When’s the last time you and yours held hands while walking through the mall or even sitting in a concert? It’s one of the quickest and most effective ways to

make an immediate connection. Holding hands causes your stress levels to significantly drop. Holding hands also helps you to feel safer (because you don’t feel alone). There are even studies

to indicate that holding hands can release pain in the body. And, it definitely makes you feel more loved and secure. Next time you’re standing next to your spouse, reach

out for their hand. Pay attention to how you both feel when you lock fingers. “Connected” probably only scratches the surface.

When you and your partner and talking to one another, make it a practice to look each other in the eye. It’s a sign that you respect one another enough

to stop whatever it is you’re doing and really pay attention. It also gives you the opportunity to acknowledge each other’s body language (which is 80 percent of communication anyway).

When someone really feels heard, they feel validated. As a result, that makes them feel so much closer to who they are talking to.

Sometimes, it’s the closest people to us that we forget to be courteous to. When your spouse picks up dinner out of the blue, washes all of the laundry (even

though they hate doing it) or volunteers to take a couple of things off of your to-do list, make sure to say “thank you”. It shows gratitude and everyone needs

to feel appreciated sometimes.

Ever heard the quote “Remember why you started”? It applies here. No one ever said that marriage doesn’t have its high and low moments. During the challenging times, before turning

in for the night, share one of your favorite memories together with one another. Maybe your first kiss, first road trip or first time you both said “I love you”.

Sometimes a walk down memory lane is the fuel that helps to keep you on the right path.

Even if your top love language isn’t “Words of Affirmation” (click here to read more about those), that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be affirmed from time

to time. Same goes for your spouse. When you’re in front of their parents, make a point to praise them for a kind thing that they did. When you all

are out with friends, talk about how proud you are of their promotion or how great they are with your kids. This shouldn’t be something that feels forced. It’s just

that sometimes we’re so focused on what people do wrong that we forget to put our energies on the things they do right. If you take out a moment to

think about them in a positive light, the list will appear.

If you think that you should only be naked in the bed when you’re going to have sex, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are all sorts of

health benefits that come from doing it. It lowers your blood pressure. As a woman, it decreases your chances of a vaginal infection (because your body is able to breathe).

For guys, it protects the quality of their sperm by as much as 25 percent (less heat, safer swimmers). And, if the room is around 65 degrees or so, sleeping

naked can even help you to lose brown fat (learn more about what that is here). If you spoon or cuddle, hands down you’ll feel more connected. It’s

a pretty sexy way of catching some extra z-z-z’s too!