10 Ways to Add Adventure to Your Marriage
10 Ways to Add Adventure to Your Marriage:
A Comprehensive Guide
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1. Create a "Mystery Date" Rotation
Take turns planning surprise outings for each other, with the planner handling all details including arrangements and packing if needed. The other spouse only learns the destination and activities upon arrival. This builds anticipation and keeps the element of surprise alive in your relationship.
2. Learn Something New Together
Choose a skill neither of you has mastered and learn it as a team. This could be:
Taking dance lessons for a style you both enjoy
Learning a new language for an upcoming trip
Mastering a challenging cuisine in cooking classes
The shared vulnerability and achievement creates lasting bonds and memories.
3. Start an Adventure Bucket List
Create a shared document where you both add dreams and aspirations, from simple local activities to grand international adventures. Make it a priority to check off at least one item every few months. This gives you both something exciting to work toward together.
4. Plan Regular "First Time" Experiences
Commit to trying something new together at least once a month. It doesn't have to be extreme - perhaps:
Trying an exotic cuisine
Visiting a nearby town you've never explored
Attempting a new hobby or sport
New experiences trigger dopamine release and create stronger emotional connections.
5. Create Physical Challenges Together
Set fitness or adventure goals that require teamwork and support:
Training for a marathon
Planning a challenging hike
Learning rock climbing
These activities build trust and create opportunities for encouragement and celebration.
6. Embrace Spontaneity
Designate certain days as "Yes Days" where you both agree to say "yes" to reasonable spontaneous suggestions. This might mean:
Taking an impromptu road trip
Trying that new restaurant instead of your usual spot
Attending a local event you just discovered
This practice helps break routine and introduces unexpected joy into your relationship.
7. Create Adventure at Home
Transform your living space into different experiences:
Set up indoor camping complete with fort-building and stargazing
Create themed dinner nights representing different countries
Design scavenger hunts throughout your house and neighborhood
This shows that adventure doesn't always require travel or expense.
8. Embrace Role Reversal
Take turns stepping into each other's worlds:
If one spouse loves photography, let them teach the other their techniques
If one is the family chef, let the other plan and prepare meals for a week
Switch responsibility for planning date nights or managing certain household tasks
This creates understanding and adds variety to your routine.
9. Start a Creative Project Together
Collaborate on something that requires ongoing effort and creativity:
Writing a book together
Creating a garden
Renovating a space in your home
Starting a small business or side project
Long-term projects provide continuous opportunities for teamwork and shared accomplishment.
10. Plan Mystery Weekends
Every few months, take turns planning entire weekends where one partner arranges everything:
Accommodation
Activities
Meals
Transportation
The other partner commits to going along with the plan, creating trust and excitement.
Making It Last
The key to maintaining adventure in marriage is consistency and commitment. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss what's working and what new experiences you'd like to try. Remember that adventure doesn't always mean grand gestures - sometimes the smallest departures from routine can create the most meaningful memories.
Keep a journal or an online photo album of your adventures together, both big and small. This creates a tangible record of your shared experiences and serves as inspiration for future adventures.
