Sometimes, 24 hours just doesn’t feel like enough. Between work, commutes, and a growing to-do list, it’s easy to get through an entire weekday without really connecting with your partner. But staying close doesn’t require extra time — just intention.

As a psychologist who studies couples (and as a husband), I’ve seen firsthand how small daily rituals can help people feel more connected, especially when life is busy. Even better news: Intimacy isn’t something that has to wait until the weekend.

Here’s what people in the happiest relationship do during the weekdays — that most neglect.

Most mornings are rushed and chaotic: alarms, deadlines, and the hurry to get out the door. That means the only real moment spent together is waking up in the same bed, and maybe a distracted kiss before they go their separate ways.

But happy couples find small ways to start the day together, even if it’s just for five or 10 minutes. That might mean setting the alarm a little earlier to cuddle before getting out of bed, making the bed together while chatting about your dreams, or sitting side-by-side for your morning coffee — even in silence.

The point isn’t how you do it, but that you actually do it. The best couples remind each other: “Regardless of how cruddy the day ahead might be, we’ve still got each other.”

You don’t need long, drawn-out conversations during the workday to stay connected. A funny meme, a little anecdote about your daily office drama, or a quick “thinking of you” message can be enough to strengthen emotional intimacy.

The happiest couples check in — not to talk logistics, but to remind each other they’re top of mind. It takes just a few seconds (during a lunch break, coffee run, or even a quick bathroom trip) to check in with their other half.

These small notes may seem insignificant, but they’re powerful mood-boosters — and a simple way to make your partner feel seen. Not only does this nurture your sense of intimacy in the midst of a hectic day, but it’ll also bless you with a little hit of midday motivation: a reminder of the person waiting for you at home. 

Stress from the workday has a sneaky way of bleeding into time with your partner, whether it’s through email-checking or a snappy tone.

That’s why the happiest couples take a few minutes to unwind alone after the workday ends. Whether it’s a solo walk, a quick workout, or just zoning out with a snack and your favorite TV show, this “me time” helps clear the mental clutter so you can show up more present and patient for your partner.

It might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to reconnect is to recharge separately first.

Evenings can be dominated by separate routines — one partner cleans up while the other scrolls on their phone, or both crash on opposite ends of the couch.

But the happiest couples intentionally carve out one shared moment every day. No distractions, no multitasking. Maybe it’s sitting down to dinner together, playing a quick game, or watching your favorite trivia show while shouting answers at the screen. Even five minutes of undivided attention can go a long way.

What it looks like doesn’t matter. It only needs to be shared, and fiercely protected. No kids, no chores, no notifications allowed.

These nightly “audits” aren’t meant to solve problems, but they do help you stay emotionally aligned and prevent little issues from becoming bigger ones. It’s just a matter of simple questions and even simpler answers: “How are you, really?” or “Are we okay?”

Some nights, it might be statement-based: all the thank yous, sorries, or little thoughts you may not have had the time to share during the day.

Quick, nightly audits ensure that nothing goes unsaid throughout the week, only to spill out on the weekends. Most importantly, they’re the best way to tend to your connection, without exhausting yourselves in the process.

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

At 78 years old, my brain is just as sharp and productive as ever.

I’ve written more than 175 books over the course of my career — on a wide range of topics, including marine biology, job interviews, ancient trees, creativity, baseball, dinosaurs, American history, resume writing, tsunamis, and Mother Goose. I also spent over three decades as a professor and worked with more than 100 schools across North America as a consultant.

Even though I’m retired now, I still write books, give presentations, and blog about psychology. My secret to staying sharp is simple: I am constantly curious.

Our brain’s chemistry changes when we become curious. Curiosity is what sharpens our intellectual powers, and keeps us mentally active well into our golden years. Here are my four hard rules for keeping my brain sharp and quick:

There’s a common belief that knowledge is the key to success. But growing research suggests that some of the most successful people embrace their own “innate ignorance.”

They understand that there is much more to learn about the world, but they don’t let that impede their progress. If anything, it galvanizes them to do more. Knowing what we don’t know can be a powerful mindset shift that sparks growth and creativity.

How to do this: Once or twice a week, select a topic you know little about, preferably one unrelated to your job or background. Maybe it’s WWII fighter pilots, prehistoric cave paintings, or square-trunked trees.

Spend five to 10 minutes learning all you can about that topic. Write down three interesting facts. This is a small but powerful way to exercise your brain.

Many of us get trapped in an endless cycle of convergent thinking, or always looking for the “right” answers.

But I’ve spent my entire career as an educator, and I can tell you that most schools trained us to focus on facts (“What is the capital of Pennsylvania?”), rather than creative answers (“Where do you think the capital Pennsylvania should be located?”).

Divergent questions, or open-ended questions that have multiple answers, encourage deeper thinking and help keep your mind flexible.

How to do this: A few times a week, ask yourself “What if…?” questions:

• What if you could relive any day of your life? What would you do?
• What if one historic event could be reversed? Which one would you select?
• What if you could be perfect in one athletic skill or talent? Which would it be? 

Not only are these questions fun, they can also generate a number of responses and paths for exploration.

