The Little Things in Relationships That Matter the Most

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When we think of love andhappy relationships, it’s often the big occasions and grand gestures that come to mind. Celebrating occasions like birthdays and anniversaries with one’s partner can be fun and exciting. Performing grand romantic gestures like gifting them something expensive, whisking them off on holiday, or treating them to a fancy meal can surprise and delight them.

However, in long-term relationships, it’s often the little things that matter most. The small, everyday acts of caring and the simple but sincerewords of loveand support can play a big part in ensuring happiness and well-being.

This article discusses why the little things in relationships matter the most and suggests some simple gestures that can help you show your partner that you care.

Why the Little Things Mean a Lot

Small, thoughtful gestures can show your partner that you love them, care about them, and appreciate them.

They help promote stability in relationships because they show your partner that they’re important to you and that you think about them. This can help reduce uncertainty in the relationship and instill a sense ofsecurity, strengthening your bond and bringing you closer together.

A 2013 survey that included over 5,000 participants found that small acts of kindness, as simple as making a cup of tea for one’s partner, were highly valued. In fact, the results of the survey showed that gifts like flowers and chocolates were considered less important than the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. The survey also found that simply saying “I love you” helped provide affirmation and reassurance, and helped couples feel closer together.

In addition to improving relationships, small gestures of love can also be good for mental health and well-being. A 2020 study found that experiencing love on a daily basis helped improve participants’self-esteem, purpose, optimism, and overall sense of well-being.

Little Things You Can Do to Show Your Love

Occasions come along once in a while, but it’s important to remember that every day is an opportunity to show your partner how much you love them. There are countless opportunities every day to do sweet, thoughtful things for your partner, depending on your relationship and the preferences of you and your partner.

How to Know If You Are in a Healthy Relationship

Vocalize Your Affection

These are some ways to show your partner affection throughwords of affirmation:

Create Intimacy

These are some ways to show your partner affectionphysically:

Do Things for Your Partner

These are smallacts of servicethat can show your partner you care about them and are thinking about them:

Spend Time Together

These are some ways to maximizequality timewith your partner:

Surprise Them With a Gift

These are some ways to show your partner love throughgifts. Keep in mind that it really is the thought that counts, and not how much it costs you:

A Word From Verywell

Inrelationships, it’s often the little things you do for each other on a daily basis that make you feel happy, secure, and close to your partner. These small gestures don’t take a lot of time or money, but they go a long way toward showing your partner how much you care about them.

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2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klett-Davies M, Gabb J, Fink J, M. Thomae. Enduring love? Couple relationships in the 21st century, survey findings report. Published online 2013.Oravecz Z, Dirsmith J, Heshmati S, Vandekerckhove J, Brick TR.Psychological well-being and personality traits are associated with experiencing love in everyday life.Personality and Individual Differences. 2020;153:109620. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.109620

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klett-Davies M, Gabb J, Fink J, M. Thomae. Enduring love? Couple relationships in the 21st century, survey findings report. Published online 2013.Oravecz Z, Dirsmith J, Heshmati S, Vandekerckhove J, Brick TR.Psychological well-being and personality traits are associated with experiencing love in everyday life.Personality and Individual Differences. 2020;153:109620. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.109620

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Klett-Davies M, Gabb J, Fink J, M. Thomae. Enduring love? Couple relationships in the 21st century, survey findings report. Published online 2013.Oravecz Z, Dirsmith J, Heshmati S, Vandekerckhove J, Brick TR.Psychological well-being and personality traits are associated with experiencing love in everyday life.Personality and Individual Differences. 2020;153:109620. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.109620

Klett-Davies M, Gabb J, Fink J, M. Thomae. Enduring love? Couple relationships in the 21st century, survey findings report. Published online 2013.

Oravecz Z, Dirsmith J, Heshmati S, Vandekerckhove J, Brick TR.Psychological well-being and personality traits are associated with experiencing love in everyday life.Personality and Individual Differences. 2020;153:109620. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.109620

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