Every female enjoys knowing how her guy feels about her. It’s about more than just the words you speak too, unspoken gestures and actions are just as important for creating a long-term bond. If you want to be a good boyfriend and keep your lady happy for years to come, there are some things you should do.
However, being a good boyfriend is easier said than done. Some guys don’t know what to do or what they may be doing wrong. Decent boyfriends know the trick. There are certain things a boyfriend must talk about and do, and he must know when to offer advice and when she only wants someone to listen. Sometimes you’ll shower her with affection; other times, you’ll need to step back.
Here, we’ll show you all the things boyfriends should do to make your girl feel adored. Use the tips that are helpful to your specific relationship, and make sure to mix up your responses to include actions, sayings, surprises, and fun things. Boyfriends need to adapt to the situation and the girl they’re dating.
Finding the Right Partner
First, let’s talk about who you choose to date. The choices you make when it comes to a partner are much more vital than you probably realize. If you decide to spend your lives together, she may play a huge role in your life. Even if you only spend a few years dating someone, they mark your life.
The point is that you have choices for how your life turns out. You don’t need to stay with someone just because they have been around for a long time, or you know each other well. Not everyone that comes your way will be right for you. Some relationships are meant to teach you something you can later use toward better future relationships.
Whatever you do, don’t feel like you need to say yes and start dating someone because the opportunity presented itself. You won’t miss out on something special. Instead, you may run yourself into a relationship you’re not truly sure you want. Say yes to a date and a girlfriend only if you mean it. The right person will be available when the time is right.
In a relationship, both people need to feel the love. The right partner for you is someone who:
- You feel comfortable talking to
- Makes you laugh
- Attracts you mentally and physically
- Makes you feel fulfilled and stable
- Acts warm and loving toward you
- Has strengths that match your weaknesses to complement each other
- Agrees on big life milestones, like marriage and children
- Isn’t too similar to you, but still has things in common with you
- Doesn’t rush into something serious
According to a study in the Harvard Gazette, warm embraces, understanding, and curiosity are the most vital things that keep couples together through it all – marriage, kids, and huge life events. You can keep up these elements in long-term relationships if you maintain doing certain things to keep the relationship alive. It’s these things that lead to long-lasting and happy marriages.
What All Boyfriends Should Do
The little things a girl wants her boyfriend to do include things boyfriends should do without even asking. Some ladies won’t ask directly for what they want. They may feel shy or hesitant. It’s best if you complete these things on your own, without being asked. These are the basic things all boyfriends should do:
- Equally contribute to the relationship, through conversation and gestures
- Text her cute goodnight messages before bed
- Send romantic good morning texts
- Call her for a quick lunch break chat
- Appreciate the things she does for you
- Show respect to her family
- Make friends with her close friends
- Share your childhood stories with her
- Have her meet your family and friends
- Surprise her with visits sometimes
- Play her favorite games
- Sing her romantic songs
- Post something romantic about your relationship on social media
- Go for long drives
- Take a road trip to a new destination
- Provide your undivided attention when she needs you
- Gently hold her hand
- Laugh at her jokes
- Carry her to bed
- Add her picture to your wallet or phone
- Show and tell her that you love her
- Keep the promises you make her
- Take her opinion into consideration
- Tell her how important she is to you
- Provide free massages when life gets stressful
- Show PDA, in the right amount she wants and the right times
- Allow her to borrow your hoodies and sweaters
- Be honest
- Show your trust in her
- Listen to her when she talks
- Remember little facts about her
Things She Wants Her Boyfriend to Say
In relationships, it’s nice to know you are loved and cared for. A well-taken care of woman wants to hear her boyfriend say things like:
- I love you
- I love your parents
- Your happiness is vital to me
- You’re so beautiful
- There are no secrets between us
- You are my best friend and my girlfriend
- I have never had a love like you in my life
- You’re the only one for me
- I look forward to every day I get to spend with you
- I can’t imagine my life without you in it
- That color makes your eyes shine
- You have beautiful handwriting
- I love kissing you
- I love that you tell me off sometimes
- I accept you, drama and all
- There’s nothing I’d want to change about you
- I respect you
- You’re on my mind
- You captivate me
- I can’t stop talking about you
- I see myself building a future with you
- I want to hold you
- I need you
- My life is better because you’re in it
- You make me feel special
- I will never forget ____ about you
- Thank you for loving me
Good Boyfriends Do These Things
Relationships can be scary for many people because they come with a level of vulnerability. You shouldn’t let your fear get in the way of being the best boyfriend you can, however. If you want to be a decent boyfriend, you will need to:
- Compromise sometimes, especially on small things like dinner or the movie selection
- Share your hopes and dreams with her
- Act like a gentleman, to her and her parents
- Bring her favorite flowers
- Make her coffee in the morning
- Cup her head in your hands and look into her eyes
- Listen to her when she talks
- Carry her bags for her
- Reach anything she can’t for her
- Go shopping with her
- Dress in the clothing she likes to see you in, perhaps her favorite colors on you
- Take a class with her, even if you’re not as interested in the hobby as she is
- Sometimes do things with her that you might not want to do
- Stand up for her when someone teases or irritates her
- Complete household chores and tasks without her asking you to
- Learn what her facial expressions and non-verbal cues mean
Things Boyfriends Should Do, But She Won’t Ask
All women aren’t the same and may not like the same things, but there are still certain things most girls want their guy to do. Sometimes she drops hints to get the job done rather than outright ask for what she wants. Either way, a true man knows that to avoid relationship problems, all he needs to do is fulfill his girlfriend’s desires.
