Want to be kinder to your partner? More thoughtful? Looking for ideas for acts of kindness in a relationship that you can actually do? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here’s 51+ (heartfelt!) acts of kindness ideas for couples.
Remember – this is different to acts of service (one of the fundamental love languages in a relationship.) Sure, there are cross-overs. But we’ve cultivated this with kindness at the core.
Why Is Kindness So Important in a Relationship?
Before homing in specifically on the acts of kindness in a relationship that you can do, it’s worth mentioning why kindness is so important as a whole.
See, essentially, couples feel safe and secure when kindness is the norm in their relationship.
If you can get inspired by these acts of kindness in a relationship and make kindness a bigger part of who you are, and how you interact together, you will find:
- You build a closer bond and connection.
- You have a deeper level of trust.
- Your communication improves.
- Your emotional connection strengthens. (After all, kindness is undoubtably one of the ways to improve intimacy in a relationship.)
- You’re happier – both in yourselves and in the relationship as a whole.
- It can (seriously!) help when it comes to conflict, keeping you calmer and preventing bigger blow ups in the first place.
- Not to mention the benefits of kindness as a whole – such an improving your emotional wellbeing, which of course has a knock-on effect with how you then show up in your relationship.
How To Be Kinder in a Relationship
The good news is – being kinder in a relationship is really quite easy. It’s simply about putting yourself in your partners shoes and asking yourself, “what would I want or appreciate right now?”
In order to be kinder you, of course, have to let go of any resentment in a relationship, and stop sweating the small stuff!
This of course, shouldn’t be one-sided. Your partner should play their part in making the relationship kinder too. But in most cases, what you’ll find, is once you step it up – they naturally will too.
Be the partner you want to be with, and you’ll find everything starts to fall into place.
51+ Acts of Kindness You Can Do In a Relationship
So, what specifically can you do to make kindness a bigger part in your relationship? Well, here’s 101+ acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, to help to get your inspiration flowing.
Have a read through and make a note of any specific things you know you’d really like to do.
Remember – this is one of the best ways to make your partner feel loved, particularly if they’ve always valued kindness and it’s important to them.
So don’t miss out on giving these incredible “gifts”, that will mean even more than you know!
Let’s Get Stuck In…
In no particular order, when it comes to acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, you might like to…
1) Get up a little earlier and bring your partner a cup of tea in bed! Or…
2) Go one step further and bring your partner breakfast in bed. (Uh huh, romantic gestures don’t have to just be on special occasions!)
3) Do the washing up for your partner – even if it’s not “your day.”
4) Kiss your partner on the forehead, for no reason at all – just as a sweet, kind gesture that makes them feel loved. (This is a great habit to get into, particularly if you’re trying to be work on your physical affection.)
5) Squeeze your partner’s hand if they’re feeling nervous, for the physical reassurance and support.
6) Write your partner a random letter, encouraging them, supporting them, and expressing your love for them.
7) Tell your partner how great they look today! Pay them a compliment for no reason at all!
8) Acknowledge the things your partner has done today – make them feel seen, heard and good!
9) Put your phone down when your partner is talking to you. I know, I know, this shouldn’t be an act of kindness in a relationship. It should be a given and common manners, but technology has undeniably taken over, so small gestures like this actually now really can mean a lot.
10) Ask if there’s anything you can do to help your partner right now… Then don’t moan if they actually tell you and it’s something you don’t really want to do! Do it anyway, with a smile on your face! Speaking of which…
Acts of Kindness In a Relationship (You Really Should Do!)
11) Smile at your partner. After all, as William Arthur Ward once said, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” This is one of the fastest, easiest acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, any time, any day, as many times as you want!
12) Leave a sweet little love note for your partner to brighten their day.
13) Hide chocolates around the house for your partner to find. Write on them “if you find me, I’m yours to eat!”
14) Bring your partner’s favourite snack home – again, just as a nice, kind surprise!
15) Buy your partner a thoughtful gift that you know they need – for no reason other than they need it!
16) Offer to drop your partner off somewhere or pick them up, when they want to have a drink – so they don’t have to worry about taxis or how to get home.
17) If your partner usually does all the driving on the weekend, insist on driving to give them a break. Get them to put their feet up, put their favourite playlist on and encourage them to relax! Speaking of which…
18) Make a playlist with your partner with all of their favourite songs on!
