5 Simple Ways to Express Your Love and Gratitude Towards Your Partner

By Amelia Woolard

Being in a romantic relationship with someone can have its ups and downs. One day, you’re celebrating a relationship milestone with flowers and chocolates, and the next, you’re fighting pandemic-related anxiety together, while still making it to your virtual Zoom classes on time. Suffice to say, you know that real relationships aren’t like the ones you see in the movies – but, even during your roughest patches, your love and gratitude for one another should remain constant.  

Yet, despite how deeply you might feel for your significant other, it can sometimes be hard to put into words how much you care for them. Maybe, you simply don’t consider yourself the type to wear your heart on your sleeve. Perhaps, you’ve been through one too many break-ups and are hesitant to express your emotions to someone new. Whatever the scenario, just know that there are other ways of expressing your love for someone – five love languages, anyone?  

Though it may be hard to believe, it isn’t exactly necessary to repeatedly tell your partner that you love them to get your message across. In fact, it’s actions – not words – that can really mean the most in your relationship. On that note, uCribs wants to clue you into 5 simple actions that will help you express love and gratitude to your significant other. Check them out below! 

Don’t be afraid to compliment them. 

Doling out compliments is a good way to put a smile on anyone’s face – but, it certainly means a little more to both people involved, when the compliment is directed toward or coming from someone you love. Need a few ideas? Try calling attention to the incredible meal they prepared for you, complimenting their dedication to their schoolwork, or highlighting the undeniable strength they’ve exhibited throughout the pandemic. Whatever you choose to say, you can bet that it will go far in making your partner feel appreciated and loved.  

Do something that interests them. 

Do you often default to date nights that are your idea, or place takeout orders from your favorite restaurants? Consider mixing things up and choosing to do an activity or eat a type of cuisine that your partner likes. Maybe, you’re an introverted movie buff homebody, but your partner is more adventurous and interested in getting out into the world by hiking and camping. Flip the script, show them how much you care, and opt to do something they like to do — not the other way around. You may find that you’ve been missing out on a mutual interest this entire time! 

Genuinely listen to what they have to say. 

Even if you consider yourself an excellent communicator, there’s no denying that many of us could stand to improve our listening skills. After all, we’re all human, and sometimes, pressing the pause button on our opinions when talking with someone else is hard to do. However, simply waiting for your turn to speak indicates a lack of concern for what your partner thinks or feels. The next time your S.O. is talking, try giving them your full attention. This demonstrates that you’re fully invested in what they’re saying, and it will go a long way in strengthening your relationship’s bond.  

Take care of the little things when you can. 

Grand romantic gestures are nice, but when it comes to showing love and appreciation on a daily basis, nothing compares to routinely doing the little things. What are the “little things,” you ask? For example, if your partner always stresses out over doing the dishes, consider going the extra mile and handling them when you’re hanging out one night. Or, if your S.O. is up late cramming for a test, ask what you can do to help. Maybe, it would help them if you switched the laundry over to the dryer or made them a sandwich. Though these actions may be small, little tokens of appreciation really add up. 

If it’s needed, give them space. 

Even the closest relationships require some give and take – in other words, you might have different ideas of what quality time looks like. Depending on your partner’s needs, they might consider hanging out five days a week to be too much, while you’d prefer they be around 24/7. Despite how you may feel on the subject, the worst thing to do is to deny your partner space when they need it, especially since the majority of us have been under a stressful, cabin fever-inducing quarantine period. Respect your relationship and grant them time to do their own thing when necessary. (Silver lining? They’ll miss the heck out of you while away!)  

Are you not an overly lovey-dovey type? Or, are you finding it difficult to express your feelings to your partner in words? Relax – you don’t need to write an extensive love sonnet or perform some grand gesture to show your love for your significant other. Most of the time, all it takes is a simple action or a few thoughtful words to really show them that you care. Just follow these suggestions from your friends at uCribs, and you’ll be well on your way to a happier, more fulfilling romantic relationship.  

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