People in the happiest relationships do 5 things on Sundays
When people think about what makes a successful relationship, their first instinct is to focus on the big things like communication, trust, commitment, honesty, and shared values.
But as a psychologist who works with couples, I’ve found that the happiest people pay attention to the little moments every day that have a big impact. They create consistent rituals that help them stay connected even when life gets busy. One of the most powerful is the Market reset.
It is neither formal nor time-consuming, but provides couples with the perfect platform to routinely reflect and re-align before embarking on their week together. Here are five things the strongest couples make time for.
1. Logistics check-in
Missed plans, unequal responsibilities, and unclear expectations tend to pile up.
Strong couples make time throughout the week to talk: What worked? What felt overwhelming? What needs to be adjusted? The goal is to fine-tune the way we work as a team.
Perhaps one spouse felt overloaded with responsibilities at home. Programs may not be sorted as expected. Addressing these early helps prevent avoidable friction and keeps daily life running smoothly.
2. A moment of appreciation
It’s easy to spot what went wrong within a week. Our brain is programmed accordingly. But this habit can shape how you view your partner and your relationship.
That’s why gratitude is important. Happy couples share what they appreciate about each other that week, from big gestures to small gestures they would normally take for granted.
Maybe they made you coffee in the morning or filled your gas tank. Maybe they were good listeners. Saying these things out loud does two things: It makes your partner feel seen, and it trains your mind to pay more attention to the good.
3. An emotional briefing
It is impossible to find a couple who always solves their problems in real time. Sometimes things are ignored, avoided, or simply left unsaid. However, when these emotions are not expressed, they fester.
That’s why loving couples create space throughout the week to reexamine the things that don’t work for them without fear or judgment. What hurt? Why was it important? What was behind the reaction?
The key to safe debriefing is an honor system: The speaker does not attack and the listener does not get defensive. Both are completely honest, without fear of tension or anger. Over time, this prevents small problems from occurring and makes larger conversations easier to navigate.
4. A look at the week ahead
Couples who feel in sync know what’s coming and share something to look forward to.
This might mean coordinating schedules, but it also includes planning small moments of connection like a dinner out, a night out, a common goal, or even a show you watch together.
Looking forward in these ways instills a sense of forward momentum. It reminds you that your lives don’t just run parallel, even though work and chores may feel that way sometimes. When the week ahead seems especially difficult, having something to look forward to makes a difference.
5. A conscious reset
Each week brings with it things like stress, disappointment, tension, or unmet expectations. If you don’t consciously release it, it can follow you into the next week.
That’s why the most powerful couples end their resets with a simple question: What can we let go of? Maybe it’s a minor disagreement that has already been resolved. Maybe it’s a stressful day at work that spills over into your evening. Maybe this is a persistent mood that you don’t want to continue.
There is power in naming something you no longer own, or even choosing to move on. This is the ideal way to end your week with real closure and a real reset.
Mark TraversPhD is a psychologist specializing in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the chief psychologist. Awake Therapyis a telehealth company providing online psychotherapy, counseling and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website. therapytips.org.
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