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Do you remember what it was like to be a kid? You felt free to be goofy, to say what was on your mind and to be affectionate whenever you wanted to, and being self-conscious wasn’t even a concept you understood? That’s what it feels like when you’re really in love too. In the best relationships, you work at keeping that childlike energy alive. Here are a few ways to do it.

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Source: Shutterstock

Why it’s great

When you’re a kid, you don’t worry for a second if your butt isn’t perky or you have a little tummy. You feel so free when you’re naked! Walking around nude with your partner reminds you both not to take yourselves so seriously. You’re flipping bacon with your nipples out, after all. How serious can life really be? And you’ll probably have sex a few times that day, too. That can’t hurt.

 

 

 

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Image Source: Shutterstock

Eat no-no food

You probably both have a list of no-no food. Whether you’re of the bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings persuasion, or have a weakness for candy, you and your man have foods that, once you start eating them, you can’t stop, but man does it feel good to be bad. Set a night, pick up those foods, and eat them together with a movie on.

Image Source: Tumblr

Image Source: Tumblr

Why it’s great

We spend so much of our days restricting ourselves, following rules, and doing what we have to do at any given moment, instead of what we feel like doing. Gorging on your guilty snacks together is enjoying a moment of pure freedom together. It’s also a bit nostalgic—it takes you back to the days you didn’t constantly worry about calorie count. Don’t worry: you can go for a long jog together tomorrow to work it off. But for tonight, enjoy the moment.

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Why it’s great

After being together for a while, your bed can become a place that’s just associated with sleep. When you began to date, it was associated with cuddling, staying up all night talking about nothing at all, and having lots of sex. It can be hard to get that back in your old bed that you’ve slept hundreds of nights together in now, worrying about early meetings and setting alarm clocks. So, move to the living room. The novelty of the setup will have you up talking, and acting like a new couple again.

 

 

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Image Source: Shutterstock

Take a bubble bath

Kids love bubble baths! When you were a child, that bubble bath—with its toys and mountains of foam—felt like a world of its own. Time didn’t exist in there. You were so safe and warm, and free to splash around. Fill up the tub with some suds for you and your partner.

 

 

 

 

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Image Source: Shutterstock

Why it’s great

For some reason, bubble baths make time stop. It could be because the bathroom is the one place there (usually) aren’t telephones, electronics, stacks of mail and other things that constantly draw your attention to responsibilities. Bubble baths are also immensely relaxing, with the warmth and the smell of aromatherapy soap. Being that relaxed with your partner can be bonding.

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Why it’s great

Naps reduce stress and are even heart-healthy. We often don’t realize that we’re sleep-deprived, but when we are, the smallest issues seem big, and we have a harder time handling emotional stress. In other words, being sleep deprived can lead to more arguments in our relationships. Taking naps can reduce them.

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Why it’s great

Zoos are great for you and your partner because, well, they’re full of kids! Kids, with their endless curiosity, the ease with which they are amazed and impressed, and their ability to laugh at the silliest things, like a bamboo’s pink butt. It’s good to be around that energy. It’s infectious.

 

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Why it’s great

Cooking with your partner is inevitably filled with silent questions like “Did you really think that was a good way to wrap that?” or “Who do you expect to pick that up?” or “Isn’t there a cleaner way to cut that!?” All of those worries take the fun out of creating something together, like cookies! Make a deal that you just won’t think about the cleanup today—just this once—and you’ll get to it tomorrow. You can finally focus on how much fun you’re having.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Image Source: Shutterstock

Why it’s great

Pranks were a blast as a kid, and do you want to know why? They gave us a chance to see people in a different light than we usually do. Getting someone who is usually calm and composed to freak out is—let’s face it—hilarious, but it’s also humanizing. If your prank is harmless, the prankee is usually happier in the end. Everybody can use a laugh. It’s fun to create that for somebody else with your partner. Plus you get to be mischevious together.