This is the No. 1 thing successful couples do to kick off the new year, psychologist says

Successful couples use the holidays as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship by creating new traditions, says New York–based psychologist Sabrina Romanoff.

They also take the new year as an opportunity to get closer and communicate about what matters to them. Romanoff is also a relationship expert for the dating app Hily.

New Year’s Eve is a time when “we’re taking personal inventory of our lives,” she says. “What we want for the future, and also how our partner fits into that.”

Here’s the No. 1 thing successful couples do to keep their relationship strong heading into the new year, according to Romanoff.

It’s about ‘looking back at our year together’

For couples, it comes down to one conversation.

The first part of the conversation is about looking back on the past year and reflecting on what worked in the relationship.

Romanoff suggests looking for moments of deep connection: “Were you vulnerable with each other? Did you express something really scary that maybe you haven’t to someone else before?” Successful couples think about how they were able to build their bond and express that to each other.

The second part is about looking forward together and considering how they can continue to improve their relationship next year.

Successful couples do this by framing what they want to change as reinforcement as opposed to a critique. Romanoff suggests leading with appreciation: “I love when you do this,” or “I feel most connected to you when you do that.”

Ultimately, it’s about each partner saying, “here’s how I want us to thrive,” says Romanoff.

CNBC