Mental Health
Bring Playfulness Back Into Your Relationship With These Tips
Bring spark in your love life back spontaneity and lighthearted fun with these tips

As a couple, sharing inside jokes that only the two of you understand, can lighten your mood and create intimacy.
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Romance isn’t just about candlelit dinners and grand gestures; it is the little moments of laughter, teasing, and playful connection that create a deeper bond. When life gets busy with work commitments, household responsibilities, and social obligations, relationships can be neglected. Infusing playfulness back into your relationship can reignite that spark.
Embracing fun in your relationship not only strengthens your bond but also reminds you both why you were drawn to each other in the first place. 2018 findings in Frontiers in Psychology suggest that playfulness in adults is linked to a more active lifestyle, better physical fitness, and healthier behaviours, highlighting the potential benefits of fostering playfulness for overall well-being.
Related story: How Love Languages Can Help You Forge A Stronger Bond
How to Be Playful In Your Relationship
1. Revive Your Banter: To reignite your intimacy, laugh at each others’ jokes. Laughter is the secret that keeps relationships together. Bring back those old inside jokes that made you both giggle uncontrollably. Whether it’s a silly phrase, a shared memory, or a goofy voice, reminiscing about funny moments will remind you of your unique bond.
2. Flirt Like You Just Started Dating: Remember those butterflies you had when you first met? Flirting always works wonders when it comes to rekindling a bond. Send unexpected texts, playfully tease them, or leave a cheeky note in their pocket. Whisper something sweet (or mischievous) in their ear, wink at them across the room, or challenge them to a friendly bet.
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3. Plan Adventures Together: Routine can make a relationship feel stale, but surprises keep it exciting. Plan unexpected dates, spontaneous road trips, or surprise them with an at-home picnic. Switch things up by trying a new restaurant, booking a last-minute getaway, or even blindfolding them for a fun mystery outing. The thrill of not knowing what’s next keeps both of you engaged and reminds you of the joy of exploring life together.
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4. Leave Cute Notes in Unexpected Places: Love notes are romantic. Leave a sweet or funny message on the bathroom mirror, tuck a note into their lunch bag, or write something playful on a sticky note and put it on their laptop. Even a short and silly “I adore you more than pizza” can brighten their day. Small surprises like this remind your partner that they are loved and appreciated, even in the middle of a busy routine.
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5. Introduce Game Night with a Twist: Competition can be flirty too. Set up a game night where the loser has to do something playful, like serenade the winner or give them a massage. Whether it’s board games, video games, or classic card games, adding lighthearted stakes makes the experience more engaging. Playfully teasing each other during the game keeps the energy lively and brings back the missing fun.
6. Create a Secret Gesture: Come up with a special gesture that only the two of you know. It could be holding hands amid family gatherings, a quick peck on the cheek, caressing arms or running fingers through hair. Having your own playful ritual builds intimacy and gives you a fun way to connect no matter where you are.
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7. Send Flirty and Fun Texts to Each Other: Remember when you used to flirt with each other all day? Why stop now? Spice things up by sending a flirty or playful text during the day. It could be a funny meme, an unexpected compliment, or a cheeky “I can’t wait to see you later” message. Even a simple “Thinking of you” can brighten their day and remind them that you still find them exciting.
8. Recreate Your First Date: Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane by recreating your first date! Wear something similar, go to the same restaurant, or even rewatch the first movie you saw together. Reminiscing about how it all began brings back those early romantic feelings and makes you appreciate how far you’ve come as a couple. Plus, it’s a great excuse to relive those butterflies.
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9. Make Relationships More Dynamic Through Plays: Intellectual play involves wordplay, puns, and creatively solving problems. It’s the kind of fun that happens when couples engage in witty banter, solve puzzles together, or challenge each other with brain teasers. Then there’s whimsical play, which is all about embracing life's quirks with a lighthearted, sometimes oddball attitude. It’s finding joy in the little things making up silly songs while cooking, talking in funny voices, or laughing at the randomness of life.
10. Get Spontaneous And Adventurous: Routine can make even the most substantial relationships feel a bit predictable. This is where spontaneity keeps the connection energised and fresh. The thrill of unpredictability and adventure reminds both partners why they fell in love in the first place. Surprise your partner with a last-minute weekend getaway, an unexpected date night, or even something as simple as bringing home their favorite snack just because. Trying new activities together like taking a dance class, or going on a spontaneous road trip or trek can help you explore hidden passions. This will help deepen your bond.
Keeping the spark alive doesn’t require grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s the little playful moments that make the biggest difference. A wink across the room, an unexpected bear hug, or a funny voice when asking for coffee can instantly lighten the mood. At the core of every thriving relationship is a sense of fun, laughter, and shared joy. By weaving playfulness into your daily interactions, you’re not just keeping things exciting, you’re strengthening your emotional connection and creating lasting memories.
Need all your wellness solutions in one place? A whole new world awaits just a click away.
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