3 Easy Ways to Shape-up Your Relationship This New Year

Did you make a New Year's Resolution? If you did, have you stuck with it? Or has it already gone by the wayside? If you didn't, is this because you don't believe in them? Or did you just forget to make one? If you haven’t made one or it’s been neglected, there’s no reason why you can’t make a new resolution dedicated to your relationship.

Let’s make 2011 the best year ever for your relationship. Here are three great ways to get your relationship in shape:

1. Prioritize your relationship.
The most important thing you must do is NOT take your loved ones for granted. Human nature being what it is, we tend to take the things we have and the ones we love for granted. This is the kiss of death for your relationship.

So prioritize your relationship in 2011! It sounds so simple and easy to do, and it is, if you do it! Have you noticed how life has a way of getting in the way of your relationship? We are all guilty of this. Our job, the bills, the kids, the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, even our favorite TV show finds a way of creeping up on us and taking away all our “free” time, including the time we have to spend with our partner. Try really hard not to allow this to happen to your relationship.

Life seems to have taken on such a hectic pace. Slow it down – it’s easy if you try and spend quality time with the one you love. If you have to schedule time together, do it. Do whatever it takes to make your relationship your #1 priority in 2011.

2. Bring back the romance
Bring back the romance your relationship was built on. Remember how you used to flirt with each other with your eyes? Bring that back and rekindle the romance. Send little love notes to each other throughout the week. With modern technology there are a million ways to do this, such as email, IMing, text messaging, bbm, etc. Or bring home a rose to your partner for no reason at all! Bringing back the romance in your relationship is a sure fire way to heat things up in 2011!

3. Speak politely to your partner; say "please" and "thank-you"
Everything you need to know about manners you learned in kindergarten. As I mentioned earlier, we tend to take our loved ones for granted and this includes forgetting our manners when we speak with them. Civility goes a long way to enhance the quality of your relationship. Try it – your partner will like it. Trust me.

Resolve to focus on your relationship this year and don't take your partner for granted. If you follow these three easy, simple, and effective tips you’ll be on your way to making 2011 the best year ever in your relationship.