Even if you're in a loving relationship, sometimes it's hard to make the time and effort needed to really show your boyfriend how much he means to you. So if you feel like you're constantly ignoring your guy, you need to find a way to fix it. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to show you care. Start with Step 1 below.
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Method 1 of 3: Through Romantic Gestures
Step 1. Plan a romantic evening
One of the best ways to show your boyfriend cares is to dedicate an entire evening to love and romance.
- Movie night Clean up the sitting room, light a few candles and rent her favorite movie (hint: not “The Notebook”). Prepare some of his favorite treats – popcorn, gummy bears, nachos, whatever. Grab some pillows and a warm blanket and cuddle on the couch.
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Prepare for a starlight picnic.
Wait for a warm, bright night then prepare a picnic for the two of you to enjoy under the stars. It could be wine and caviar, or bird an beef jerky – the intention is what matters! Grab a blanket and head to the garden, park or rooftop – bring binoculars if you have them!
- Do the best. Spread roses on the bed, put on your sexiest underwear and light a million candles. Prepare champagne and strawberries dipped in chocolate if the mood is right. When he gets home, call him to his room in a sexy voice, where you will lie in bed waiting for him. He will solve it.
Step 2. Arrange a day trip
Planning a fun outing for both of you is a great way to show your boyfriend that you care. Try to have a destination that “he” will like, don't just drag him around the nearest shopping mall!
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Go to the beach:
If you live near the ocean, spending a day at the beach is the perfect way to spend time together. Go swimming, play beach volleyball or build a huge sandcastle. Even though it's a little chilly, you can enjoy exploring the dunes and breathing in the fresh sea air, all while holding hands.
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Go to a gallery or museum.
If your man loves culture, why not take him to an art gallery or museum. Look online to find out what exhibitions are running – you'd be surprised at the number of events on a single day, especially in a big city. You can even buy him a macchiato afterwards, to complete the art experience!
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Hiking.
Going hiking may not feel like the most romantic activity, but it can be a great bonding experience, especially if your guy loves nature. As long as it's not too tiring, hiking will give you both a good chance to talk and share what's going on in each other's lives. And if you're lucky, you'll have an amazing view once you reach the top – making it the perfect location for a romantic kiss.
Step 3. Cook her favorite evening meal
This may sound old-fashioned, but the expression “the key to a man's heart is through his stomach” is quite true. Aside from the delicious food, he will appreciate the time and effort you put into making something just for him to enjoy.
- Think about what you're going to cook – will he prefer grilled chicken and vegetables? Perfectly cooked steak? Or will he prefer simple things like mac and cheese, or spaghetti and meatballs?
- When in doubt, why not call her mom for some advice, or even the exact recipe she's using? If you can learn to cook like his mother, he will love you forever!
- Turn an entire meal into an experience – set the table, use your best cutlery. Light some candles, open wine and put on some relaxing music.
- If you can't cook, you can buy her favorite food. Just make sure to present it beautifully – don't make it eat out of plastic containers!
Step 4. Offer to massage her
Giving your boyfriend a romantic massage is an ideal and intimate way to show how much you appreciate him. This will help relax and relieve tension (and even excite him.)
- Set up a quiet environment for massaging your boyfriend. Your bedroom will suffice – just make sure to put a towel down first to protect the sheets. Dim the lights and play soothing music.
- Have him take off all his clothes (although he can keep his underwear on if he prefers) and lie face down on the bed. Start at her feet, work her way up, then her back and shoulders, to her neck and top of her head. Press hard and use long, soothing strokes. If you want more specific instructions on how to massage properly, look here.
- Be sure to use massage oil, as this will prevent you from pulling and pinching, and will allow your hands to glide smoothly over the skin. You can buy special massage oils, or simply use sunflower or grapeseed oil you have in your kitchen.
Step 5. Show affection
One of the simplest things you can do to show you care is to show affection. You both have busy lives, so it's easy to forget the importance of human contact, but a little touch is a great way to rekindle the spirit between the two of you.
- Give him a kiss before work – not just a cheek kiss, but a full kiss, mouth open, and longer than 10 seconds. Tell him he'll get it again when he gets home – he'll think about it all day!
- Attack him with a big hug every now and then, when he least expects it. Wrap your arms around him and squeeze his body. Studies have shown that frequent cuddling increases serotonin, making a person feel calmer and happier.
- Hold hands when out, rest your head on his shoulder while watching TV, or simply stroke his hair with your fingers as he sits at the table. Don't let the two of you become a couple sitting on opposite sides of the room, not talking. Showing affection will bring you closer.
Method 2 of 3: Through Gifts
Step 1. Buy luxury gadgets
You don't have to spend money to show you care – but sometimes that's okay!
- Men love their toys, so buying your boyfriend the newest gadget on the market will earn you big points and show that you care.
- Some ideas include the latest iPhone, new PlayStation or Xbox console, remote control helicopter, plasma screen TV, or even a range of buggy models (if he likes that kind of thing).
- If your budget doesn't go that far, you can still get similar results for a smaller prize. Buy a new game computer, a flashy pair of headphones or a portable mouse for the laptop. Bonus points if that's something he once called needed.
Step 2. Generate coupons
If you don't have the money, or just want to make a deeper gift, you can still give your boyfriend a great gift – a coupon book! Not coupons for the local supermarket for sure, but personalized homemade coupons for romantic (and not so romantic) service.
- Write something like “this coupon gives you a romantic massage” or “this coupon frees you from washing dishes for one night”. You can create coupons for homework or sexy activities – you choose!
