Want a stronger relationship? ‘The most successful couples I know’ prioritize this habit every evening, therapist says

There are many habits successful couples practice in the morning. They can be small but loving gestures, like making the other's coffee or setting out a bowl for their granola.

Some couples simply make sure to never leave the house without a hug or kiss.

"It's all about just having that connection," says Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author of "13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do. "And when you have a ritual, it makes sure that you continue to connect on a regular basis."

But the habits that strengthen relationships don't need to be morning rituals to be effective.

Morin and sexuality and relationship expert Sara Nasserzadeh share what successful couples also prioritize as they wind down.

Before they go to bed, "the most successful couples I know" practice gratitude, Morin says.

It doesn't have to take long (just 60 minutes) and can be about anything.

"You're grateful that your coworker showed up on time for the meeting, or that somebody delivered a cup of coffee to you," she says. "When you share those things with your partner, not only does it boost your mood, it boosts theirs," she says.

Studies have also shown that gratitude can improve quality of sleep.

1. They practice 'oy and joy'

One thing successful couples do every night is make time for what Nasserzadeh calls "oy and joy."

"Oy are the things that are heavy on your chest, brought you sadness" and joy is "what brought you a smile," she says.

The tactic is useful because it provides a framework for couples who want to feel connected. "It's a frame within which couples make sure that they have that minimal check in with each other," she says. "So a day doesn't go by that one person went through something and then the other person doesn't know about it."

It also ensures both partners have an opportunity to talk, even if one usually dominates the conversation.

This "oy and joy" practice also gives couples the necessary space to vent and complain, but makes sure things still ends on a positive note.

2. They invest in physical touch

Successful couples invest in their physical touch in very specific ways, Nasserzadeh says.

For example, they sit "back-to-back for a few minutes of breathing together," she says. "Or they are just leaning forward for just a little bit of a lingering kiss."

Some other examples of the kind of physical touch that truly helps strengthen relationships are a few minutes of eye gazing and even rubbing each other's feet. This habit is "about building intimacy," she says.

If you have an evening routine that would make it difficult to be touched in certain places — like a lengthy skincare routine — make sure to do your connecting exercise beforehand.

Ultimately, it's important that couples agree on the rituals they want to share throughout the day and stay consistent. It's how they'll reap the benefits and see their relationship grow stronger and stronger over time.

"To have that love emerge and re-emerge over and over and over again," says Nasserzadeh, "you need to make sure that you have all of those ingredients that are necessary on a daily basis."

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