Setting some resolutions together as a couple is a great way to put your relationship first again in order to build up a lot of positive capital in the "relationship bank," address any dormant challenges that have been quietly gathering dust under the rug, and continue to strengthen your partnership. Here are a few sex and relationship resolutions to consider:

The start of a relationship is usually marked by spending endless days with our new flame and soaking in as much quality time with them as possible. But as the years go by, many of us begin to neglect our partners over time due to the other demands and stressors in our lives. If you feel like you've begun to take each other for granted, the start of a new year is a great time to mutually agree to reinvest time in your relationship. Have this commitment show up in your calendar by planning for time together on a regular basis. Here are a few specific ways you might do that, each of which could stand on their own as their own specific resolution:

It's common for people to struggle with difficult conversations. It's also common to go along with things or to accommodate each other in order to keep the peace. But one of the best things you can do for your relationship over time is to learn to be honest. If your relationship has suffered from strained or insufficient communication, take the start of the new year as a time to jointly invest in doing work on it. Often just the mutual acknowledgment of the issue and the mutual commitment to improve on something together are enough to start creating change. A few specifics for you two to commit to when it comes to being more honest with each other:

Here are a few specific ones you can focus on if you don't know where to start:

One of the most powerful things you can do to energize your intimate connection with each other is to harness your individual eroticism. We each have things that we find especially arousing, which are revealed in our sexual preferences, our response to erotic media, and our sexual fantasies. If you haven't explored your eroticism, commit to learning about it in the new year. If you already have a good idea of what really flips your switch, commit to sharing that with each other. You can describe your fantasies; write an erotic story; or share written, video, or audio scenes that turn you on. Find the overlap in the things that interest each of you, and bring some of that into your sexual play this year.

Your relationship is worth protecting by holding it special and apart from the rest of your life, at least sometimes, to make sure it's getting nurtured. Assess the structure of your time and relationships and consider making a commitment to reorient back toward your primary relationship this year.

Feel like you're stuck in your own world, and your partner is just a sidekick in your story? What if you devoted some energy this year to viewing them as the hero of the story for a while? As a couple, each of you should be each other's biggest cheerleader; it makes a big difference in your relationship. Commit to supporting your partner to shine and succeed in their personal goals, projects, and resolutions this year. Give them time to pursue their hobbies and interests, and make a conscious effort to express curiosity about what they're doing and what matters to them. Celebrate their opportunities and successes at work, even if it means a bit less time together or a change in your life that you didn't expect.

Gratitude is a powerful practice; science shows it is a big factor in our experience of happiness. Resolve to practice gratitude together this year. That could mean:

No matter how long you've been with your partner, you can make this next year your best year together yet with a little time, positive energy, and dedication.