Those small acts of care and affection sustain connections over the long term.

Happy relationshipsdo often include the big occasions and grand gestures.

Celebrating big moments like birthdays and anniversaries can be fun and exciting.

Happy senior woman getting bouquet from her husband outdoors in garden

Halfpoint Images/Moment/Getty

However, in long-term relationships, its often the little things that matter most.

It’s the way your partner remembers how you like your coffee.

It’s sending you a funny meme in the middle of the day to make you smile.

It’s being there to support you when you need them the most.

Such moments are flashy, but they’re often what matters most.

Research has shown that factors like responsiveness,affection, and attentiveness play a key role in relationship satisfaction.

Small acts of daily kindness are an essential way to express such responsiveness in a romantic relationship.

In addition to improving relationships, small gestures of love can also be good for mental health and well-being.

2022;17(6):e0269429.

doi:10.1080/00224499.2024.2310705

Flood SM, Genadek KR.Time for each other: Work and family constraints among couples.J Marriage Fam.

2016;78(1):142-164. doi:10.1111/jomf.12255