She probably wants the following things, but she will never ask:
- Tell her she’s sexy
- Kiss her on the forehead
- Hold her hand
- Enjoy the music she likes
- Dance to her favorite song
- Watch her favorite movie
- Cook her favorite meal
- Buy her dinner on date night
- Have dinner by candlelight
- Send her romantic text messages daily
- Spend time with her friends and family
- Introduce her to your close friends and family as someone special
- Share secrets and dreams with her
- Notice when she changes her appearance or gets a haircut
- Give her your coat when she’s cold
- Take her to a play or concert
- Spend your weekend together
- Take care of her when she’s not feeling well
- Bring her snacks and random gifts to show you’re thinking of her
- Don’t forget her birthday or other big events, like your anniversary
- Give her a key to your place
- Encourage her to leave her personal care products at your place
- Do favors for her and her friends
- Allow her to take care of you and nurse you back to health
- Try new things and experience new places with her
- Do the dishes if she cooks for you
- Hold her when she cries or feels stressed
- Support her through it all
- Show sympathy and affection often
- Appreciate her beauty, especially if she thinks she’s not at her best
- Compliment her regularly and sincerely
Romantic Things Boyfriends Should Do
When it comes to the crucial things boyfriends should do, don’t forget the romance. Romantic things bring couples closer together and keep the fire alive. Try the following romantic ideas you could do for your girlfriend to show her your care:
- Give her sweet nicknames
- Kiss her neck
- Kiss her hand
- Drive her to work
- Organize a picnic in the park
- Make her breakfast in bed
- Cook a fancy dinner at home
- Spend date nights doing things she enjoys
- Go phone-free on date nights with her
- Write a love letter by hand
- E-mail her lovely words
- Write her a song and perform it for her
- Run your fingers through her hair
- Show her warmth and compassion
- Bring her small gifts when you travel
- Send romantic texts with love quotes
- Leave her a note on the fridge when you leave early in the morning
- Watch movies and cuddle under a blanket with your favorite treats
Fun Things Boyfriends Should Do
Relationships aren’t all about romance, either. Couples who have fun together stay together longer. According to research conducted by UC Berkley psychology professor Dacher Keltner, a lack of laughter can cause a relationship to die. You’d think the demise of many couples is due to money or some serious matter, but Keltner’s research shows that couples who are playful and laugh together stay with each other longer and are more skilled at dealing with conflicts.
Spontaneity can help boost a relationship, particularly if you have been together for a long time. Familiarity is excellent and comforting, but you may want to try something new when you feel the relationship falls into a rut. Here are some of our favorite fun things you can do with your girlfriend to keep the relationship fun and exciting:
- Explore new places, restaurants, and parks near you
- Try a new exercise class together
- Check out a new museum
- Buy tickets to sporting events
- Go to an amusement park
- Play board games
- Make an intimate book club
- Go camping for the weekend
- Take a nice relaxing hike
- Try a new class together, like cooking, pottery, or painting
- Watch the sunset and the stars come out
- Complete a concert challenge
- Throw a themed dinner party
- Instead of the movies, see a play or the orchestra
- Get dressed up for cocktails at home
- Blindly taste test new wines at home
- Give each other sexy messages with the warming body oil
- Make her favorite childhood dinner
- Spend the night disconnected from your phone
- Find a spot on the map and head there for a weekend
- Cuddle up on the couch and watch her favorite TV show
- Try a pizza crawl around town
- If you have an anniversary coming up, swap gifts
- Surprise her on occasion
- Hide her favorite snack in her purse for her to find later
- Dance to no music
- Have a spontaneous Nerf gun or water gunfight
- Explore a new national park or quirky town you’ve never been to
- Spend a weekend away at a romantic bed and breakfast
Extravagant Things Boyfriends Do
While not necessarily things boyfriends should do, some boyfriends choose to go above and beyond when they’re in a special relationship. Big events sometimes call for a large show of affection, but you don’t need to profess your love in front of thousands of strangers every week. Instead, these are the extravagant things boyfriends do once in a while to show they care:
- Have custom matching shirts made
- Arrange a private firework show
- Adopt a cat or dog with her
- Adopt a star and name it for her
- Book an empty rollercoaster for her alone
- Randomly call her at midnight to tell her something funny or romantic
- Create a joint Instagram account to share a couple of photos
- Rewrite an entire love story featuring the two of you
- Book a secret vacation
- Surprise her with plane tickets to visit family for the holidays
Things Boyfriends Should Never Do
If you want to keep her around, there are some things you should never do to your girlfriend. The following list includes some serious issues that lead to relationship problems. Others may cause an immediate breakup. There is never, under any circumstances, the reason for mistreatment, disrespect, and inexcusable behaviors in a relationship.
