Things to Try with Your Spouse Once in a Month: 15 Ideas to Deepen Your Bond
In the hustle of everyday life, relationships often fall into autopilot. Work deadlines, errands, and responsibilities consume time, and before you know it, another month has passed without truly connecting with your partner. But here’s the secret—building a strong, lasting marriage doesn’t require grand gestures every day. It only takes a conscious effort to create special moments, just once a month.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 meaningful things to try with your spouse once in a month that will not only keep the spark alive but deepen your emotional intimacy and create lasting memories.
Table of Contents
1. Have a No-Phone Date Night
Put the phones away. Seriously—lock them in a drawer if you have to.
Once a month, dedicate an evening to a completely unplugged date night. Whether it’s a candlelit dinner at home or a cozy booth at your favorite restaurant, the goal is to be fully present. Without distractions, you’ll rediscover how much you truly enjoy each other’s company.
Pro Tip: Ask intentional questions like, “What’s one thing that made you smile this month?” or “Is there a dream we haven’t talked about lately?”
2. Cook a New Recipe Together
Forget takeout—get creative in the kitchen.
Pick a recipe neither of you has tried before and cook it together from scratch. From Thai curries to homemade pizza or a unique dessert, the process of collaborating (and sometimes laughing through small kitchen mishaps) builds both fun and teamwork.
Idea: Keep a couples’ recipe journal and rate each dish out of 10 to look back on your culinary adventures.
3. Plan a Mini Getaway (Even a Day Trip Counts)
You don’t need a luxury resort to reconnect. A spontaneous road trip or a weekend in a nearby town can work wonders.
Exploring new places together ignites curiosity, creating fresh stories and bonding opportunities. Once a month, plan something—even if it’s a short hike, a scenic drive, or a visit to a quirky museum.
4. Write Each Other a Letter
Yes, a real letter. On paper.
In today’s digital age, handwritten notes are incredibly meaningful. Set aside one day a month to write what you appreciate about your spouse, what you’re proud of, or even what you’re dreaming of together.
It’s a powerful emotional reset—an anchor in your relationship.
5. Take a Class or Workshop Together
Learning something new together is a proven way to strengthen connection.
Whether it’s salsa dancing, pottery, photography, or a virtual mixology class, trying something out of your comfort zones creates shared growth. Make it a monthly ritual to step into a class as partners in learning—and laughter.
6. Have a Deep Talk Over Coffee (or Wine)
Sometimes, the most profound connection comes from talking about life beyond the daily to-do list.
Set a date for a monthly “real talk” session. Brew coffee or pour a glass of wine, and dive into topics like:
- What are our dreams in the next 5 years?
- What has been our biggest win this month?
- How can we support each other better?
7. Do a Random Act of Kindness Together
Giving back together strengthens not only your community—but your relationship.
Volunteer at a local shelter, donate clothes, or surprise a stranger with flowers. Acts of shared compassion align you in purpose, and that’s a deeper kind of intimacy than a night on the couch.
8. Try a Monthly Couple’s Challenge
Gamify your growth!
Each month, take on a fun or meaningful challenge as a couple. Ideas include:
- A 7-day gratitude journal.
- 30-day fitness challenge.
- No-spending weekend.
- Compliment each other daily for 30 days.
You’ll bond while working toward a shared goal—and maybe pick up some positive habits along the way.
9. Host a Dinner or Game Night
Bring other couples or friends into your shared life. Hosting a game night or potluck once a month helps you both connect socially, while strengthening your identity as a team.
It also gives you something to plan together and talk about before and after the event.
10. Go Stargazing or Watch a Sunrise
Sometimes the best moments are the quiet ones.
Once a month, take a blanket outside and just watch the stars. Or wake up early and drive to a spot where you can watch the sun rise. These experiences reconnect you with the bigger picture—and each other.
11. Recreate Your First Date (or a Favorite Memory)
Nostalgia can be a powerful emotional tool.
Each month, pick a memory to revisit. It could be your first date location, the movie you watched on your honeymoon, or the park where you used to walk.
Recreating those moments is a beautiful way to honor your journey together.
12. Read a Book or Watch a Series Together
Choose a book to read simultaneously (even if it’s just a chapter a week) or binge a new series over a few weeks. Use it as an opportunity to discuss themes, characters, and even how they relate to your own lives.
The shared experience fuels connection and conversation.
13. Create a Vision Board Together
Once a month, sit down and revisit or update your couple’s vision board. Use magazine cutouts, print photos, or create a digital one on Canva.
This keeps you both aligned in your long-term dreams—whether it’s travel, family, career goals, or health. Plus, it’s a fun, creative outlet.
14. Surprise Each Other with a Love Gesture
Take turns surprising one another monthly.
It could be a heartfelt note in their lunchbox, an unexpected bouquet, a playlist of songs that remind you of them, or a massage at the end of a long week. These little moments are reminders that love still lives in the everyday.
15. Unplug for an Entire Day and Be Present
We save this one for last, but it might be the most important.
Pick one day a month—maybe a Sunday—and unplug from screens completely. No phones. No Netflix. No email.
Go for a walk, cook, nap, laugh, and simply be together. In a world so full of noise, intentional presence is the greatest gift you can give one another.
Why “Once a Month” Works Wonders
You may wonder—why not every week? Isn’t once a month too infrequent?
Here’s the magic of the monthly rhythm: it’s consistent, doable, and sustainable. In a busy life, you may not be able to plan elaborate weekly dates—but you can carve out time monthly. And when that day arrives, it becomes sacred—something you both look forward to.
Think of it as an emotional investment. Small, regular deposits create a rich account of memories, connection, and joy.
Final Thoughts: Love Is in the Doing
The truth is, long-lasting love isn’t built on grand, one-time moments. It’s the slow, steady commitment to choosing each other again and again.
So, whether you’re writing a letter, cooking together, or simply stargazing hand-in-hand, let that moment be your “once-a-month magic.”
Make it intentional. Make it sacred. And watch your love grow deeper, stronger, and more joyfully alive.
