Genius advice from the people whose job it is to be better at love than you.
That said, there are still some things that most people can benefit from, so we talked to a bunch of relationship experts to get their best advice.
You can definitely go to bed angry.
Just forget the old advice that tells you not to, because it's bullshit. "Saying you can't go to bed angry 'or else' places way too much pressure on finding a resolution that could more easily be obtained the next morning," Rachel DeAlto, relationship and communication coach, tells BuzzFeed. That, and there's actual science that proves why staying up to hash out your problems instead of sleeping is terrible advice.
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Make sure you're getting enough ~you~ time.
Needing space from your partner is NOT a bad thing. In fact, for a lot of couples, giving each other plenty of time to themselves is a huge factor in their relationship success, Terri Orbuch, Ph.D., relationship expert and author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great, tells BuzzFeed. "Time alone gives partners those vital moments to process thoughts, pursue hobbies, and develop new topics to talk about," she says.
Obviously, too much space isn't good — there's a reason you're a couple — but in general, partners who have their own hobbies, interests, and friends are happier than those who depend on each other for everything, says Orbuch.
If you want to do one thing to improve your relationship almost instantly, start saying thank you more.
Pretty much every expert we talked to brought up the importance of showing sincere appreciation. "It can mean so much to a partner to get a thank you for the usual everyday thankless task," marriage counselor and psychotherapist Jean Fitzpatrick tells BuzzFeed. Like making small talk like a pro at your work party or picking up your favorite beer without you even asking.
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