- Get some colorful cards and fancy pens to make coupons. If you're feeling creative, you can cut out pictures from magazines to attach to each coupon.
- Alternatively, there are many websites available where you can choose a coupon template, fill it out to your liking, and then print it out. This gives a more professional look to your coupons!
Step 3. Make up for yourself
It's no secret that men are very visual guys, so putting on yourself a makeover and looking good can turn him on very much.
- However, what makes your man passionate depends on personal choice. Some men like women who wear sexy clothes, while others prefer a casual look.
- The most important thing is that you don't laze around in the house with unwashed hair and loose pants (at least not always). You want to show her that you are proud of how you look and still care about looking good on her.
- Make sure your hair is always fresh and looks neat, apply moisturizer to make your skin feel soft, wear a fragrance that he likes and wear clothes that beautify your body and highlight your best assets.
- Don't go overboard with make-up, but a little mascara (to highlight your eyes) and non-sticky lip balm (to make it easy to kiss) can help you look your best.
Step 4. Provide a wonderful experience
Instead of giving her a physical gift, try pampering your boyfriend with an amazing experience he'll remember for the rest of his life (and earn you a Best Girlfriend nomination).
- If your guy likes adrenaline, try booking him a freefall or bungge jump experience. These are widely available and start at $200. If you're feeling adventurous you can sign up with him!
- If your man is a car enthusiast, you can rent out a Ferrari for a day so he can drive it all day. It may be a little pricey, but if it makes your man feel like James Bond for a day it's well worth it! Search car rental services to see what's available in your area.
- Or, you can book a trip for the two of you. Take that romantic trip to Paris the way you've always wanted, book a crazy weekend in Vegas, or relax for a week on the beaches of Cancun. For an added surprise, quietly clear the schedule and pack your things then don't tell your destination until you arrive at the arrival airport!
Step 5. Create a scrapbook
If you're the more sentimental type, you can create a scrapbook or photo album for your guy, to remind him of all the good times you two had together.
- Collect pictures from the beginning of your relationship to the present. Check your friends' Facebook pages for photos you may not have seen before.
- Don't just post pictures of the two of you smiling sweetly, find pictures of the two of you laughing, acting crazy, making weird faces and having fun together. This is the best memory to remember.
- You can also include other things that remind you of your relationship, such as ticket stubs from the first movie you saw together, napkins from a restaurant where you both got food poisoning, or a guitar pick you caught at a concert.
- Use a beautiful pen to label each image or memory, provide a date, location or even a funny picture. You never know – this scrapbook might be passed on to your grandchildren one day!
Method 3 of 3: Through Words
Step 1. Send a joking text message
Even if you're not with him, you can show your girlfriend by texting her sweet, romantic, seductive or even sexy.
- This can be quite effective if he's at work or out with friends, as long as it shows that you're thinking about him, even when he doesn't expect it at all.
- Simply sending "I love you" or "I miss you" will be greatly appreciated, especially when he expects something more than "don't forget to buy some milk on the way home".
- Alternatively, sending something more seductive like "I can't wait for you to come over so I can take off all your clothes" can get him excited and looking forward to seeing you.
- And if you really want to turn her on, you can post pictures of yourself posing sexy, wearing little or nothing! Just make sure he's alone when he opens it!
Step 2. Give lots of compliments
You know that warm feeling you get when your boyfriend says you look really pretty or you did a good job at something? He feels the same way when you give him a compliment, so don't forget to say something nice from time to time.
- Men also like to be complimented on how they look so give them a confidence boost by saying “You look really good today”, “That T-shirt matches your eye color” or “Those jeans make your ass look great”.
- It's also important to let him know when he's doing a good job at something, rather than not being grateful for it. For example, if he's trying to cook dinner for you, you should say “thank you very much, this looks delicious” – even though it really isn't.
Step 3. Write a love letter
Love letters are now a lost art, but they can still contain a lot of romantic kicks.
- There's something so sweet and old-fashioned about spilling your heart and soul on a piece of paper. It's also more permanent and durable – handwritten love letters can't be accidentally deleted or put in junk mail.
- You can write your love letter on a beautiful piece of writing paper, or on scrap paper – it's the words that matter. If you're not very good at expressing your feelings, look to the works of famous writers, poets, and songwriters for inspiration.
- For a really old fashioned touch, put your love letter in an envelope and send it to your boyfriend. Don't tell me that a letter is coming. That way he will get a beautiful surprise when he arrives.
Step 4. Listen to him
Sometimes you don't have to say or do anything – you just need to listen to your boyfriend and be there for him when he needs you. In fact, being a good listener is an important part of any strong and healthy relationship.
- Sometimes guys need a little nudge to start talking, so try asking how his day was or if anything interesting happened at work. Ask questions, then really hear the answers – don't just go in your right ear out your left!
- Take an interest also in the things that interest him. It didn't matter if it was his favorite sports team, a project he was working on or something related to his family. Don't just expect him to serve your interests all the time – it has to be reciprocal.
Step 5. Just tell me
If you want your boyfriend to know how much you care, just say so! Sit him down, look him in the eye, and tell him you love him.
- Let him know that you appreciate everything he does for you and that you know how lucky you are to have found a man like him. Hopefully, he'll say it back!
- If you want to do your best, you can say that he is the perfect match for you, and you can't imagine being with anyone but him and you want to marry him and have a beautiful baby together. Beware as this might scare him off.
Tips
- Always make eye contact when he is talking to you.
- Ask about her life and friends and give her your full attention.
- Help him when he needs it and don't look at other men.
- If it's a long distance relationship, try to call her often.
