5 Tiny Things People In The Best Relationships Do For Each Other Every Single Day

Raise your chances of keeping an amazing relationship with a few small actions each day.

By Mitzi Bockmann
Last updated on Jan 13, 2024

Photo: Alexander Shunevich / Shutterstock

Almost everyone dreams of having one of those truly great relationships, the kind that thrives and lasts a lifetime. But few know how to make it happen.

Gifts? Flowers? Vacations? Back rubs? There are so many options, but they can be expensive and feel a bit overwhelming. Why does having to keep your relationship strong require so much time and effort?

Big gestures are nice (and definitely recommended at times), but there are everyday things you can do to keep your relationship or marriage thriving. Little things that make a huge difference in whether your marriage (now or later) is a happy one.

Here are 5 small things people in the best relationships do for each other every day.

1. They make eye contact when their partner talks to them.

When you go to work in the morning and see co-workers, do you look them in the eye and wish them a good morning? When you are ordering coffee, do you look your barista in the eye and thank them for their service? Of course, you do!

So, if you naturally use eye contact as a source of connection in your life, why wouldn’t you use it in your relationship?

things people in the best relationships do for each other every day Photo: Maria Orlova / Pexels

Many couples, ones who are finding themselves disconnected from each other, no longer look each other in the eye. Instead, they occupy themselves with something suddenly very important if their partner walks in the room.

They keep their eye on the TV when the other says goodnight. They leave in the morning with a quick peck on the cheek, moving towards the door with haste.

It is literally impossible to remain connected to someone if you don’t look them in the eye. Human beings thrive on eye to eye contact and not having it can only cause chaos in a marriage. So, when you walk in the house, look your spouse in the eye and greet them. Connect with them in a way that lets them know you care.

2. They hug their partner often.

It seems trivial, but hugging your spouse every day can be the thing that will keep your relationship or marriage strong, maybe more than anything else.

Hugs do two things, both of which are important for a marriage that thrives. Hugs use physical contact to convey caring. Think about how good it feels to get a hug from anyone. Now imagine a hug from the person you love. Pretty amazing, right?

A 10-second hug leads to the production of oxytocin, the feel-good chemical that enhances happiness and fights depression. They say a 10-second hug, once a day, can deepen a couple’s connection in a big way.

Also, hugs are great stress relievers. Holding someone in a firm hug for 20 seconds has been proven to release stress. What a gift that would be — to hug your person and make them feel less stressed out in this stressful world. So, if you aren’t doing it regularly, hug your partner.

3. They pay attention and make mental notes.

Plenty of women say or think, "Why can’t he just know what I want? Why do I always have to tell him?" If you are a woman, you are saying "Yes!" If you are a guy, you are saying "Ugh!"

Women are very good at tuning into each other’s needs, but it’s harder for men to do so. As a result, a distance can grow between a man and a woman because opportunities to make each other happy are being missed.

Both men and women should pay attention to their partner. Note their likes and their dislikes, what makes them happy and sad, the things that they enjoy doing and being done to them.

things people in the best relationships do for each other every day Photo: Antoni Shkraba / Pexels

Both husband and wife should tell their person what they need if they aren’t getting it. There is no reason to sulk and get resentful when there's a person right there who wants to give you what you want. You might want them to guess, but if they don’t, tell them.

A person who pays attention is a person who will make their partner feel loved in a big way. Yes, you might not be able to anticipate your person’s every need, but if you pay attention you will be able to come pretty close.

4. They do the little things their partner loves.

You know the saying, "It’s the small things that make the difference"? Take this phrase to heart, because it’s true. Small gestures can keep your relationship healthy and humming along.

By small things, it means bringing your lady flowers, thanking him for helping you with a task, asking your guy to go for a walk, making a cake for their birthday, or dropping them a random text during the day.

It’s doing the things that make life a little less dreary; the things that make your person know you are thinking of them, that will keep your relationship healthy and happy.

5. They make time for one another.

One of things lacking most in this modern world is time. Because we are lacking time, for some crazy reason, what goes to the bottom of the priority list is relationships.

We willingly give our time to work and to children and to hobbies, but we often take our relationships for granted and don’t give them the time they deserve. So, how do you carve out time in this crazy world?