Marriage can get busy with work, kids, and everyday routines. But love grows stronger when you make time for each other.
You don’t need grand trips or fancy gifts—just small, thoughtful moments that keep you connected.
If you’ve been wondering how to bring the spark back or simply feel closer, here are 19 things to try with your spouse once in a month. Each one is simple, personal, and designed to remind you why you chose each other in the first place.
19 Things to Try with Your Spouse Once in a Month to Feel Connected
1. Cook a Meal Together
Cooking side by side can feel surprisingly intimate. Choose a recipe you’ve never tried before, shop for the ingredients, and make it an adventure.
One of you can chop while the other stirs, or you can swap roles along the way. Don’t stress about making it perfect—burnt toast and messy counters often bring the most laughter.
Even cleaning up afterward can be a sweet moment when you’re doing it as a team.
Food always tastes better when you’ve created it together, and the memory will last far longer than the meal itself.
2. Plan a Surprise Date
Take turns planning a surprise date for each other once a month. It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy.
A picnic in the backyard, a candlelit dinner at home, or even a walk to a favorite spot can feel special simply because it’s unexpected.
The joy comes from the effort and thought behind it.
Knowing your spouse took the time to create something just for you makes it meaningful. Surprises remind you that romance doesn’t have to fade with time—it just looks a little different now.
3. Write Each Other Notes
Love notes may seem small, but they carry a lot of power. Leave a note on the bathroom mirror, slip one into their bag, or tuck it under their pillow.
It doesn’t have to be long—just a few words to say, “I love you,” or “I’m thankful for you.”
These little surprises can brighten a stressful day and remind your spouse that they are always on your mind. Over time, these notes can become tiny treasures that both of you look forward to finding.
4. Try Something New Together
New experiences bring fresh energy into a relationship.
Whether it’s taking a dance class, trying a new restaurant, or exploring a nearby town, doing something new creates excitement and shared memories.
It pulls you out of the daily routine and gives you both a story to tell later. Even if it doesn’t go perfectly—maybe you trip over each other’s feet in class—it can still bring laughter and closeness.
What matters most is that you’re stepping into something unknown, side by side.
5. Have a Screen-Free Evening
Technology makes it easy to drift apart without noticing. Once a month, choose an evening where you both put phones, laptops, and the TV away.
Light a candle, play a board game, talk, or simply sit together on the porch. Without the constant buzz of screens, you’ll find yourselves more present with each other.
These quiet evenings often create the best conversations, and you’ll remember the feeling of being truly connected.
6. Revisit Old Memories
Every couple has a beginning worth remembering. Once in a while, take time to look through photo albums, old text messages, or even your wedding video.
Share the stories that made you laugh or cry when you first fell in love. If possible, revisit a place that holds meaning, like your first date spot.
These trips down memory lane remind you both of the foundation you’ve built. It’s a gentle way of saying, “Look how far we’ve come, together.”
7. Go for a Long Walk
Walking together gives you time to breathe and talk without distractions.
It doesn’t have to be a big hike—even a stroll around your neighborhood works. Something about walking side by side makes conversation flow easier.
You may find yourself talking about little things you don’t usually share. The fresh air and slower pace help you connect in a simple, natural way.
8. Share Your Dreams
It’s easy to get stuck talking only about bills, chores, or work. Once a month, sit down and share your dreams—big or small.
Talk about places you want to travel, hobbies you want to try, or what you hope life looks like in five or ten years.
These conversations help you feel like teammates again. They remind you that you’re not just surviving life together—you’re building a future side by side.
9. Have Breakfast in Bed
Start the day slowly together by bringing breakfast to bed. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Coffee, fruit, or simple toast can still feel special when shared under warm blankets.
Spend the morning talking, laughing, or just enjoying a quiet moment before the day gets busy.
It’s a little break from routine that can make you feel like you’re on vacation, even if it’s just for an hour.
10. Dance Together at Home
Put on music that means something to you both—maybe a song from your wedding or one you always sing along to.
Clear a little space in the living room and dance. You don’t need to know any steps; just hold each other and move to the rhythm.
At first it might feel funny, but soon you’ll be smiling, laughing, and remembering what it feels like to be close without distractions.
11. Do a Random Act of Kindness
Love grows through small, thoughtful actions. Once a month, surprise your spouse with a simple kindness.
Make their favorite snack, handle a chore they dislike, or leave a kind note in their car. These gestures don’t require much time or money, but they say, “I thought of you.”
Little acts of love show that you’re paying attention to their needs and that you care about making their life lighter.
12. Plan a Day Trip
Adventure doesn’t have to mean faraway vacations.
Pick a nearby town, hiking trail, or farmer’s market and spend the day exploring together.
Leave your routine behind for just a few hours and enjoy discovering something new. A change of scenery, even if it’s only an hour away, can refresh your relationship and give you new stories to share.
13. Create a Bucket List Together
Sit down and write out things you both want to do in your lifetime.
It can be big dreams like traveling overseas, or simple joys like camping in your backyard. This isn’t just about goals—it’s about dreaming together.
When you create a shared list, you’re reminding each other that your story isn’t finished. There are still adventures waiting for you both.
14. Stargaze Outside
On a clear night, bring out a blanket and lie down together to watch the stars. It’s a quiet, calming way to slow down and just be.
Talk about the constellations, share your thoughts, or simply enjoy the silence.
Watching the sky together reminds you how small life’s problems can feel compared to the love you share.
15. Read Something Together
Choose a short story, an article, or a book chapter and read it out loud. Sharing words this way creates connection and sparks conversation.
You might find yourself talking about ideas, laughing at funny parts, or just enjoying the sound of each other’s voice.
It’s a simple way to spend time together that feels new and meaningful.
16. Have a “Yes” Day for Each Other
Take turns giving small requests, and say yes to each one. It could be choosing the dinner, picking the movie, or taking a walk at their favorite spot.
This playful activity shows you’re willing to put each other first, just for a day.
It brings fun and lightness into your routine, and it reminds you that love grows when both people feel cared for.
17. Cook a Favorite Childhood Meal
Food carries memories. Each of you can pick a dish from childhood and cook it together.
As you prepare the meal, share stories about why it matters—who cooked it for you, when you ate it, and how it made you feel.
Not only will you enjoy something delicious, but you’ll also learn more about each other’s past in a heartfelt way.
18. Give Each Other Compliments
Spend time telling your spouse what you truly admire about them. Go beyond “you look nice.” Mention their kindness, their patience, or the way they make you laugh.
Be specific and sincere. Compliments like these can boost their confidence and remind them they are deeply loved.
Sometimes, the words we take for granted are the ones our spouse most needs to hear.
19. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset
Find a quiet spot, bring a blanket, and sit together as the sun rises or sets. These moments are powerful reminders of how beautiful simple things can be.
You don’t need to talk much—sometimes sitting in silence is enough. Just being there together, watching the sky change, can make you feel peaceful and close.
Love doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Often, it’s the simple things—sharing a meal, taking a walk, or watching the sunset—that keep a marriage strong.
When you set aside just one moment each month to try something new together, you remind each other that your relationship still matters, no matter how busy life gets.
The truth is, closeness is built in small steps.
Every laugh, every memory, every little act of kindness adds up to a deeper bond. So pick one of these 19 ideas and give it a try this month.
You may be surprised how much joy and connection it brings back into your marriage.
