Building and maintaining healthy relationships takes work, but the payoff is huge. People with strong social ties lead happier lives. Romance and friendship are a boon to physical and mental health.
Of course, cultivating connection in a world that feels increasingly lonely isn’t easy. Which is why, as reporters who write about relationships, we spend a lot of time talking to experts about what works, what doesn’t, and how to wring the most from your romantic bonds.
With that in mind, here is some of our favorite advice those experts have shared with us so far this year.
Ask your partner something new every week.
Curiosity can help enliven a relationship, particularly if you and your partner have been together for decades, said Justin Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute, the sexuality and relationships research center at Indiana University.
“Curiosity is a powerful, powerful tonic,” he argued, because it sends a clear message: I am interested in you.
One simple way to infuse your relationship with a bit of curiosity? Every week or so, ask your partner something new. It could be something deep or it could be something small and silly.