Simple low-effort ways to enjoy quality time together this holiday season

WE OFTEN believe great relationships are built on grand gestures: luxury dinners, surprise holidays, jaw-dropping gifts.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

But research keeps whispering something more grounded, more intimate, and much more achievable: the tiny, everyday acts of effort matter more than the big, occasional wow.

According to a 2022 study published in The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, couples who consistently share small positive experiences like laughing together, hugging more often, or spending intentional time together report higher long-term relationship satisfaction than couples who focus only on milestone celebrations. In short: love thrives in the ordinary.

Relationships thrive not on grand gestures but on the small, intentional moments that add up over time.

Psychologists talk about something called "low effort", a term that has become popular on social media.