We don’t want to blame everything on capitalism, but love suffers from it too. Between work, errands, and the countless screens we live with… relationships aren’t what they used to be. There’s barely time to enjoy each other, or maybe everything just moves too fast. But the truth is, weekends are when many people discover whether their partners are just part of a routine or truly the place where they want to be.
Psychologist Mark Travers, an expert in relationships, explains why some couples are happier than others. Happy couples don’t leave weekends to chance, they use them to reconnect. And no, you don’t need to spend a fortune!
The weekend in a relationship
Weekends aren’t just for sleeping in; they’re also for fixing what routine tends to break. When two people take a pause (no phones, no rush, no work), their bond realigns, complicity reappears, and happiness grows when a couple uses their free time to come together again.
And he’s right. Sometimes, a shared weekend is worth more than any expensive getaway or spontaneous surprise, don’t you think? For that, this specialist highlights 5 things that happier couples do.
Goodbye to phones
Spending a lot of time with your partner but constantly checking your phone is not the solution. Once Friday arrives, put your phone aside, don’t answer emails (especially work ones, please!), forget social media, and give your partner your full attention without notifications going off. You don’t have to hide your phone in a drawer, but spending some uninterrupted time together, maybe watching a movie, having breakfast, or going out for dinner, something simple, can make all the difference.
“Parallel play”
Workweeks are exhausting, and we know that sometimes you need alone time. That’s why there’s a way to have alone time and still bond. It’s simple: both people do their favorite activity in parallel, separately but together. Imagine you love reading and your partner enjoys building ship models inside bottles; the solution is to be in the same room while each of you does your own thing.
Create rituals
Coming home to a familiar routine can be comforting. Having dinner and then watching TV, spending some time talking, a coffee… anything that involves a consistent space where you connect (even if it sometimes leads to chaos!).
Imagine, every Saturday is pizza night, or Wednesday evenings mean dinner with wine. Small things that show your partner you’re both committed.
Rediscover each other
Couples with a satisfying sex life tend to be happier. During busy weeks, some people forget that intimacy is also a priority, and the lack of it can cause tension and friction. So if you can’t find the time, schedule it and go for it. 😉
Never stop laughing
Experts say that couples who laugh together are happier. Can you imagine being in a relationship where no one makes you laugh? What a disaster! Laughter solves conflicts, breaks monotony, reconnects us, and relieves stress (even more than sex!). So, look for joy on purpose, being silly doesn’t matter! The absurd things usually end up being the best ones, and surely you know how to make your partner laugh like no one else!
Happiness must be shared
No couple is perfect, but the key is finding what works for both. Love needs to be nurtured every day, and in a world where we’re overconnected and overstressed, giving someone real time is one of the greatest acts of love and resistance that exist.
That’s why weekends are crucial, they’re the moment when you remember why you chose that person.
Mark Travers believes that love needs real time, not just messages or promises. Before filling your schedule, make room for simple things: a talk, a laugh, a coffee. Maybe that’s where love begins again.