According to researchers at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, experiencing awe can stimulate wonder and curiosity. 

Some examples can be holding a newborn baby, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, or watching a kaleidoscope of butterflies dance over an open field. That sense of awe can improve our well-being, contribute to a more positive attitude, and boost curiosity.

How to do this: Once or twice a month, go to a place you’ve never been before. It doesn’t have to be somewhere far — maybe a local park or new restaurant. Find something awesome, spend time observing, and record your thoughts.

Reading outside our field of expertise may be one of the most significant things we can do to develop our natural curiosity. When we expose ourselves to different ways of thinking through literature, we open up new possibilities for learning.

Even after 50 years of teaching, my current reading list includes books not on education, but on marketing strategies, paleontology, growing tomatoes, British narrowboats, island ecology, long distance running, and redwood trees, among many others.

How to do this: Visit your local public library and pick at least three books on topics that interest you, but that you’ve never formally studied or worked in. Read at least one chapter a day. You might be surprised by where your research takes you.

Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D., is professor emeritus of education at York College of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Psychology Today’s Creative Insights blog, and has written over 100 nonfiction books including ”From Fizzle to Sizzle: The Hidden Forces Crushing Your Creativity and How You Can Overcome Them, ”Two-Minute Habits: Small Habits, Dynamic Creativity,” and his latest ”In Search of the Old Ones: An Odyssey among Ancient Trees.″ Follow him on LinkedIn.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

In successful relationships, both partners feel emotionally secure, connected, and comfortable being themselves around each other. But for many of us, romantic relationships can bring out our deepest insecurities.

As a Harvard-trained psychologist who works with couples, I often tell people that emotional security in a relationship starts with seeing yourself as worthy of love, and trusting that your partner is accepting, caring, and truly committed — through the highs and the lows.

Couples who truly trust each other use seven phrases every day, and they should be relationship goals for all of us.

Feeling safe in a relationship means never having to hide parts of yourself. You are comfortable being vulnerable when talking about painful or difficult topics because you trust that your partner will respond with compassion, not judgement.

Similar phrases:

• “Thank you for loving me as I am.”
• “I appreciate that I can be myself with you.”

Trust is the foundation of emotional security. You believe that your partner’s words and actions align, whether you’re together or apart. You know who they are and you believe they have your best interest in mind.

Similar phrases:

• “Thank you for being respectful of me and our relationship.”
• “We’re a team, and I trust that you want what’s best for the both of us.”

Even the most emotionally secure couples have conflict. What differentiates them is how they handle it. They don’t panic or threaten to leave during disagreements because they trust that the relationship can weather the storms.

Similar phrases:

• “One tough phase doesn’t mean it’s over for us.”
• “Let’s figure this out together.”

People who trust their partners don’t feel threatened during time apart. Alone time feels natural. They respect each other’s need for independence, knowing that it strengthens the relationship.

Similar phrases:

• “I’m glad you’re making time for yourself.”
• “Thanks for giving me the space when I need it, too.”

Missing someone doesn’t mean you’re clingy — it means you’re connected. Even when you support each other’s personal space, you still look forward to being together.

Similar phrases:

• “Being apart helps me realize how grateful I am for you.”
• “I’m excited to see you when you get home.”

Secure relationships make room for hard conversations. When something feels off, you’re not afraid to speak up because you believe your partner will be nurturing and listen with care.

Similar phrases:

• “There’s something I’d like to check in about.”
• “I’ve been feeling a little off and I want to make sure we’re okay.”

Looking forward to the future, whether it’s date night or a shared life goal, indicates mutual investment in the relationship. You see your partner in your long-term vision, and they see you in theirs.

Similar phrases:

• “Can we go over our schedules?”
• “I’m really looking forward to our trip.”

Sharing intimate information about ourselves with our partners isn’t easy. It makes us vulnerable — and if we aren’t met with empathy, it can really hurt.

But the goal is to be in a relationship where we can be fully seen, fully known, and fully accepted. It doesn’t happen overnight, though. It requires conscious effort, and it means learning to accept yourself first, seeing your partner for who they truly are, and committing to growing together over time.

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, is a board-certified psychologist and author of the new book “Letting Go of Your Ex.” She specializes in romantic relationships, addictive behavior, and honesty. She received her clinical training at Harvard Medical School after earning her doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University. Follow her on Instagram @DrCortneyWarren or Twitter @DrCortneyWarren.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Mark Cuban says he’s a fan of artificial intelligence — so much so that it’s become a regular part of his day-to-day routine.

The billionaire entrepreneur and startup investor uses AI for “everything,” he told the “High Performance” podcast in a June 30 episode. That includes writing code for software development, a skill Cuban hadn’t previously used in years, he added.

“It’s insane how much I use it right now. I downloaded this app, Replit, and you just type in … I want to be able to compare pharmacy costs between my company and these other companies, and every time the price changes send me alerts,” said Cuban, 66. “Within a few minutes, it had the first pass of the software. Then, I just ran it multiple times and gave it new ideas and things I wanted.”

He also uses AI to make text-to-video content for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks — he’s a minority owner of the team — and to monitor his health, he said.

