This year is a new, fresh start. Make the most of it and make the most of your marriage by sticking to your promises that will strengthen your relationship.

Here is a list of the 8 best New Year’s resolutions that will keep your relationship strong all year long.

Do good things together (and not just around the holidays).

Everyone feels generous around the holidays, and in December soup kitchens get so many volunteers that they have to turn helpers away. These organizations need volunteers desperately at other times of the year, so you and your sweetie will make a huge impact if you skip the Christmas day goodness and volunteer year-round instead. If you’re a Christmas lover, do your good deeds on the 25th of each month. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Make a decision to get fit together.

This is truly a great goal whether you have weight to lose or not!. if weight loss is your goal, we created a fun way to track your progress with your spouse. Getting your heart pumping is good for the body and the mind. So doing it together with your spouse is a great way to have you both feeling good as you get to spend quality time together. That is a win-win for both of you

Choose and cook healthy meals together. Make your date nights special by cooking and eating together. Better than an overpriced restaurant any day!

Go On Date Frequently This Year.

One of the best New Year goals you can make is to set a weekly/monthly date night. Establishing a predictable night and time for you and your spouse to have meaningful alone time together is one of the best things you can do for your relationship. So make it a habit! Get it on the calendar! If you choose that every Saturday (or any other) night as your date night you will remove so much of the hassle. You will both know what is to come, and neither will be caught off guard or unprepared.

Make intimacy a priority for your New Year resolution.

This does not have to mean you should have more sex. It means making your spouse feel desired and wanted. This can be done through the words you say and the affection you give, but also through text messages throughout the day. Connecting throughout the day makes you both feel that giddy excitement that was so present in the early days of your relationship. Bringing those loving feelings back can be a natural gateway to enjoying sex more and seeking out intimate moments with your spouse more often.

This is a new year, just because this may have been a weak spot in your relationship in the past does not mean it has to be so this year! Make intimacy relationship goals with your spouse for the new year. Agree that at least once a day you will send a flirty or spicy text to refocus your minds on each other. It is so important to keep things lively and fresh, and what better time to recommit to a more sexy, fun, playful intimate life than right now, at the start of a new year!

Treat your partner as well as you treat your friends.

It’s easy to take your romantic partner for granted, and sometimes we don’t treat our lovers as well as we should. Like family, we assume that they’re in it for the long haul and when we’re stressed, our romantic relationships that take extra abuse. Ask yourself if you say or do things to your partner that you wouldn’t do to your best friend, and if you discover that you do, adjust your behavior accordingly. And, remember, it takes practice to change a habit; don’t give up if you don’t change overnight.

Listen More than you talk

Don’t nod automatically as he/she talks. Don’t wait for your turn to speak. Don’t do the dishes while he tells you about his day. Sit down, look him in the eye, pay attention to what he says and ask follow-up questions. This is one of the best things you can do for your relationship. Active listening is a skill that you have to hone with time and effort, but it’s incredibly important. Work at it.

Criticize less than you praise.

Decide with your spouse that you will always look for the good this year. When you spend a lot of time with someone, it becomes easy to overlook the things that are great about them. Instead of dwelling on their bad habits, remind yourself of the reasons you fell for him in the first place. Then remind him! Couples who have been together for a long time tend to forget to complement one another. Try to dish out three compliments for every criticism, and don’t be shocked if he mirrors your actions. You will bring brightness to your relationship as you both become more positive about life. Also note that appreciation breeds kindness and consideration.

Break a bad habit together.

If you and your spouse share a habit that’s less-than-great for you, help one another break it instead of encouraging the behavior within your relationship. Instead of nudging one another outside for smoke breaks, make a pact to limit yourselves to a certain number of cigarettes a day. If you drink too much together, make a two-drink rule and try to stick to it.

Find a Faith

‘The couple that prays together stays together.’ It may sound like a marketing slogan for religious faith, but that does not make the statement any less true. Couples who are active in a religion are more satisfied and committed to each other than those who are not. This is true regardless of the faith the two of you practice. So, if you want to take a leap into a deeper relationship this year, you need to step into a wider world than the one you can see with your own two eyes.

Wishing you a Happy New Year , Happy Relationship and keep growing stronger.