The Five Magical Hours is an exercise in five parts designed by psychologist John Gottman to improve relationships and get a deeper connection with each other.

Improve your relationship with this exercise is by gaining new habits that bring you closer to each other and a stronger relationship. These new habits together should take five hours per week (hence the name of the exercise) and will contribute to the ongoing growth and evolution of the relationship.

The relationship exercise is often used in couples therapy and family counselling to improve relationships

1. What's happening today?

Find out at least one thing your partner will do during the day before you part ways in the morning.

2. How was your day?

Prioritise time to have a stress-free conversation at the end of the day. Talk to each other about how the day was and what happened. It's a chance to talk and bounce ideas off each other. The one who isn't talking listens actively!

3. Show gratitude to each other!

Show appreciation for each other (big and small) every day. It's easy to take what we do for each other for granted. But if you pay attention, you'll realise that you do more for each other than you think. Tell each other that you appreciate it!

4. Be physically close to each other

Show each other affection and be physically close with hugs, kisses, or maybe a gentle stroke on the arm. Being skin to skin releases the "feel good" hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin makes you feel good in the moment and also enhances the relationship between you.

5. Schedule time together

Prioritise time each week to spend together just the two of you. Make sure to use the time for relaxed socialising without obligations and tasks. Only you know what you'll do. Maybe you exercise together, play games, or take a walk. Try to put away all screens and not talk about everyday logistics. The time is for you to create new memories, have a great time, and appreciate each other!

Exercises in your pocket for a stronger relationship!

Actively working on your relationship and creating new healthy relationship habits isn't entirely easy, we know. Even if you know how to improve your relationship in theory, it might require something to guide you and be there in your everyday life.

That's why we developed Ally! With Ally, we want you to be able to develop effective relationship skills to make a strong relationship and take it where you want it to be. You and your partner will get a deeper connection and boost your relationship, but also learn how to handle challenges that you might experience in your relationship today.