Real Time

As the holiday season wraps and the New Year begins, about 50 percent of the U.S. population sets a New Year’s resolution. But by Valentine’s Day, the vast majority calls it quits on these promises. How can you succeed? Making…

Phil and Sarah are two of our favorite people in the world. Marc and I love spending time with this couple. They’re funny and intelligent, they love food and are always open to exploring new things — just like us….

This story was originally created for The Gottman Institute Blog and has been republished here with permission. When my kids were younger, one of our favorite summer activities was to have leaf races in the rushing streams near our North Carolina summer…

We humans live a well-worn path, often living the same life over and over, day after day. It takes true effort to blaze a new trail because we’re simply not wired for change; we’re wired for habit. Our brains like…

This story was originally created for The Gottman Institute Blog and has been republished here with permission. I recently read a statistic that the average couple spends between 200 and 300 hours planning their wedding. A few of those hours…

It doesn’t take much to throw off a good date night routine. Marc and I can be on a roll for months… keeping to our weekly quality time like a paperboy does his Sunday route. But, then, a few schedule…

Recently I read the book Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time by Brigid Schulte. Anyone who feels time-starved or overcommitted can immediately relate to Brigid’s story. Two kids, busy job, somewhat helpful spouse, and the…

If I could have more of anything it would be more connection. Feeling close to and available for the people I am sharing my life with—friends and family—is my personal barometer for good living. With that aim in mind, my…

Life is busy with tons of priorities… work, kids, friends and, of course, your relationship. Sometimes we’re so scheduled with demands that we fail to include time for self-care. It’s often undervalued but self-care benefits the mind, body and soul….

Who doesn’t enjoy dining out, especially on date night?! You get waited on, and someone else handles both the cooking and the clean-up. You simply have to delight in the company and dishes set before you. According to a Zagat…

As the year ends and the holidays wind down, our minds turn to the New Year. Resolutions, goals and epic lists of things to do flood our thoughts as we reflect on the past 12 months. But there’s nothing wrong…

It’s wonderful to see a person’s face light up thanks to a gift you bestowed. I do love giving gifts, and I love receiving gifts – within reason. But have you ever analyzed why you buy so many Christmas gifts?…

The friendship dating game is pretty similar to the traditional dating game of seeking a romantic partner. And it can be especially tricky, yet essential, during certain periods of life when true friendships matter most. For example, being a new…

When you have a family, it’s not always easy to secure a couples getaway. Even though you’re parents, it’s still very important to have couple time (without the kiddos) and, ideally, get out for date night on a regular basis….