Between meetings, travel and domestic chores, many couples only have one real window to get together: the weekend. This time, eaten away by fatigue, shopping and screens, becomes a barometer of the relationship. Couples psychologist, graduate of Cornell University and the University of Colorado at Boulder, Mark Travers, now principal psychologist at Awake Therapy and head of Therapytips.org, observed that the happiest couples always repeat the same five gestures, which he detailed in an article for CNBC.
In his clinical follow-ups, Mark Travers describes five very concrete weekend habits: putting their phones aside, practicing parallel play, establishing common rituals, scheduling their sex times and choosing to intentionally laugh together. A study by researcher Judy C. Pearson, conducted in 2010 among 560 people in committed relationships, showed that the presence of rituals predicted better perceived quality and intimacy. Other studies involving more than 200 couples link adult playfulness to greater marital satisfaction.
The 5 weekend habits recommended by psychologist Mark Travers
Satisfied couples allow themselves screen-free time where the phone stays in another room during coffee, a walk or dinner. Mark Travers also talks about “parallel play”, where everyone keeps “time for themselves” while sharing the same space and “time for us”. He summarizes this implicit message with this sentence: “I love you, but I also need to love myself for an hour or two. Let’s do it together,” he explains in CNBC.
The other three habits give a skeleton to the weekend. Happy couples protect at least one familiar ritual, like pancakes on Sunday, a game night or a shared drink to organize the week. They also agree to schedule intimacy: this framework removes the mental burden of “finding the right time” and secures a space to meet up physically. Finally, they voluntarily laugh together, with an absurd game, a ridiculous dance or a reactivated private joke.
Why these weekend rituals strengthen the relationship
The link to research data is clear. Judy C. Pearson’s study entitled “Rituals in Committed Romantic Relationships” and conducted among 560 people, showed that couples rich in rituals describe themselves as more stable, more intimate and more satisfied.
In this context, the five habits described by Mark Travers act as protective micro-rituals: disconnection and parallel play nourish both autonomy and security, scheduled intimacy offers a relief from stress, and shared laughter helps to digest the tensions of everyday life.
Adapt these 5 rituals to your own couple’s weekend
Each couple can adapt these points to their reality: exhausted parents, strange schedules, long-distance relationship. Some move their “couple weekend” to another day, others turn the side game into a shared video call. If the relationship is marked by violence or contempt, these gestures remain insufficient and professional support becomes necessary.