Time Apart

I've talked a lot about the importance of nurturing the relationship with your partner - spending time together, recapturing a sense of fun and playfulness, and staying connected through conversation and physical affection. But it's also important for both you and your partner to have a life apart from one another.

When you each have your own interests and activities that fill you up, you're less likely to expect the relationship alone to make you happy. Time apart gives each of you something to bring back to the relationship and keeps life more interesting. Too much togetherness can lead to boredom and leave you wondering what to talk about.

So if you want to keep your passion primed, preserve your own identity and plan some separateness to fuel your togetherness.