Plan To Improve Your Relationship

A little bit of thought and planning can go a long way toward improving your relationship. Many relationships suffer from what boils down to a shortage of quality time together. Planning your day, week, and year can help you improve your relationship.

This is a time of year when many people choose to set some goals for the year to come. When you are choosing goals, remember to include your relationship as a priority in your plans. Plan for at least two weekend getaways for the two of you. Lack of funds does not mean that you have to opt out. Get creative and find ways to make a getaway at home.

If you have children, find someone who can care for them away from home; you could ask grandparents or trade weekends with family or friends. Whether your getaway is at home or far away, choosing to turn off cell phones, computers and other distraction will make it much more likely that the two of you will reconnect.


Take a few moments at the end of each day to think about what you want tomorrow to be like. Spend a few minutes thinking about the things that you are grateful for in your life and take some deep breaths, then ask yourself, “What can I do tomorrow that will improve our relationship.” Follow through on the ideas that pop into your head. Find ways each day to talk and share with each other.

Take a half and hour to an hour once a week to plan and discuss the week ahead. Coordinating schedules and planning your week together will help you feel more like a team. Each week plan a date for just the two of you and think of other ways to create happy memories together.

When you have the intention of creating a great relationship and you add to that intention consistent efforts to plan for and do the things that build relationships, you have a recipe for a successful relationship.

Susan Derry, B.Ed., M.S.Psy., R.P.C.
Professional Counselor & Life Coach

Co-author of Marriage Prep: Beginnings a downloadable marriage preparation course

Co-author of Intimate Sex: Manual for Lovemaking, a sex manual for couples

Offers a free Nurturing Marriage Ezine