1. Go back in time. Relive your first date or revisit where you first met. This will remind you about why you got together in the first place.
2. Plan a holiday. Amy, 22, plans a trip OS with her partner every year. "It definitely keeps the romance alive."
3. Have a date night. Relationships columnist and author Samantha Brett suggest setting aside time to go on a date. Even becoming regulars at your favourite restaurant is a good thing.
4. Be a thrill-seeker. "this creates a shared-experience bond," says relationship therapist Sue Adams. For the brave, try skydiving. For the faint-hearted, hit a few rides at a theme park.
5. Re-enact a scene from a fave movie. Try a flirtatious game of paintball, à la 10 Things I Hate About You. Or, the next time it rains, head outside and try that scene from The Notebook.
6. Keep your hands off each other for a few days. Monica, 25, says this forces her and her partner to connect in othe rways. "By the end of it, even just holding hands will make your heart race."
7. Flirt. Kirra, 24, says, "My partner and I send sexy texts, tease each other and share naughty smiles when we go out."
8. Write a love letter. Ally, 22, says, "[It's good to have] a reminder of our love for each other."
9. Try a recipe together. Brownies are great for beginners, or flick through a recipe book by Jamie or Nigella and get cooking.
10. Laugh. Hire Flight of the Conchords or any comedy that will make you laugh until your ribs hurt.
11. Do things the other likes. Don't like footy? Next time, go to a game with your partner in exchange for doing something you love.
12. Turn off the TV. Adams suggests, at the end of the day, to talk over dinner instead of watching TV.
13. Take the time to talk. Mia, 23, says when she and her partner chat, "We reassess our wants and needs, and how we can support each other."
14. Do research. "Find out what expressions of love are important to him, and do them," urges Adams. It might be something simple like a packed lunch.
15. Bring back the passion... When lust tapers off, we can become bored and complacent in our relationship. Make an effort to maximise your time together - something other than TV in bed.
16. Make a CD or playlist with all your favourite songs. Or, if you're both blessed with musical talents, you could play a song together. Corny can be cute, or it was when Juno and Bleeker did it together in Juno...
17. Set boundaries. "When you go out on a date, don't get dressed together," says Brett. "Otherwise, it's the same old an there's no excitement." You could even arrange to meet at the restaurant so it feels more like a date.
18. Be spontaneous. Kerry, 27, and her partner keep their friendship fresh and exciting by enjoying all kinds of new, unplanned events together. "We might go out for a drive somewhere new, or just go out for ice cream after we've eaten dinner at home," she explains.
19. Leave random notes around the house that state what you love about your partner. It's healthy to spend time reflecting on things you like about each other, says Adams.
20. Lastly, don't forget to say those three words: "I love you." Often.
Jane Hollier ⃞
Cosmpolitan, July Edition, Page 70-71.
