Igniting the flame in your relationship

Listen to the full podcast to hear what KZN had to say: 

Making your relationship a priority can seem like a daunting task, because life events always get in the way. There are the daily pressures of work, raising a family, and chores. Throw in a whole global pandemic and it literally seems like there is no time to give your relationship any investment. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has also meant that a lot of couples have had to be cooped up with each other under one roof with no opt out option for an escape. Increasing annoyances and reoccurring arguments that do not create a loving environment have been the order of the day for many.

However, there are things you can do to combat those issues.

Elite Daily lists five ways to keep the flame burning in long-term relationships:

1. Always kiss your partner hello: Do not neglect this form of connection or intimacy with your partner, irrespective of how bad of a day you have had. 
2. Dedicate one evening a week to being without electronics: We live in such a digital world, dedicate an hour a day in bed with you and your partner where you just lay and talk to one another, no television or phone in sight.
3. Surprise your partner: Maybe leave them a sweet hand written note in their lunch bag or send them a flirty text whilst they are at work.
4. Make time for intimacy: You do not have to schedule sexy time, but make time for it. We all live such busy lives that it is easy to get wrapped up in it to the point where when we get home, all we want to do is get into bed and sleep. 
5. Do not take your partner for granted: After a certain amount of time, long-term relationships reach a comfort level, make an effort with how you look and dress. Be complimentary of your partner, whether it is for what they look like or their good deeds. 

Let's talk about sex..

For many people, sex is a very important component of any romantic relationship. In order to have great intimacy with your partner though, you need to feel more connected to your partner as it makes you feel cared for and comforted. Keeping your love life interesting over time can be a real challenge. Over time, people change both physically and psychologically, and life regularly throws us plenty of curve balls.

Your sex drive and your partners may also vary from time to time. For Stacey Norman, a big mistake many couples make is to believe that the natural attraction and sexual energy they enjoyed during early phases of their relationship will inevitably carry over, without any effort from both parties. For Stacey, this is simply a myth. Chemistry, like anything else in life, has the potential to die out unless it is worked on - and that is why it is important to make it a priority. 

JSbu believes that trying new things and having an open mind when it comes to intimacy is important.

The team spoke to Dr. Eugene Viljoen, a Clinical Psychologist and Sexologist who specialises in a range of disciplines, including sex therapy. Listen to his advice for couples who want to keep the flame burning:

For more from #Stacey&JSbu, check out past episodes below: