Nice Things to Do for Your Boyfriend: 10 Ways to Make Him Smile

Here are 10 ways to show your man how much you care about him, and it’s not rocket science, you can keep it simple. Our relationship will often begin to wither if we don’t put our energy into it.

We have to work at it as they say, and that means, in order to feed the relationship; we must put energy in to doing special things for the other person. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel here and luckily we can make it fun.

Hopefully, these simple ideas will spark more creative ones in you that will strengthen your bond, add some fun into your life, and be something that helps your relationship stay positive and healthy long term. Remember, when we choose to be kind, we choose to create a positive reality.

You don’t have to limit yourself to these ideas; you will know best what your man loves. Make it a point to do nice things for him regularly, not just once. When you’re in the habit it will help keep both of you in a good mood, after all, attitude is everything. Here are some of our ideas that will inspire you to find nice things to do for your boyfriend.

1. Cook him dinner

Make him a special dinner lit with candles and topped with a nice bottle of red wine. Set the table and use the nice dishes. Think of his favorite food, and make some interesting and unique side dishes. If you can, surprise him and don’t forget to play some good music in the background.

If he doesn’t see it coming, it will mean a lot to him that you went out of your way to do something sweet for him. Put some time into deciding what to make, it will mean more if you actually have to research ingredients and track them down. If you just make easy mac and hot dogs, it doesn’t show you’re really willing to spend that much time making your man happy.

Get creative and make it memorable. It doesn’t have to be for any special holiday, it can be just because you love him. Oh, and secretly try to make sure he has nothing going on that evening, so you don’t end up having to eat all the food yourself.

2. Surprise him with a vacation

Imagine if your boyfriend came home and there was a suitcase on the floor. You tell him to pack for warm weather and you’ve already taken care of all the details of the trip. You’ve booked a place to stay, you have restaurant reservations, you know the beach to check out and you have directions to get there.

This can be a great surprise, and of course, make sure you figure out a way to check if he has other plans for the weekend before booking the trip.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a surprise vacation. You can choose a place within driving distance that has a special feel to it. Getting into a new environment is just fun and will show him you enjoy his company.

AirBnB is a great option for finding affordable accommodations. They also have really unique and memorable places opposed to your typical hotel room that is as bland as toast.

3. Plan a surprise birthday party

It doesn’t matter if his birthday is six months from now. If you want to make it good, you’ve got to start planning now. And if you want his friends to show up, you need to give them notice really far in advance. It’s helpful to start a secret event or group on Facebook, or just use the old fashioned phone call method.

If you really want to make it special, have shirts or hats made for everyone that make him feel special. If you are able to pull off a surprise birthday party that he may have never had before, he’ll be very happy and feel your love.

It’s usually a good idea to do it on a day other than his birthday and preferably before his birthday. This way he won’t expect it and it won’t look like you forgot his birthday.

4. Treat him to a movie he would like

As I said, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Scan the ratings for movies that are out and choose one you think he would like. If he’s mentioned one that looks interesting, get tickets ahead of time and surprise him.

If you want to go the extra mile, look up a cozy spot near the theater to grab an appetizer and drink before the show. If you already know where you’re going, it takes stress off of him. Let him relax and enjoy the evening.

We sometimes take it for granted that men are usually the ones trying to impress us, and it is a lot of work. When we turn the tables around, we realize how much they go through to treat us like a queen. It really should be equal on both sides and for all of us women complaining about equal treatment, we have to dole it out to get it back.

5. Get him sports gear

Another rather obvious way to make your boyfriend happy is to get him some new sports gear. Keep in mind that if he doesn’t have any interest in tennis and you get him a racket and balls, you’re better off hitting yourself in the head with it than giving it to him. If he likes expensive sports like kite surfing, get him a jacket or gloves.

Maybe an action camera or a fun gopro mount would also be a great gift for the adventure seeker. If your man is more of the artsy type and less into sports, think of one of his hobbies and find something he would probably not get for himself. If he’s a guitarist, maybe a special pick and strings.

