| Ritual | Time Investment | Goal | Example Prompts & Sentences | |--------|----------------|------|-----------------------------| | **1. Partings** | 2 min/day (~10 min/week) | Leave knowing 1 important thing about partner’s day | “What’s the highlight of your day today?” · “What’s one thing you want to go well?” · “Anything stressful coming up?” | | **2. Reunions** | 20 min/day (~100 min/week) | Stress-reducing conversation when you reconnect | “How did your [meeting/call] go?” · “What was hardest today?” · “What’s one good thing that happened?” | | **3. Admiration & Appreciation** | 5 min/day (~35 min/week) | Verbally express gratitude and fondness | “I love how you handled [situation].” · “Thank you for planning our day yesterday.” · “I admire your curiosity/playfulness.” | | **4. Affection** | 5 min/day (~35 min/week) | Physical touch, non-sexual connection | Long hug when you reunite · Kiss goodbye in morning · Hold hands while walking · Cuddle before bed | | **5. Weekly Date** | 2 hrs/week | Dedicated fun & novelty together | Dinner out · Cooking a new recipe · Walk in a new neighborhood · Mini adventure (museum, hike, picnic) | | **6. State of the Union** | 1 hr/week | Relationship check-in & alignment | Start with appreciations → feelings check-in → outside stressors → relationship improvements (“I feel/I need”) → dreams/future → end with affection |