5 Questions to Ask Your Partner That Are Way Better Than "How Was Your Day?"

Rather than "How was your day?," get specific with your partner. Ask about the funniest moment of their day, the most interesting, the most frustrating, or the most gratifying. Sharing anecdotes will stimulate a much better conversation than just a general question about how well their day went.

You and your partner share a past together, but you also share a future, and a subtle way to remind both you and your partner of this is to ask what they are excited about in the upcoming week, month, or even years down the road. The thing they are anticipating may have nothing to do with you, but knowing what excites them will allow you to share in that excitement (and even help them count down the days).

Your partner may not always ask you for help or even realize that they need it, so it may be your job to seek out what you can do to make their life a little easier. If you have the time to run an errand for them or put on a load of laundry, your partner will feel enormous gratitude (and will likely return the favor later).

If you sense than your partner is frustrated (or even if you don't), you can always clear the air by finding out what's causing them any distress in that moment. You may not always be able to fix the issue — especially if it's a problem at work — but listening, offering advice, and even helping them to identify a stressor they didn't know they had will always make a difference.

Your days may be filled and your nights might be hectic, but you and your partner should always have a plan for the next opportunity you'll have to enjoy some quality time together. Carve out at least a few minutes for your partner every day, and compare schedules to decide when you'll be able to spend time alone together next.