Nice Things To Do For Your Wife
We’ve had such great response to this post, it was only fair to create one for us ladies! When it comes to doing something nice for us, most guys want to, they just need things spelled out more clearly. So guys, based on this extensive Facebook conversation…here are 51 things your wife or girlfriend would absolutely LOVE for you to do for her.
Hint, hint: Doing something for your girl without being asked will go a LONG WAY in her book!
1. Make the bed.
2. Take the kids for a whole day so she can be a person, not a mom for a bit.
3. Grab her hand in public.
4. Take her for a walk, sans kids.
5. Plan an entire date from start to finish. Book a sitter, a restaurant, and plan an activity. Promise, she will absolutely love this.
6. Give her a no-strings-attached massage.
7. Give her a spa certificate.
8. Make her laugh.
9. Take the kids on a date. She will love the time off, and love the fact that you are spending time with them. See some kid date ideas here.
10. Buy her a birthday or Christmas gift without asking her what she wants. Put some thought and effort into surprising her.
You can also surprise her by sending her one of the funny birthday ecards from Hallmark.
11. Bring her flowers or chocolates for no reason.
12. Do she makes a meal, do the dishes after.
13. Cook a special dinner. Give it professional chef effort—she’ll be impressed.
14. Send her to get a manicure/pedicure.
15. Look at her and tell her she’s beautiful.
16. Give your phone a break and give your undivided attention to her and your family.
17. Let her pick the movie…even if it is a chick-flick. No complaining.
18. Fill up her car with gas. Wash it and vacuum it too.
19. Surprise her with an entire planned weekend getaway. That would blow her mind.
“Wake me up first thing in the morning, telling me to get dressed. That he has our bags packed and we are headed on a romantic get away. Everything has been done. Kids at the babysitter, house already set to leave. We are good gone for the weekend. No one else just us. If he did this, it would blow my mind.”–Dawn from Facebook
20. Play with her hair.
21. Carry her to bed…and let her take a nap! Uninterrupted.
22. Heat the bed for her.
“Last night my guy put a heating pad on my side of the bed so it’d be warm when I came in more men should do that!!! It was amazing!”–Kelsey from Facebook
23. Pick up everything on the bedroom floor.
24. Book a hotel room for her for a day. Give her a break from the craziness at home.
25. Paint her toenails.
26. Take an active role in planning and preparing for your family (i.e. packing kids’ lunches, wrapping gifts, helping with holidays, etc.)
27. Clean something she normally hates to clean.
28. Put the kids to bed and let her read a book.
29. If she typically does the grocery shopping, do it for her.
30. Make her coffee in the morning.
31. Lead her to the couch, pick up her feet, and give her a foot rub.
32. Give her a gift card and to go shopping.
33. Have lunch delivered to her.
34. Write her a song or a poem.
35. Give her a DIY pedicure/manicure.
36. Prepare a bath for her.
37. Hire professionals to clean the entire house.
38. Dance with her.
39. Get her little gifts. Grab her favorite candy bar when you’re at the store. Get a single rose, some chapstick…sometimes the little things speak volumes.
40. Get in the car and go for a drive.
41. Make her breakfast.
42. Get up with the kids on a Saturday and let her sleep in.
43. Pack a picnic and go.
44. Tell her you love her more often.
45. Write her a love note.
46. Bring home her favorite ice cream.
47. Send her a sweet text during the day.
48. Bring home dinner.
49. Compliment her on something specific.
50. Thank her for something specific.
51. Give her the remote.
Nice Things To Do For Your Wife
There you have it guys…consider this your gentle nudge. And if you want to hear exactly what women want, read this enlightening conversation. Bottom line: it doesn’t have to be big…it’s the small things that add up.
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Shelley says
Amen! This is a good one! 🙂
Austin says
This is really good
Justin says
Any real man does not need a list. I have been doing this stuff for 8 years for my wife.
Geoff says
Exactly! This is a list for shallow men who are self centered takers who need to be pulled out of their caves.
E. Hernandez says
Thank you sir for showing this ladies that this things should come automatically
Charlie says
Who’s the wife, Justin? You or Geoff?
lol says
LOL!
Joe says
That’s exactly what I was thinking! I do all of this everyday.
Joe says
I definitely agree! It’s sad if people really need to be told to do things like these… I was looking for a different type of idea, but instead was just reminded of the male stereotype that plagues people’s minds. If you have to be told to do these things, there’s really something wrong with you…
DrOzz says
True it can seem like that there must be something wrong with people who don’t automatically perform all of those things on the list, and some times it is (psychiatry/psychology), but it is also fair to assume some people have a combination of being new to relationships, not really knowing what the other gender is thinking and wanting (and women are not all too often completely clear on that). That’s why these list helps them more aware of the improvements which can be done in a relationship, while maybe they were already better at other aspects, including these wonderful ideas routinely would surely make that among the best of men. If most men could be so gentle, caring, hard working, fair, motivator of doing good, spontaneous etc I’m sure the world would look differently. Unfortunately it speaks for it being a great minority. Thus this post was a wonderful reminder. And this reminder benefits those who want to do good 🙂
Susan says
Very nice list.
I love when my hubby writes me poems. The best gift.
Matthew says
There’s still only 50 ideas here, 25 and 35 are the same: “Paint her toenails”. Is that just for emphasis though? 😉
Nicolette says
Haha! Much emphasis should definitely be placed on the painted toes…but you are correct…I fixed that typo. Thanks so much for your keen eye!
William Junger says
Ladies, don’t forget that this works both ways. Have you treated your guy in a way that reminds him that you love and appreciate him lately? Men need to feel loved, just like women.
Nicolette says
Thanks William. Men need to feel the love too! We created a list of nice things to do for your man too:
https://howdoesshe.com/50-nice-things-to-do-for-your-man-just-because/
Jill says
Hmmm, I have a few issues with the list.
