Five Weekend Habits of the Happiest Couples

Couples in the happiest, most successful relationships make intentional use of their weekend time together to strengthen their bond, according to psychologist Mark Travers. Research shows that while quality time can be hard to prioritize in today’s busy world, being strategic about weekend activities significantly impacts relationship satisfaction, notes Travers in his analysis for CNBC.

As both a researcher who studies couples and someone navigating work-life balance with his own spouse, Travers emphasizes that intentional weekend habits create opportunities for meaningful connection that sustain relationships through weekday stresses and challenges.

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Device-Free Quality Time

The most successful couples prioritize undistracted, device-free time together over the weekend. Research indicates that couples who spend less time together but remain fully present without technological distractions report greater satisfaction than those who spend more time together while constantly checking phones or emails, according to research from the Gottman Institute.

This digital disconnection allows for deeper conversation and emotional attunement that isn’t possible when attention is fragmented. Relationship experts recommend dedicating specific windows of time—even if just a few hours—where phones are put away and attention is fully devoted to one another, creating opportunities for meaningful interaction that strengthen emotional bonds.

Cultivating Playfulness

Incorporating playfulness and silliness into weekend routines is one of the most reliable tools for strengthening relationships, according to Travers. During busy workweeks, couples often become conditioned to focus on responsibilities and stress, but weekends provide an opportunity to reconnect with childlike wonder and joy through shared play.

“The act of being silly—and being met with silliness in return—helps us reconnect with the childlike wonder we carry inside that gets buried beneath our responsibilities,” explains Travers. This might take the form of trivia games with nonsensical rules, spontaneous dance battles, or other lighthearted activities that promote laughter and joy, helping to counterbalance the seriousness that often dominates weekday interactions.

Shared and Separate Interests

Psychologist Mark Travers notes that the healthiest relationships balance togetherness with individual pursuits. The most successful couples use weekend time to engage in both shared activities that strengthen their connection and separate interests that allow for personal growth and independence, according to his research on relationship dynamics.

This balance prevents the suffocation that can occur when couples expect to be everything to each other. While shared experiences create important bonding opportunities, supporting one another’s individual interests and passions during weekend hours contributes to relationship health by fostering the personal growth and independence that keeps relationships vibrant and interesting.

Meaningful Conversation

Setting aside time for intentional, meaningful conversation represents another crucial weekend habit for relationship success. While weekday exchanges often focus on logistics and schedules, the most satisfied couples use weekend time to engage in deeper discussions about feelings, dreams, challenges, and future plans.

Harvard-trained relationship experts John and Julie Gottman emphasize that these conversations don’t need to be lengthy to be effective. Even dedicating 20 minutes to genuinely connecting through meaningful dialogue can significantly strengthen relationship bonds, particularly when couples approach these conversations with curiosity and openness rather than judgment or problem-solving.

Solving Problems Together

The final key habit involves approaching weekend challenges as a team. Whether tackling household projects, planning future events, or addressing relationship concerns, the happiest couples view weekend problem-solving as an opportunity to demonstrate partnership rather than as a source of conflict.

According to therapist Jourdan Travers, who has worked with over 100 couples, implementing the “5-Second Pause Rule” during potentially tense weekend interactions can be particularly effective. “When you feel a conversation starting to heat up, pause for five seconds before responding,” she recommends in research published by CNBC. This brief pause allows couples to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively, strengthening their ability to navigate challenges as a unified team.

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