3 Simple Ways to Reconnect With Your Partner
It’s not uncommon to lose that sense of deep connection with your partner in today’s fast-paced world. We have endless ways to “stay in touch” — texts, FaceTime, social media — even across thousands of miles. But staying in touch is not the same as feeling emotionally connected.
Deep connection is one of the most beautiful parts of committed relationships. Yet over time, it becomes easy to slip into routine and assume we already know everything about our partner. The truth is: your partner is changing and growing all the time. And so are you.
Here are three simple, meaningful ways to foster deeper connection with your significant other.
1. Play games and have fun together again
As adults, we often forget the importance of play — not just physical play, but creativity, curiosity, and shared joy. Play strengthens emotional intimacy because it invites us to create, laugh, and explore together.
Try integrating some of these fun and research-backed connection tools into your weekly rhythm:
The 36 Questions That Lead to Love – scientifically designed to deepen intimacy and spark conversation.
The Gottman Card Decks App – free prompts grounded in Gottman Method research to help you explore love maps, rituals, dreams, and communication.
Vertellis Relationship Edition – a beautifully designed deck that encourages reflection, storytelling, and meaningful dialogue.
Happy Couple App – a modern daily question app that gamifies connection and helps couples learn about each other in playful micro-moments.
These tools make it easy to learn new things about each other while also building shared positive experiences — something most relationships don’t get enough of once life gets busy.
2. Change the way you check in with each other
Most couples fall into the familiar pattern of:
“How was work?”
“How was your day?”
These questions are well-intentioned, but they rarely lead to deeper sharing.
A small shift in how you check in can completely transform the emotional tone between you. Try using open-ended questions like:
What was the best part of your day?
When did you laugh today?
What did you find yourself daydreaming about?
What was the most stressful moment for you?
You can also try thoughtful statements that show your partner they were on your mind:
I found myself thinking about you today when _______.
I added a date night to our calendar since we’ve been so busy — does this night work for you too?
Let’s go for a walk tonight and talk about our dream vacation. I could use something fun to imagine together.
These kinds of questions and statements create space for real emotional exchange instead of surface-level “fine, good, busy” answers.
Make your check-ins an opportunity to know each other even more deeply.
3. Create a daily ritual of appreciation
One of the most powerful and transformative practices for couples is sharing daily appreciations. It’s simple, free, and deeply impactful.
Each evening, take turns sharing something you genuinely appreciated about your partner that day:
something they did
something they said
something they made you feel
Be specific. “I appreciated you today” is nice, but “I appreciated how you made coffee even though you were rushed — it made me feel cared for” fosters deep emotional intimacy.
As you continue this ritual, you’ll begin noticing more of the good in your partner. Your attention shifts from irritation to gratitude, and the entire emotional climate of your relationship changes.
Try it for a week or two — most couples are surprised by how quickly they feel closer and more connected.
