Summarize:

Hold her hand, play with her hair, and kiss her spontaneously. You want to keep physical contact between you throughout your relationship. It’s easy to take a partner for granted, especially when you’ve been together for a long time, but maintaining physical contact is very important for helping you create and keep a strong bond. It can feel kind of awkward, especially if you aren’t used to doing it, but talking about your relationship is healthy and important. It's generally a great bonding activity to make plans for the future and discuss what you really love about each other. Talking about your relationship will give her a sense of stability that she might not be able to find with anyone else.  Create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you both know that you can be honest with each other without being laughed or yelled at. Discuss and fix problems in your relationship before they become too big to solve. You can say something like, “You know how to make me laugh, even when I’m in a bad mood. I really love that quality about you, Ashley.” Alternatively, if you have an issue, say something such as, “Jacqueline, I feel upset when you ignore my text messages. It makes me wonder if I’ve done something wrong. Have I?” She’s going to have her own challenges to deal with, such as fights with friends, problems with her boss at work, and stress when she’s got a ton of things to juggle. Never let her doubt that you know she can handle it like a boss. You know that she’s strong and smart enough to conquer all of her problems, so tell her that. Say something like, “I’m sorry that you’re dealing with Becca’s drama. It sounds like you’re in a tough spot. But that’s one of the really great things about you: you are such a loyal friend and will stick by her no matter what.” When you talk to each other, don’t just skim the surface and keep your conversations to things like what you did that day. It’s not enough to know her favorite color and her middle name. You need to talk about things that really delve into who you are as people. Doing so creates a deep and lasting bond. Ask questions like:  “What do you want your future to be like?” “Why do you avoid your sister’s calls?” “How does it feel to be the soccer captain?” Setting aside time to be a couple is crucial for your relationship, no matter how long you’ve been together. She needs to feel like you’re really there for her and that means being present as much as you can.  For instance, plan a date for just the two of you, rather than your usual group of friends. If you’re living together, you can go to bed half an hour early so that you two have time to talk and be intimate.
Maintain physical contact. Talk about your relationship. Show her how much you believe in her. Ask the right questions. Make sure there's time for just the two of you.