13 New Years Resolutions to Make with Your Spouse ...

1. Make Time to Connect

This is one of the biggest New Years resolutions that I'm going to make this year. Taking time out for your relationship and truly making time for one another is hard. So whether it's the busy schedules or the kids, make sure that you schedule some time to spend with your spouse. It'll make all of the difference in your relationship!

2. Admire, Compliment & Praise

I don't compliment enough. I know it and that's absolutely at the top of my New Years resolutions list for next year. If you're in the same boat as me, just make a pact to compliment one another more often and to celebrate small little wins. Your relationship should be fun and you should always praise one another!

3. Stay Present

If you've been in a relationship for a while, it's sometimes hard to stay present and sometimes hard to not drift away. Ladies, if you find yourself getting distant, it's time to make the New Years resolution that you stay present this year. After all, what fun is a relationship if you're constantly feeling distant and alone?

4. Work on Communication

Communication is key in any relationship and should be a key in your relationship. If you and your partner are having a hard time communicating, it might be time for you to work on that communication. After all, good communication can only help your relationship in the long run.

5. Say 'I Love You' More Often

This is another one, if you've been in a relationship for a long time, the fresh and new 'I love you' statements phase out. So why not next year, as a New Years resolution, you say I love you more often? It's a great way to really let your partner know that you are truly in love with them still.

6. Do 'Good Things' for Each Other

Whether it is bringing your boy breakfast in bed or just washing his car, you want to make sure that you're doing good things for him. That in turn, means that he should be doing good things for you too. Doing random acts of kindness for one another is huge, especially if you've been together for a while!

7. Make Sex Time a Priority

Sex doesn't need to be scheduled ladies, but you do have to make time for it. Why not, this year, make sexy time a priority? After all, it's a great stress reliever and it makes you feel connected to your partner!

8. Work on Not Fighting

Fighting is an issue in every relationship. Trust me, I've been in my fair share of fights with the Better Half. That doesn't mean you have to fight about everything. So, why not work on it? For next year, take time out to discuss things, instead of fighting them out.

9. Take up a Hobby

While you may have things that you do on your own all of the time, you need something to do together. Find a hobby you’ll both enjoy and get going. It doesn’t matter if you want to learn to cook, learn to paint, or start scrapbooking; as long as you do it together that’s what really matters.

10. Have Fun outside of the Relationship

As much as you guys should spend time together, you need time apart too. This doesn’t mean a break, break up, separation, or anything that serious - I just mean a good old fashioned girl’s/guy’s night. You both deserve time with your friends so make plans with friends, or even on your own, just get out of the house for a night and do something without your partner.

11. Keep Your Problems between Each Other

If you and your spouse have trouble keeping lovers quarrels between the two of you, that’s something to work on. Of course you want to vent every so often, and you’re able to, but be careful what you say and to who. Things you say in anger could come back to bite you so take a vow with your significant other not to blab to other people too much.

12. Have Fun

All work and no play makes for a dull relationship. Go mini-golfing, stay up all night just talking and laughing, have tickle fights, just do something that makes your smile and laugh with your spouse. Relationships are hard work, but they don’t always have to be. If you take the time to laugh and have fun your relationship will be easier and happier.

13. Make a Vision Board

This one might sound kind of dumb, but it could be fun. You both probably want certain things out of life and surely you’ve talked about them before, but why not really map it out. It doesn’t have to be super realistic if you’d rather just have fun with it. If you do want it to be serious, be careful that you don’t argue - it’s supposed to be fun. Pick out things like the kind of house you want, car you want, number of kids you want, and things like that then see what you can really make happen.

Finding the ideal New Years resolutions to make with your partner does have to be hard. You just have to find something that works for the both of you. So ladies, what are some of the New Years resolutions that you have for the coming year?

This article was written in collaboration with editor Lydia Sheehan.