This post contains a sponsored inclusion from Moonpig but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
"The holiday season can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it brings a once-a-year feeling of magic and merriment; on the other, it always ends up being a little more stressfully than we necessarily prepare for. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s natural for prioritizing your relationship to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. (Because honestly, between shopping for all of your friends and family and a jam-packed social calendar, who really has the time?). This year, though, I’m saying no more to that mentality. Instead, I’m showing my girlfriend how much she means to me during the most wonderful time of the year by using her love language to give her affection in the way she’ll appreciate most.
My girlfriend’s love language is gift giving, which can be a challenge—especially during a time of year when my budget is already a little tighter than usual. But thanks to a little sleuthing, I’ve figured out ways to show my girlfriend how much she means to me while still managing to keep my wallet happy. Here’s how to show your partner a little extra love during the holiday season, no matter what their love language is.
Acts of Service
If your partner lights up when you do something nice for them, acts of service may be your one-way ticket to their good graces—which is lucky for both you and your wallet. Acts of service is all about the little things and thinking of out-of-the-box ways to make your loved one’s life easier (cough, Orange Peel Theory, cough).
For this love language, actions speak louder than words. Showing extra affection for your Acts of Service lovers this time of year could be as simple as:
- Packing their lunch for the office
- Taking on a chore they loathe
- Deep cleaning the bathroom
- Running an errand for them
Words of Affirmation
For some, those ooey-gooey declarations of love are eye-roll inducing; for others, they’re the key to their heart. If your loved one is touched by those sweet, verbal reminders of love, you can (and should) leave heartfelt sticky notes around their house or in their car. (It’s a small gesture that’ll make their day!). But if you want to up your game, use Moonpig to create a personalized card that tells them exactly how much they mean to you.
You don’t need to be the next Emily Dickinson to craft the perfect message. While designing your card, Moonpig offers AI prompts and suggestions to help you create a thoughtful and eloquent message to add to your card. With code EVERYGIRLFREE, you can send a card that’s uniquely theirs for free. They’ll even mail it for you—because who doesn’t love snail mail?
Quality Time
For those who value your undivided attention more than anything else, spending quality time together is essential. Plan a cozy night in with their favorite movie or take a long walk together—phones off, no exceptions. For someone whose love language is quality time, it’s not about how much time you spend together, but how present you are in those moments. Need some fresh ideas?
- Cook a new meal together—the more elaborate, the better!
- Plan a spa day at home
- Dig up a deck of cards and have a game night
Our editors have tons of date ideas for when you’re running low on time, are on a budget, or are just looking for creative ways to spend a night together. Especially during the chaos that is the holiday season, a night of true quality time together could be exactly what your partner has been yearning for.
Physical Touch
As someone who is notoriously clumsy (and has chronically sweaty palms) but loves physical touch, I’ve needed to get creative on how to integrate this love language into my relationship on a day-to-day basis. If your partner loves holding hands, cuddling, or just sitting really, really close to you on the couch, lean in (literally).
To show them some extra love, go the extra mile and learn how to give really, really good back rubs or foot massages. With as many online resources as there are, this is a simple and free way to A. develop a new skill and B. show them you’re willing to put in the effort. Here are some of my favorite guides:
- Mastering the Art of Giving a Good Back Massage
- How to Give a Great Massage
- How to Give a Great Foot Massage
If you have mobility restraints, check out massage guns, like my personal favorite, the Theragun.
Gift Giving
It’s taken me a couple of years to learn that gifting doesn’t have to drain your bank account to be meaningful. If your S.O’s love language is gift giving, pick wildflowers, sneak their favorite snack into the grocery budget, or create a playlist of songs that remind you of them.
As someone with a partner who prefers gifts that they can keep forever, my favorite way to show some extra affection is using Moonpig to send a card in the mail to our shared apartment. It’s so fun to see my girlfriend open the mailbox to find a surprise gift on a random Wednesday. And with code EVERYGIRLFREE, you can create a personalized photo card that they’ll want to keep forever for free. If you want to go the extra mile, Moonpig has a selection of gift cards to popular stores and restaurants to include with your card.
Moonpig
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paige Cushman, Branded Content Editor
From small community newspapers to country music marketing, Paige has found the most fulfillment in finding and sharing the uniquely human stories that compel an audience. As a Branded Content Editor at The Everygirl, she is able to combine her excitement about women’s issues and pop culture with her editorial skills to create quality content for our brand partners.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion from Moonpig but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.