Be That Happy Couple

If you two are more “meh” than “let’s make out” lately,don’t just bail. Revive these two important relationship traits, and before long, you’ll be into each other again.

- Paula Derrow

Here’s a tip: Complaining to your friends about how you and your S.O. are “just kind of blah these days” isn’t going to fix things. What will? Adding more laughs and nice gestures into your alone time. We see your eye roll, but consider this research: A 2017 University of Kansas study of more than 15,000 people found that pairs who consciously recall funny moments and inside jokes are much happier than those who rarely crack up together. And according to a different study, doing small, compassionate acts for your partner will also reap big love rewards. So, now that you have that crucial intel, use it. This advice will get you started.

LOL 4 LUV

“I fell in love with his sense of humor.” It’s a cliché we hear all the time, but let’s be honest: Laughing with someone you’re also sleeping and eating with (among other things) is freaking fun…and the bread and butter of relationships. According to research by social psychologist Laura Kurtz, PhD, busting into hysterics with your partner will make you feel closer to and more supported by each other.

But there’s a caveat. For humor to make you feel super tight, it’s best if you share a similar sense of what’s actually, well, funny. “It’s called relational humor,” says Jeffrey Hall, PhD, author of the University of Kansas study, “and tapping into it can be very powerful.”