The Secrets of Close Couples

Feb. 2, 2011— -- When the early-love buzz wears off and a couple becomes comfortable, the polite gestures and words that were de rigueur in the beginning fall by the wayside. But it turns out that kindness is the glue that keeps couples together. Follow these four easy rules and you'll both wind up feeling more loved, valued, and appreciated.

When the alarm starts blaring, rather than blindly slapping the snooze button or stumbling to the bathroom in a fog, try turning to your guy and saying "Good morning!" Research indicates that 94 percent of couples who do this every day rate their relationships as excellent. In contrast, couples who rarely hear the phrase describe their relationships as below average.

What makes these two words so magical? When you wish your man a good morning, what you're really saying is that it's a good morning because you are together. And affirming your feelings in the a.m. lays the groundwork for positive communication all day.

There are things your guy does for you (rubbing your feet, bringing you a cup of coffee in bed), and there are things he does for the relationship (taking out the garbage, walking the dog). We're pretty good about thanking the men in our lives for the stuff they do explicitly for us, but we tend to drop the ball when it comes to the gestures that benefit them too.

Because these random acts of thoughtfulness improve your life and the relationship as a whole, it's important to acknowledge them. Try adding these two powerful words to the end of your sentence: "Thank you for picking up the milk for us." If you reaped any benefits from his action, you have something to be thankful for.

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