If he’s an artist, maybe some special ink pens or high quality sketch book. Always get a gift receipt so he can exchange it if things are the wrong size or something.

If you do some research and get him something specific, not only will you probably surprise him knowing what you’re talking about when it comes to sports gear, but you won’t be wasting your own money. Talk to the experts in the store, and make a smart buy.

6. Frame a photo of the two of you

Get a photo of the two of you smiling and put it in a nice frame. Don’t put it in a girly frame because it will look like it’s for you. Put it in a frame, wrap it and put a card with it. A present, just because, is a great way to show him how much you love him.

It will help him see you are happy to be with him and solidify the idea of you two being together. It’s nice to get reminders that you enjoy each other’s company and like to make good memories together.

It’s true that some guys don’t like sentimental gifts, but those are the commitment phobic ‘bad boys’ that will leave you in a few weeks for the next best thing. If he is a good guy, he will appreciate sentimental gifts. There are many of these good guys out there and it’s important to treat them well. Just as they go out of their way to be good boyfriends, we should return the favor and make them feel appreciated.

7. Plan a night out with friends

Sometimes relationships get boring. We get in a rhythm of going to work, coming home for dinner and watching some TV before bed. It’s important to be social, even in a relationship, and planning a night out with friends can be really fun for him. If you invite his friends over without him knowing, and they all show up ready to go, he will love it.

It really doesn’t take a lot of planning on your part, but if he’s been stressed lately about work or staying in a lot, chances are he probably needs to loosen up and go have some fun.

I’m not recommending that you encourage him to go out and get tanked. We are far more creative than that. Maybe plan to attend an art gallery opening, an interesting show, go indoor skydiving or go to a book signing.

Fun doesn’t have to revolve solely around drinking and only recent grads still think in the limited terms of equating fun to just going to bars. Maybe find out when a good band is playing and get everyone to meet there as a surprise.

8. Make his favorite dessert

Depending on your age, your partner might be watching his weight and might not appreciate maple bars or bear claws that he’s tried to leave far behind him. But if you can capture his favorite flavors in a healthier version of organic ice cream or bake something with organic ingredients, let him cheat a little bit.

You can have it delivered to him at work if you know he’s having a tough day. Just as we like to get flowers, he loves food. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so give him something to get you there.

9. Get him a piece of inspiring art

If you’re not a confident artist, get him something inspiring and original. Have it framed and maybe hang it in his office or man cave. Another good idea is to have it sent to him at work just to brighten his day. Art conjures positive emotions, so choose something that is not morose.

Maybe find something that will help him connect to his goals, or remind him of his personal strengths. Don’t just get a random piece of art that you don’t think he’ll connect to, it has to mean something.

10. Buy him a book

If he doesn’t read, get him something about his favorite subjects. If he likes to travel, get him a travel book. If he likes sports or grilling, find him a hall of fame book or a BBQ cookbook. Even if men claim they are not into reading, usually, you can find something that will pique their interest. Put some thought into it and don’t just get something that’s on sale, because chances are it will just become a dust collector.

And hey, since you’re at the bookstore, why not pick up something for yourself while you’re there?

It can help your relationship and build positive momentum in your life to do nice things for your partner. If you see yourself being with this man for the rest of your life, you will never regret doing nice things for him. Try not to smother him in the process, and also try not to have expectations in return.

Relationships are about learning to see the other person’s perspective and respecting who they are and where they are in their lives. If we give ourselves the opportunity to be vulnerable in a relationship, we might as well give it our best shot and always make sure to do nice things for them.

The simple things, like breakfast in bed or making him a cup of joe, can keep your relationship strong and that fortitude can make up a lifetime together.

You will also inspire your friends to do nice things for their spouses when you start to put him before yourself. As we make an effort to think of ways to make him happy, we set an example for other people.

We are all influencing each other, and social media is changing our culture so that our decisions can make positive impressions that affect people all over the world. If we think of how connected we truly are, it inspires me to always speak kindly, do nice things and see the ripple in full effect that is the beauty of life.