{"id":41260,"date":"2025-11-10T03:19:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T03:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=41260"},"modified":"2025-11-10T03:19:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T03:19:49","slug":"cj97rd0zvejoat_mediumrssat_campaignrss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2025\/11\/10\/cj97rd0zvejoat_mediumrssat_campaignrss\/","title":{"rendered":"How I keep my relationship alive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 eRlINq\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Trump-unveils-deals-to-lower-weight-loss-drug-prices.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/How-I-keep-my-relationship-alive.webp.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/288c\/live\/2ba548f0-bafd-11f0-9758-995af3ef9daa.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/How-I-keep-my-relationship-alive.webp.webp?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Nell Frizell Nell and her husband smiling together in front of a lake\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Nell Frizell<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Between deadlines, school runs and the constant &#8220;what&#8217;s for dinner?&#8221; chat, even the best relationships can start running on autopilot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">It doesn&#8217;t mean the spark has gone or that you&#8217;ve stopped loving your partner, but rather that life has got in the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Writer Nell Frizzell knows this all too well &#8211; after 10 years with her partner and two young children, she admits she doesn&#8217;t have as much time or energy for her husband as she once did.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;I know we&#8217;re told to focus on quality time, physical touch and gaze into each other&#8217;s eyes lovingly but actually I am shouting at my husband to turn the eggs off.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Frizzell says she&#8217;s at a &#8220;crunch point&#8221; in her life. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Her time, body and attention are being pulled in every direction &#8211; she&#8217;s raising children, caring for elderly parents, running the home and working all at the same time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;And within all of that, where do you have the time to look into someone&#8217;s eyes and say you&#8217;re wonderful?&#8221; she asks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Bring other people in<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">But Frizzell has discovered something that helps keep her relationship connection alive &#8211; something she calls a &#8220;third energy&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Not in the bedroom, she laughs, but at the dinner table.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;If we go away, we go with another family and if we go out to dinner, I love having friends there,&#8221; she explains.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">It&#8217;s a surprisingly simple idea &#8211; but Frizzell says having dinner with another couple, friends or family really does work as the presence of other people naturally changes the dynamic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">She says sometimes a so-called date night &#8220;where you&#8217;re sat across the table with the person you live with and trying to come up with something new to say&#8221; can be intense, so another person can help provide a new conversation starter or a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Frizzell says: &#8220;I find him incredibly attractive when we&#8217;re with people we don&#8217;t see all the time as they ask him questions I wouldn&#8217;t think to ask or tell him things I wouldn&#8217;t tell him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 GunZh\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Trump-unveils-deals-to-lower-weight-loss-drug-prices.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762744788_98_How-I-keep-my-relationship-alive.webp.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/2349\/live\/944b55f0-ba5f-11f0-995c-3bd371294616.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762744788_98_How-I-keep-my-relationship-alive.webp.webp?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Getty Images Group of happy friends having a lunch in a tavern. \" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Psychotherapist Susanna Abse says a little space and variety can be vital to a successful relationship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Couples can end up moving around each other but avoiding real contact,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Truly noticing your partner can make a big difference.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Instead of coming downstairs in the morning and getting on with millions of chores, see what state your partner is in.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Abse recommends asking them questions like how they are feeling or what their day looks like as &#8220;curiosity is key&#8221;. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Clinical psychologist Dr Amani Milligan says spending quality time together is also important.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">That doesn&#8217;t mean a grand gesture and Dr Milligan says it can be as simple as taking a random Thursday off work together or setting rules like no phones before bed so you can catch up on each other&#8217;s days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Relationships can come with endless distractions from emails and notifications on your phone to endless piles of laundry or dishes that need sorting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Abse says electronic devices can make couples more distant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Protest if your partner is on their phone all the time and set some rules you can both agree to.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Schedule sex<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">It&#8217;s near impossible to talk about keeping love alive without mentioning physical intimacy and Frizzell swears by scheduling it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;It might feel administrative to say &#8216;this is when we&#8217;ll have sex&#8217; but with small children, it&#8217;s absolutely key and it&#8217;s something to look forward to.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Abse agrees with that practical approach and says if you&#8217;re not having sex &#8220;you have to recognise the risk in that&#8221; if you&#8217;re both not happy with the arrangement as &#8220;affairs often arise from unsatisfied needs&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">When we&#8217;re time poor or have a lot on, sex can be one of the first things to go but Abse says you should try to &#8220;allow yourself to be persuadable&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;You don&#8217;t get into bed feeling very sexual but maybe with your partner&#8217;s attention that might change.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Focusing more on each other and seeing her partner anew has improved Frizzell&#8217;s relationship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The final lesson she has learnt is that it&#8217;s important to keep a little mystery from each other. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Close the toilet door and have a bit of separation &#8211; by all means have a joint project but that shouldn&#8217;t be going to the loo,&#8221; she laughs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#relationship #alive<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nell Frizell Between deadlines, school runs and the constant &#8220;what&#8217;s for dinner?&#8221; chat, even the best relationships can start running&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41262,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41260\/revisions\/41262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}