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For modern couples, the evening routine often runs on autopilot: You get home from work, tackle household logistics, eat dinner, clean up, and then collapse onto the couch to watch a movie or show together.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Comfort shows are comforting for a reason. But as a psychologist who studies couples, I’ve found that many couples are starved for quality time together, and the weekend often feels like the only real opportunity to connect.
Here’s what the happiest couples do together in the evenings instead of watching TV — and why these habits can strengthen a relationship without requiring you to completely reinvent your routine.
1. A short walk or hike
One of the simplest alternatives to an evening in front of the TV is going for a walk together. You can spend the same amount of time walking as you would watching a show or movie, while also getting fresh air and movement.
Not only is it a great form of exercise, but it’s also a way to reduce stress and support overall well-being. Research also suggests that, for couples, leisurely walks outdoors can encourage social interaction and bonding.
Without screens competing for your attention, it’s easier to be physically and emotionally present with each other.
2. Cooking or baking together
Cooking together can turn an everyday necessity into something fun and collaborative. Bonus points if it’s a recipe neither of you has tried before.
I’ve also always loved the idea of bonding through learning and occasionally making a mess together in the kitchen. Research suggests that preparing food together naturally fosters teamwork and trust, while creating opportunities for physical touch and moments of cooperation that often get lost in the rush of daily life.
Even better, unlike passively watching a show, cooking requires partners to engage with one another and work toward a shared goal.
3. A two-player game
Not every meaningful activity has to be serious. Sometimes, couples just need to laugh together. Whether it’s cards, board games, puzzles or video games, two-player games can satisfy the same entertainment craving as TV while offering far more interaction.
Games also create shared emotional experiences. There’s teasing, competition, strategy and spontaneity involved — all things that help break couples out of the autopilot feeling that long-term relationships can sometimes slip into.
This is especially ideal for couples who enjoy a bit of cheeky competition. If you and your partner can lose a game without becoming bitter, and laugh together in the process, then that’s a good sign for the health of your relationship.
4. A virtual (or in-person) dance lesson
If you’re doing it from home, all you need is the same screen you’d normally use for watching TV and a little bit of open space. Or you could sign up for couples’ classes at a local studio.
Dancing is already well-established as a fantastic form of exercise. But for couples, it also provides shared rhythm, physical closeness and novelty. Research suggests that the “harmonious passion” involved in dance — enjoying an activity purely for the sake of enjoyment, rather than perfection — is positively associated with relationship satisfaction.
Most importantly, dancing invites couples to be playful together again. You can flirt and move together instead of simply existing next to one another at the end of a long day.
5. Arts and crafts
For this one, you can get as creative as you want. Coloring books, watercolor paints, clay, Play-Doh, knitting, crochet, sketching — the goal is simply to make something together.
Arts and crafts give couples permission to be imperfect, which is surprisingly rare for adults. And for people who don’t often get the chance to show off their creative side, this can be a way to see new sides of each other emerge.
Considering that so much of adult life revolves around productivity and routine, a little bit of childlike wonder can go a very long way.
Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website Therapytips.org.
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