Never:
- Yell, swear, or talk irrationally
- Cheat on her
- Distrust her
- Disrespect her
- Insult her
- Physically or mentally abuse her
- Make her feel like an afterthought
- Play games with her mind
- Hide her from your friends and family
- Avoid introducing her to someone you run into in public
- Only meet her in private spaces
- Blame her for all the relationship problems
- Get impatient or angry with her
- Suffocate her when she asks for space
- Make her feel alone
- Avoid taking photos with her
- Talk about your ex constantly
- Only concentrate on her flaws
- Treat her with anything but respect
- Control or manipulate her
- Judge her for the things she likes
- Pick apart her appearance
- Invade her privacy, like going through her phone
- Discourage her in her ambitions or goals
- Take away her individuality
- Request she spends all her time with you
- Avoid hard conversations
Fundamentals Boyfriends Should Follow
If she’s important to you, there are some fundamentals you should do in a relationship. We mention how being in a relationship often means you’ll need to have sometimes uncomfortable conversations. Rather than ignore an issue, you must address things as they take place. If the issue at hand is crucial, for example, always have the conversation in person.
Other things you owe your girlfriend include:
- Not acting different around your friends
- Talk to her kindly and candidly, in person if the issue is important
- Never say you love her unless you feel it
- Never wait too long to tell her how you feel
- Don’t make her go to you for all serious relationship conversations
- Give if you expect to receive something
- Avoid commenting on her change of appearance
- Accepting her for who she is, body and personality
In the event of a fight, which normally takes place in relationships sometimes, there are also some things you shouldn’t do. For example, don’t place all the blame on your girlfriend. It takes two to wind up in relationship trouble.
Stay on topic during the fight, as well. Don’t resort to another fight you had a few years ago or change the topic because you feel attacked. You should also never fight dirty. Remember, it’s just a fight. Deep down you two have love for each other, and you can show your love while arguing too.
Gifts All Girlfriends Love
Women might have different tastes and preferences. Some girlfriends enjoy spending date nights playing their favorite Xbox360 games, while others want to take a new exercise class or attempt the learn a new hobby with their partners. Gifts can be just as tricky until you get to know your girlfriend better. You don’t need to spend tons of money or research products for hours on end.
However, there are a few gifts that make all girlfriends swoon. You can wrap up a gift for your girlfriend just to let her know you were randomly thinking of her or as a heartfelt gesture for an anniversary. Wrap up the gift in a nice gift box or bag, and she is sure to appreciate you. Use the following thoughtful gift ideas to show your girlfriend you love her:
- Send her comfy sheets you can break in together
- Buy her jewelry, like earrings or a bracelet
- Gift her concert tickets to her favorite band
- Pick or purchase flowers for her
- Decorate a shadow box with photos and mementos of you two
- Gift her a spa day, manicure, or hair treatment to pamper herself
- Scented candles are excellent gifts for women
- Send a regular wine subscription
- Try funny, handmade art or cards
- Ice cream never hurts
- Flowers always cheer up girlfriends
The gifts you give her don’t always need to cost money either. You can opt for a $0 spending limit for holidays and anniversaries, which makes you instead think outside the box to come up with creative gifts. Free gift ideas include:
- Make a coupon book she can cash in when she wants
- Write out all the reasons you love her
- Draw her a picture
- Write her a song
- Write her a love letter
- Write her a poem
- Make her favorite treat, like a cake, cookies, or brownies
- Give her your favorite novel to read
- Make a mixed tape with your favorite love songs
- Create your own Christmas ornaments to decorate the tree
- Frame your favorite photo of you together
- Gift a family heirloom
A Final Thought
The best boyfriends strive to be excellent partners for their girlfriends. Even if you don’t do everything listed above, you can create a long-lasting and strong relationship. Different things work for different people, and you should by no means try to complete every single task at the beginning of a new relationship. If it lasts, you will have plenty of time together.
That said, if you don’t do any of the things boyfriends should do on this list, you are sure to drive her away. Girlfriends want you to show that you care about them, and they need to see your emotions through actions. Don’t be afraid to become vulnerable and open to her. Use this guide to help you, but don’t feel confined to check off each task.
