18 Ways To Beat Complacency In A Long-Term Relationship

14. Take photographs of each other in sexy poses. Ask him if he'd purchase a particular pair of shoes or a garment for the photo. Maybe you'd love to wear a pair of black pumps with red soles along with a black negligee and a dash of red somewhere on your body. No matter what, let your creativity out to play. —Lori Carpenos

15. Show your love and don't hold back. Love doesn't exist unless it is treated as a vital and living force between two people. Saying "I love you" holds far less meaning than showing our love to someone. Show excitement when you see each other, make time to just talk and be sure to make spontaneous affection part of your routine. Small steps like holding hands and making eye contact are easy to overlook in the face of busy schedules and responsibilities, but they can be key to keeping love exciting. —Dr. Lisa Firestone

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16. Keep your identity as an individual. Losing yourself in love is one of the biggest threats to maintaining intimacy. Getting close to someone shouldn't mean fusing our identities or losing respect for our innate separateness. Couples should try to complement and support each other in an effort to become their fullest selves instead of merging together to become something else. Appreciate your partner’s unique interests and enjoy him/her for the vital individual he/she is. —Dr. Lisa Firestone

17. Don't be defensive; engage in open communication. Inviting open communication and being receptive to feedback can help us overcome the real obstacles in our relationships. Instead of making excuses or counterattacking when our partner gives us feedback, we should look for the kernel of truth in what they're saying. Think about what applies and be compassionate to how they feel. In this same manner, you should seek to be direct and honest with your own feelings. —Dr. Lisa Firestone

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18. Be open to new experiences. When a relationship gets closer, couples often risk growing apart by closing off to new experiences or limiting each other in certain ways. Love doesn't exist in a vacuum. We have to share time and activities to keep it thriving. Pay attention to what makes our partners happy, and be careful not to take actions that will restrict that happiness. —Dr. Lisa Firestone