Skip to content

Relationship Hacks

The 5 Love Languages for a lasting marriage

The 5 Love Languages

    I used to think showing love was simple. You say “I love you,” you buy gifts on special occasions, you help around the house, you spend time together, you kiss goodnight. Basic human stuff, right? Wrong. When my husband stopped responding to my affection, I doubled down. More “I love yous.” More surprise gifts. More… Read More »The 5 Love Languages

    Standing order regular weekly social events

    Start a Standing Order Social Event

      For years, I watched my friendships fade one by one. Not because I stopped caring, but because coordinating calendars became impossible. Life got in the way with work, family and a thousand competing priorities. Most productivity advice overlooks this crucial aspect of our lives. Our social connections need maintenance just like everything else. Life gets… Read More »Start a Standing Order Social Event

      The 4 parenting styles

      The 4 Parenting Styles

        My mother and I couldn’t be more different as parents. When my son refuses to eat dinner, I offer alternatives. My mother would have sent me to bed hungry. When my daughter talks back, I explain why her words hurt. My mother would have washed my mouth with soap. For years, I judged her harshness… Read More »The 4 Parenting Styles

        The 8-minute phone call for deeper connection

        The 8-minute phone call

          Who calls without texting first? What emergency prompted this? My mind raced through worst-case scenarios as I answered with a tentative “Hello?” To my surprise, my old friend Jake, simply wanted to hear how I was doing. That spontaneous five-minute call left me strangely energized. I realized how rare voice connection had become in my… Read More »The 8-minute phone call

          The social conversation circle of hell test

          The circle of hell test

            For years, I failed the circle of hell test without even knowing it existed. I’d see someone hovering at the edge of a conversation, clearly wanting to join, and I’d do nothing. I’d continue talking, pretending not to notice their awkward half-smile and shifting weight. I told myself pulling strangers into our group chat wasn’t… Read More »The circle of hell test

            The 90-10 rule for conflict reduction

            The 90-10 Rule of Conflict

              Scientists who study couples in conflict labs have noticed something strange: partners rarely fight about what they think they’re fighting about. That argument that starts with “You never take out the trash” or “Why didn’t you call me back?” almost never ends there. Within minutes, couples spiral into accusations about respect, care, and whether they… Read More »The 90-10 Rule of Conflict

              Make connecting a daily habit

              Make connecting a habit

                I stood in the middle of Mark’s massive penthouse, staring out at the skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Everything around me screamed success. Expensive art on the walls, designer furniture, and a kitchen that would make a professional chef jealous. “Pretty amazing place you’ve got here,” I said, accepting the glass of wine he handed me.… Read More »Make connecting a habit