- INSIDER asked couples to share little things they do that keep their relationships strong.
- Some said that communication and taking time to show appreciation for each other keeps their relationships strong.
- Others said playing rock, paper, scissors to decide who does chores or sleeping with two separate blankets are game changers.
Trust, communication, gratitude, commitment — these are all vital components of happy relationships. But sometimes, the little things are just as important.
INSIDER asked 12 couples to share small things they swear by that keep their relationships strong. Here's what they said. Responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.
"Use rock, paper, scissors to decide silly or insignificant debates (like who does the dishes or a diaper)."
"Silly (but very real) advice — use rock, paper, scissors to decide silly or insignificant debates (like who does the dishes or a diaper). It's random enough to keep things fair and no one has to remember who did it last. The fun of the game takes away the irritation of the chore.
More real advice — every Friday night we each tell the other something we appreciated about our spouse during the week. Sometimes you have to dig deep but those are the weeks it is most important. And, sometimes you will be surprised to hear what makes the difference in your spouse's week. It makes you feel good and helps you better understand each other!"— Yael
"Jon and I always try to set aside time to do an activity together that we wouldn’t do on a daily basis."
"Jon and I always try to set aside time to do an activity together that we wouldn’t do on a daily basis. It started once we were long distance, because we wanted to be doing things together, not just talking on the phone. We'd try things like playing Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles together over Skype. But now even when we're together IRL, if it's for a week or just a weekend, we try to find something special to do.
"We've made homemade pasta together and had a paint night at home. Or we go out to do something special, like going to see Christmas lights wherever we are in the winter, or going to play mini golf and ride the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island.
"It's easy to fall into the same exact routine, but activities that are different can get you into a lighter mood, and let you be together with your partner in ways that you might not be on a daily basis. I owe this a lot to Jon, because he's usually the one that pushes us to get off the couch and do something different."— Shira
"It’s better to laugh than to argue."
"It isn't about how much you have in common or about how completely you agree.It's about how well you bridge the differences, and about how well you reconcile your disagreements.
"It's about admitting when you are wrong, sometimes even when you know you are right, because you have to pick your fights and don't need to win every one.
"It's better to laugh than to argue, because not only will you disagree about what you should have for dinner tonight, but sometimes you will disagree about what you remember eating for dinner last night."— Shlomo
See the rest of the story at Business Insider