, £5.99There had to be something sex-related in a feature about reconnecting, didn’t there? This is a fun way of spicing things up in the bedroom, while also adding spontaneity. Sometimes it can be hard to get out of a rut, but these handy dice do all the hard work for you… well, sort of.
Buy it now. MORE FROM HUFFPOST FINDS... The Best Last Minute Flights To Book In Easyjet's Winter Sale The 10 Best Vegan Cookbooks To Spice Up Your Plant-Based Diet The Best Homeware Deals To Cosy Up With From The January Sales We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.