19) “Like” every single post your partner puts on social media. Be their biggest cheerleader and fan!
20) Send your partner a random email with a funny subject line… Then when they open it, it’ll reveal a lovely email from you. (That’ll break up the “spam” that usually comes through and be a pleasant surprise!)
Let’s Keep Them Coming…
21) Set aside quality time for your partner, every single day, no matter how busy you are or how manic life feels like it can get!
22) Take your partner into consideration when making decisions. Make them feel involved, part of it and truly valued.
23) Always defend your partner – both in front of them and when they’re not there. Have their back. Again, this should be a given, but it can take courage sometimes too.
24) Big your partner up in front of others! Pay them complements, publicly, to make them feel good!
25) Be the bigger person. Learn how to let things go! Give your partner the benefit of the doubt, and express this compassion and understanding. This is one of the most powerful acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, that makes you stronger than ever before.
26) Similarly, don’t snap if your partner snaps at you. Rise above it! Set the example you want them to live by! Be the best partner that you can be!
27) Send your partner something you think they’ll like or appreciate – like a recipe you saw online or a helpful guide. Show them that you’re thinking of them and care about them and want to help.
28) Wash your partner’s car for them – especially if it’s their pride and joy!
29) Cook your partner their favourite meal – even if you don’t like it or don’t like making it. (That only actually makes it an even kinder act of kindness you can do in a relationship!)
30) Do ALL of the chores for the day and tell your partner to take it easy, especially when you know they need it.
Acts of Kindness In a Relationship (You Should Consider!)
31) Go somewhere you know your partner wants to go, or do something with them they really enjoy doing, even if it’s not 100% your thing.
32) Plan a surprise weekend away…
33) Plan a surprise getaway, somewhere off your couples bucket list…
34) Or organise a surprise bucket list date night idea for them, again for no reason at all, other than to be nice! When you do things like this, it really helps to keep your relationship fun and exciting!
35) Do your own at-home “awards night” recognising all of your partner’s achievements and how great they are!
36) Support your partner’s hobbies or passions, by showing up at football games or asking how each “session” goes. Don’t complain, but instead – be happy for them!
37) Let your partner watch what they want on tv for the night – even if you don’t like it! If they know you don’t and you don’t make a fuss about it, they’ll see you’re just being kind and will really appreciate it!
38) Help your partner with a project, or something they’re working on. Give them your time, just to be kind.
39) Take the time to teach your parter something they want to learn.
40) Make a point of opening the door for your partner… No matter your gender! Make them feel like a King or Queen!
Onto The Last Ones…
41) Sit your partner down and ask them, genuinely and attentively, how they feel.
42) Pull your partner in for a hug and a pick-me-up pep talk, whenever you think they need it!
43) Organise a surprise party or gathering for your partner – full of their closest friends and family! If it’s not for any particular birthday or occasion, it actually makes it EVEN better. Like, who does that?! Only the kindest partner who thinks their partner will appreciate it, of course!
44) Surprise your partner with some baked goodies – just as an extra treat! (Uh huh, it doesn’t matter how bad you may think you are at baking – it’s the thought that matters!)
45) Send a text to your partner every day, to say that you hope they’re having a good day. It’s one of the smallest acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, but which becomes a very powerful relationship habit when done daily, as it shows them you’re always thinking of them.
46) Run an errand for your partner. Something they have to do but don’t really want to do. Do it for them!
47) Apologise to your partner, acknowledging how you must have also made them feel. Make them feel heard and understood!
48) Tell a joke if your partner’s feeling down. Do what you can to try to cheer them up; especially and even if, you don’t feel 100% yourself!
49) Buy your partner something you know they don’t necessarily need, but actually really want!
50) Meal prep for your partner for the week, to save them having to think about what they’re going to eat!
51) Make your partner a gratitude journal – only start it off by writing 30 days of things you were thankful for, about them! This is one of the most unique ideas for acts of kindness you can do in a relationship, but we honestly can’t get enough of it!
That’s All For This One
So there we have it – that rounds up our 51+ ideas for acts of kindness you can do in a relationship. I hope this has helped.
As wise words of Kahlil Gibran once said,
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.”
So be sure to not just read this, but apply it into your relationship, right now, starting today!
Wishing you all the very best.
Love,
Ell_xx
