I'm a psychologist who studies couples: People in the happiest relationships do 1 thing differently after time apart—whether it's hours, days or weeks

Mark Travers, a psychologist who studies couples, argues that the first few minutes after time apart—whether hours, days or weeks—are critical to relationship quality, and he outlines five tips for getting those reunions right. Travers, who writes for CNBC, says the happiest couples treat re-entry moments deliberately rather than casually, using them to signal that the partner matters. His advice centers on putting the phone down, making eye contact, offering a genuine greeting, and asking about the other person's day before diving into logistics or complaints. The piece draws on his clinical experience and research on couples rather than any single study or dataset. While the item is lifestyle commentary rather than market-moving news, it reflects CNBC's broader slate of psychology and workplace content aimed at its professional audience. Watch for follow-up pieces in Travers' ongoing series on relationship research.