#32. Give her the credit card and let her go shopping. I have my own credit card and nobody “lets” me go shopping. If I want to shop, I shop! This is not 1942!
#5 is fantastic.
#19 is better than fantastic
Some were just very sweet and thoughtful. A lot of the others were what I called “living here and being part of the family.” Don’t pick up after yourself as a treat. Do it so you aren’t a slob and should respect the hard work I put into this house.
mr and mrs says
it’s not about getting permission! It’s about having a moment to treat yourself. Apparently, someone is missing the point.
Joe says
This list is kind of sexist. You are assuming the women do the cooking and the cleaning. That men are horrible cooks and are always the messy ones.
j says
hear hear!!! I am dating an awesome women and tells me all the time how clean my home is I own a home and take care of the entire thing myself, pick up after myself, wash my own cloths and dishes, it’s rare I have a dish in the sink. An in my bathrooms YEP all the seats are down when she walks in the door. I understand that some guys don’t get it, that it’s no 50/50 it’s 100/100%, c’mon boys take care of yourself to show you can take care of her.
E. Hernandez says
Really most things listed here are things that should come automatically as a husband and a parent. So sad that some guys need to be told to wash the dishes as a nice thing, as if washing dishes is the wife’s job, or that some guys need to be told that they should read with their kids as a “nice thing”. They’re indeed nice things but also your responsibility as a husband and a parent.
Nicolas Paradis says
This list is created for the wonderful mom’s out there and single income families. Mom stays home with the kids and Dad’s goes to work everyday. This list is not created to tell anyone anything it’s just some ideas to help out in different ways that even myself didn’t think of.
Jonathan. M says
This list is great. Sometimes, like the ladies, us men get caught up in the many different directions we get pulled in. It can be work, children, family and friends but it’s not limited to just these. It’s great to have something to allow us to “Center” and not feel overwhelmed. I’m sure the ladies would agree. Thank you for sharing/creating this list.
Dustin says
Okay, I appreciate the context of the list. I appreciate that the ideas actually came from women, and I enjoy discovering new and creative ways to express my appreciation for my wife. With that being said, without the signature at the end or the introduction I could tell it was clearly written by a woman. Not that it wouldn’t be, I just mean, in the demeaning and insensitive add ons directed at what the writers opinion of the typical man is. There are very few things on this list that my wife has not experienced, and quite frequently I might add. I do appreciate what you do, I mean that!!! I do have a list of one thing not to do to your man! Talk to him or about him in a way that lifts you up or puts him down, or both.
John Rock says
Thanks for the extra help of helping me figure out a little something different to do for my wife. I already do a lot in this house to help her so she doesn’t have to do it, it brings me joy of doing whatever I can to help her day go a little bit better. I forgot about the little things I used to do when we first met but reading this article reminded me of what I already new. So thank you for the reminder.
Springer says
How is spending time with your kids a gift to your wife. They are you kids too. You are just as responsible for them as she is. If you go into it thinking “being a dad is helping my wife” you are not treating her like an equal partner.
Ellie says
My husband gave me a sketch of my wedding dress. It was the most thoughtful thing he has ever done. I am not a huge gift person, but this was just perfect.
Mike says
My wife and I are always doing things for each other. It’s a basic part of the relationship… So many of the tips assume you have kids as well…
Another thing here is that not all women like surprises. My wife generally hates them. A night out or a weekend away? She wants to be part of the planning process so a LOT of these tips do not apply and I cannot imagine my wife is unique in this regard.
And I agree with the sexist comments. My wife hates to clean (tho she is better at it than I am) and I do not care either way so I do the house cleaning. My wife cooks, and I do not. Nor do I eat her cooking so nothing doing there either.
There was one idea here that I can take away tho and that is the heating pad idea – Going to try that one on her – that’s a surprise she might like…
C’mon howdoesshe – If you really put some effort into it I suspect you can come up with a better list than this. 95% of this is obvious…
Anonymous says
What if you do most of these things on a regular basis and she still doesn’t seem to love you?
Gabe says
Take time to acknowledge the little things your spouse does. So many of the comments reflect the hearts of men who want to honor their wives, but feel like they fail to measure up because their efforts are never acknowledged. Wives can say they value these things, but if you don’t express appreciation for the things your husband does for you, the result is frustration. It is not the men need credit or deserve praise for doing basic things like this…there is a huge emotional need met when a wife says something that validates the deep desire a man has to be a hero/champion for his wife. “White horse” moments don’t come across your path every day, so these small things are what we have to show that we care. Please acknowledge that they matter…(this whole post could be reversed for how men need to show appreciation and acknowledgement for their wives…my comment is based on the content and reaction to this particular article)
Micah says
Goodness gracious people! Someone is taking the time to create a list and a bunch of people are throwing shade? Is this Twitter? Those complaining, create your own website and write your own list!
I disagree completely that this list is “sexists”, give me a break. Yes there are some assumptions in the list, but how could you make a list without the writers perspective. You modern renaissance men can pat yourselves on the back all you want, and you strong woman who feel the list is “sexist” can beat your drum, but this is just a list from someone trying to help.
I do many of these things for my wife of 14 years and I’m sure she would be very thankful of the author. I was looking for more ideas to show my wife my love and found some, thank you.
James says
Totally agree with you, your comment was exactly what I told my wife, everyone needs to calm down and hopefully take at least one idea from the list.
Tekle says
very interesting. but, some of the points may depend on the culture of the raising society. eg. in my context, if a man is too much close to his wife he seems as a lazy man.this not only by the society but also by his wife too.So, man has to look like a master of the home.but i love those all points and i will try them one by one so that i will post the real result. thank you so much sir.
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