When you’ve been in a monogamous relationship for what your friends would call ‘forever’, there comes a time when things need a little spicing-up. You may be perfectly happy together, but you must admit that sometimes things feel a little too familiar. There’s no need to think you should trade in your perfectly good mate for a new one because everyone in a long-term relationship has felt a bit bored periodically. What you really need to do is get creative! Think up some ways to shake off the dust on the regular routine and get a little wild.

It’s said that the man is a very visual creature and therefore responds quickly and intensely to seeing something exciting. How about serving dinner in a garter outfit and an apron? It would be a dinner he’d never forget and it doesn’t even have to be good food because who’s going to be eating anyway? Or, you could be even a little more racy and try out some black leather or PVC lingerie! It’s actually pretty comfortable when you get an outfit that fits well. Then, since you’re already wearing something that says, “I’m in charge”, you could tie him up with some nylons and torture him with ice cubes! Of course, only try this if your partner is agreeable, but I don’t know many men that would turn it down.

If this all sounds too extreme for your tastes, then take a slightly less aggressive approach. Maybe you could meet after work one night for a date. Not just a regular date, but a date where you pretend you don’t know each other and you can assume whatever identity you want. You can say you’re a psychology professor from Yale and he can say he’s a stockbroker on Wall Street. It’s sounds zany, but it’s really fun. That’s if you can keep from cracking up during dinner. It’s all about living out a fantasy with the one you love and having a few laughs.

Another way to add some pizzazz to your love life together would be to commit to doing something you both have always wanted to do. Sign up for those sexy tango dance lessons right away, and don’t back out. Go and enjoy the fact that you are doing something fun and out of the ordinary just for yourselves.

No matter which way you choose to stir things up, the important thing is that you spend some quality “alone-time” together. After being in a relationship for so long you both deserve at least that.