As a couple, you know just how important it is to keep the spark alive in your romance. But sometimes, it’s easy to let friendship fall by the wayside in your marriage. When you’re juggling all of your usual responsibilities, it can be hard to focus on fostering your friendship with your spouse. However, deepening this friendship is very rewarding.

Many couples know how to shower their partners with romantic surprises – but do you know what it takes to build a better friendship with your spouse? If you feel like your friendship with your spouse has been waning, it’s time to make some changes. These tips will help you and your spouse prioritize your friendship and make your marriage even stronger.

1. Put Away Your Phones

Today, it’s all too easy to spend hours on our smartphones. But sometimes, this habit can pull you and your spouse away from each other. The time you spend on your phones could be the time that you spend catching up on your day. Making a pact to put your phones away during meals and talk to each other instead. Catching up on your day can become a ritual, and you may end up hearing stories from each other that you wouldn’t have heard otherwise.

2. Plan Relaxing Date Nights

Not every date night needs to be elaborate and expensive. Think of what you would do if you were going to make casual plans with a friend for the weekend. Maybe you would pick a movie to watch at home, or perhaps you would go hiking and grab lunch afterward.

Making time for relaxing, low-maintenance dates like these can be a great way to build up a genuine friendship. You won’t have to put much effort into preparing, and it certainly won’t be expensive. Sometimes, feeling like you’re just hanging out with a friend can make a date feel even more enjoyable – there’s no pressure to be fancy or spend lots of money

3. Sweet Surprises.

Who doesn’t love sweet surprises? One way to make your spouse feel treasured is by surprising them with small things when the mood strikes you. Maybe you could slip a note in their wallet before they head off to work, or put their favorite candy in their pocket. Your spouse will love finding these little reminders of you throughout the day.

4. Start a Hobby Together

Do you and your spouse have a shared hobby? Perhaps you already do, but lately, you’ve realized that you haven’t been making time for it anymore. Or maybe you’ve found that while the two of you enjoy spending time together, you don’t necessarily have a shared passion. Now might be the perfect time to find one. You could try playing a sport, learning a new skill, starting an artsy project, or even mastering a language. This can be a fun way to challenge yourself while growing closer to each other.

5. Dig Deeper

Above all, it’s important to dig deeper when you’re trying to revitalize your friendship with your spouse. You want to get beyond the surface level and reach the person underneath. When you talk with your spouse, go further than shallow questions. You should both make an effort to get learn things about each other that you simply didn’t know before. Even if you think you already know everything about your spouse, there is always more than meets the eye.

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Do you feel like you need to work on building a deeper, more intimate friendship with your spouse? Are you worried that the two of you have grown distant? Relationship therapy can help. Reach out today to discuss your couples counseling options for scheduling your first session.