12 Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved Without Saying A Thing

"If someone can trust you, they probably will feel more comfortable having the relationship move forward. Trust is a huge part of why relationships move forward or why they break up," relationship expert Stef Safran tells Bustle. If you show you're reliable and can be there when needed, it'll let your partner feel that extra closeness and confirmation. It doesn't have to be grand gestures or displays of trust, either — just steady follow-through on your commitments to each other that may seem small in the moment, but add to a much larger, stronger relationship.

Whether it be planning a weekly date night or having a night in together, always carve out time to be with each other. And when you're spending that quality time together, let things flow naturally and give your partner your undivided attention. "Spend time watching a movie together and [don’t] check your phone or email," says Safran. "Show that you want to be in their company and make this a regular plan."

Trying to figure out how to make your boyfriend or girlfriend feel loved? Figure out their love language. According to Dr. Gary Chapman, there are five love languages — words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch — that we use to express and understand love. Everyone has a love language in terms of how they communicate in romantic relationships and what they desire, or at the very least, certain types of love languages they may respond to more than others. So, pay attention to what your partner's is and talk about how you can support each other. "Find out what type of love language they have, and make sure to do things that will make them happy," says Safran.

When the moment takes you, kissing is always a good idea — given you have your partner’s consent, of course. "Looking passionately into their eyes before you kiss them" is a good way to build connection, relationship coaches Dana Lam and Martin Kupper tell Bustle. "So often we go with the flow and kisses are just a little peck here or there." But if you take a moment to try to be a better kisser and deepen that kiss, your partner will certainly notice, Lam and Kupper say.

Show gratitude and passion by keeping eye contact. "When you take the time to reflect upon and deepen the gratitude you feel towards your partner, they can feel it," matchmaker and Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman tells Bustle. "It's almost like a 'vibe' you give off, and it can be conveyed in the quality of your touch, or even in the manner in which you make eye contact." Additionally, a 2016 study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin showed that the mere act of eye contact inspires its own kind of intimacy — that the moment eyes connect, it triggers a sense for the other person's state of mind and agency as an individual human being, and vice versa. Taking the time to check in with each other in this quick, nonverbal gesture is an easy way to help anticipate each other's thoughts and needs, and help keep an open dialogue about them.

Making your partner feel loved is all about being with them fully and completely — no words needed. "When you've been with someone for a while, it's easy to fall into a rut," says Bregman. But if you take the time to disconnect from your phone or any outside distractions, your partner will feel a greater connection knowing you're being completely present with them.

Little gestures that make your partner's life easier show how much you care. "Whether it's packing your [significant other] a lunch before they rush out to a hectic day of work, or stopping by the mall to pick up a ... phone case for your [partner] to save [them] a trip — these are the kinds of non-verbal actions which show you are deeply invested in this relationship, and seeking active ways to make your partner's life better," says Bregman. It really is the smaller gestures that count; even something like asking if you can pick up dinner for them on the way home, or making a quick call to help them schedule an appointment, is a nice reminder that there's someone in their corner.

Even if physical touch isn't your love language, try an affectionate (consensual!) touch or caress to bring you closer to your partner. Or, if you're both game, maybe even try a massage. "Receiving a massage has been shown to increase levels of oxytocin, the brain chemical that bonds two people together," relationship counselor Jonathan Bennett tells Bustle. "So, if you want your partner to fall more deeply in love, extended physical touch will do the trick."

If you want to know how to make your boyfriend or girlfriend feel special, offer them your undivided attention. Being an excellent listener to your partner is a good way to make them feel appreciated. "You do not have to say a word or try to fix any problems, but lending a listening ear can go a long way to make your partner fall deeper in love with you because they feel heard," Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT, marriage and family therapist, tells Bustle.

Whipping out the nostalgia will remind you both of the feelings you had when you first fell for each other. “Try to incorporate any little details that will be a reminder the next day of your night,” Silva suggests. “Definitely dress up, have the same meal, add candlelight, be extra. It’s not just nostalgic of the beginning of your relationship; it also brings you back to that ‘this is why I fell in love with you’ [feeling].”

Not only is it spontaneous, which helps keep the tingly feeling alive, but it’s also a way to create a very intimate emotional atmosphere (car talks are always the deepest). “Hop in the car, turn off the GPS, and drive aimlessly,” Silva tells Bustle. “Most of the time we neglect our loved ones because we are so immersed in ourselves and our routines. Driving together with no destination in mind helps you want to lose yourselves in new experiences, to test your ability to handle the world, and the strength of your union in navigating through unknowns together.”

Expressing gratitude in your relationship is crucial, and according to a 2015 study by the University of Georgia, it is a major player in determining marital quality. “Give your SO a physical card with a personalized message from you,” suggests Silva. “Buy one, make one, as long as you can surprise them with a unique reminder of what they mean to you. Once you’ve written your message, place it in their laptop, bag, notebook, or any item that they frequently use.”