Can a holiday save your relationship?

Can a holiday save your relationship?

With the chilly winter weather over staying its welcome, many couples are looking for a romantic escape, but how can you make the most of your getaway?  Relationship consultant Paula Hall, author of ‘Improving Your Relationship for Dummies’, has been working with Forest Holidays to show how you can get the most out of a couple’s holiday and why it could be the key to improving your relationship.

Spot when your relationship needs more time

The most obvious signal in spotting a breaking relationship is if you begin to constantly argue but not even caring to have an argument can be worse. Paula says: “Arguing is one of the most common signs that a relationship is drifting apart, but a much more worrying sign is when people stop arguing. Although conflict can be very damaging to a relationship, indifference is even worse. If you’re finding that you just can’t be bothered to raise issues anymore or fight for the things that matter to you, then it’s definitely time to look at your relationship.”

Your relationship could need more work if you find you experience the following:

• You find you have less to talk about
• One of you is spending less time at home. This is often as they feel less connection
• You feel things that used to be fun just aren’t anymore
• You often find conversation has lots of silences, or is focused on jobs
• You don’t feel close anymore
• You find yourself arguing easier – people who are close to each other often find it easy to quickly fly off the handle at the smallest thing

If you are starting to spot any of these signs, it is likely that your relationship needs some care to help bring it back to life. The earlier you begin to address any patches in your relationships, the easier they are to fix.

Getting away

A great way to give your relationship the TLC it needs is to get away from it all and have a holiday together. Spending time together demonstrates priorities in life; a night in with your partner is all very well, but it is often squeezed in, postponed or interrupted which can actually make things worse.  It also doesn’t give you enough time to relax after a day at work meaning you still may be short with each other or your attention may be on something else.  Getting away from it will enable you both to relax and unwind together and it is in this state you are more likely to find the original sparks that made your relationship work so well in the first place. It’s not enough just to book the time away, what you do on holiday is very important too as to reconnect you need to choose environments and activities that will help you form stronger bonds.

• Plan ahead – make sure you’ve sat down together to look at brochures and websites and agree where you want to go. The more you do together in the planning, the more together you’ll feel when away
• One of the most important things is to make sure you choose somewhere that’s stress free.  The key to the holiday is that you can relax together
• Although you want to be relaxed, you also need to find somewhere that is stimulating as boredom will fuel frustration
• Choose a range of activities that you’ll both enjoy – compromise and try something new if you have different interests
• Pack together – think about new or special things to pack to make the holiday extra special. For example, you might want to take some sexy lingerie or scented oils for sensual baths together
• Talk about what you want to get out of the holiday so that you’re already anticipating the good times before you get there
• Remember the camera – make sure you capture those special moments so you can continue to share when you get home

Keeping the relationship alive when you return home

With your relationship back on track after a relaxing holiday, it’s important not to let your hard work go to waste.  You have re-set the dial and your relationship is working well but there are measures you can put in place to help keep that new-found energy alive:

• Put photos on the wall or as your screen saver as a constant reminder of the good times. Not just photos of the amazing scenery, but photos of you having fun together
• Consider what you did on holiday that you can continue to do at home. For example, eating meals together, spending time outdoors and playing games together
• Make a list of the things you learnt, or re-learnt about your partner that makes you feel close to them so that next time you’re feeling grumpy or irritated you can look back at that list
• Book another holiday – by far the best way of ensuring your relationship continues to benefit from holidaying together is to book another one!

Find out how a holiday inspired by nature can improve your relationship with this article by Paula Hall.

Romantic holiday ideas for couples

Built exclusively for couples, the Golden Oak Hideaway cabins in Blackwood Forest are a fantastic choice for a UK couple’s break. These cosy love nests are available from Forest Holidays and include a hot tub, wood burning stove, sunken bath and hammock on the terrace.

Combine a city break with a beach holiday with trips to European cities like Nice in the south of France or Barcelona in Spain. Exploring a city’s cultural attractions is a great way to bond by learning something new and then head to the beach for some fun, down-time together.

If you both work high-pressured jobs, book a week away in a sunny beach resort. Lounging next to the pool together or sunbathing on the beach is a great way to unwind from the stresses of everyday life. Explore the local restaurants to get a taste of the country’s culture; the Greek islands have fantastic beach resorts as well as a rich history and tasty food.