“I recently had this thing called afib [atrial fibrillation] and I had an ablation, so I had to track all the things I was doing, the drugs I was taking. And in the past, you might have downloaded an app and marked things down,” said Cuban. “I just [went to ChatGPT] and I was like … I’m going to tell you when I take my medicine and when I do my workout, and I want you to record it all. If there’s something there that I write down that you think is not right or I should be concerned about, let me know.”

The technology isn’t perfect, Cuban said: “An advanced programmer could do a better job.”

DON’T MISS: A step-by-step guide to buying your first home—and avoiding costly mistakes

But if you’re not an advanced programmer, you can at least get comfortable with prompt engineering, the process by which you train an AI to give you the output you desire, noted Cuban. Just make sure you fact check anything it tells you, he said: AI chatbots can hallucinate, generating fabricated information and presenting it as fact.

“Chatbots were generally bad at declining to answer questions they couldn’t answer correctly, offering incorrect or speculative answers instead,” found researchers at Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism, in a report published on March 25.

Paid chatbots typically presented their incorrect answers more confidently than free ones, and some of the chatbots generated fake links when asked to “accurately retrieve and cite news content,” the researchers found.

“You’ve got to be careful … It’s like talking to a friend who you think knows a lot about something,” said Cuban. “You’ve still got to be careful and talk to an expert.”

Some other tech billionaires — including multiple with vested interests in promoting AI’s use — also say they use the technology regularly.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman uses the tech to process emails and summarize documents, he told Adam Grant’s “ReThinking” podcast in January. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, unsurprisingly, uses Outlook’s AI features to organize and arrange his inbox, he said at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose company manufactures computer chips used for training and developing AI models, uses chatbots to help him write drafts, he said at a Wired event in December.

“I give it a basic outline, give it some PDFs of my previous talks, and I get it to write my first draft,” said Huang. “It’s really fantastic.”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Abandoned places can be creepy, but fascinating. These spaces, whether an old high school, a rundown house, or a shipwreck, can deliver a thrill, but also a peek into the past. And there are some unique sites around the world that give visitors an unforgettable experience.

From Italy to Australia to Curaçao, some of the destinations on this list sat empty for decades— even centuries — before becoming popular tourist attractions.

Located in the Thames Estuary, these metal towers were installed in 1942 to help protect London from sea raids and air raids during World War II. They were decommissioned in the 1950s and were used as radio operators for years. Initially, the forts consisted of seven towers connected by steel walkways; now there are fewer of them, and the walkways are no longer safe. The only way to visit the forts, although you can’t go inside, is via a boat ride off the coast of the UK.

The SS Ayrfield shipwreck is one of several vessels that sit in Sydney Harbour. The ship was originally in service for 60 years before it was used to transport supplies to U.S. troops in the Pacific during World War II. After it was retired, it was used to move coal in Australia. In 1972, the SS Ayrfield was decommissioned and sent to the wrecking yard, which shortly after went out of business, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The ship was left floating in the bay, then it partially sank and started to rest. Eventually, mangroves began growing out of the middle of it, and now it serves as a tourist attraction and is accessible via private boats.

Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido, Italy. For over 100 years, the island was used as a quarantine station for those suffering from the plague and other diseases. It was eventually turned into a mental hospital, which closed in 1968. The island has been vacant ever since and is known for its paranormal activity.

The Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse is located on the coast of the North Sea in Denmark. It was first lit in 1900 and was operating until 1968. Over the years, the lighthouse was used as a museum and a coffee shop, but erosion from the sea forced that to come to a halt. The lighthouse was expected to fall into the water by 2023, but in 2019, it was relocated 230 feet inland, allowing it to be safe until at least 2060. It is a popular tourist destination that attracts around 250,000 people annually, according to the BBC.

Located on the eastern coast of China, over 5,000 miles away from Paris, is Tianducheng, known as the “Paris of the East.” The luxury real estate development was designed to emulate the City of Lights, featuring its own Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and a 354-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower. Many of the homes remain vacant but the city still attracts many Chinese and international tourists, according to National Geographic.

In southern Africa’s Namib Desert is the ghost town of Kolmanskop. The town was originally known for its discovery of diamonds. In the 1930s, intensive mining depleted the area, and by 1956, it was abandoned entirely, according to National Geographic. The sand dunes eventually took over and now fill the houses where people once lived. In 2002, a local private company was granted access to Kolmanskop as a tourist destination. It now welcomes as many as 35,000 tourist visits a year.

The Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital complex was an over 100-year-old hospital that served the military during both World War I and World War II. It was once the largest treatment center in the world for lung diseases, but has been abandoned for 25 years since the former Soviet Union military left the site in 1995.

Outside the small town of Rummu are the ruins of an abandoned prison camp that now serve as a beach attraction. The former Soviet Union originally built the prison near a limestone quarry where inmates were forced to work. When Estonia regained its independence in 1991, the prison and the quarry were abandoned. The natural groundwater eventually seeped into the former quarry, creating a new lake that swallowed some of the buildings. Part of the former prison can still be seen from the land. It is known as a hot spot for divers looking for the sunken ruins underwater.

Located 15 miles off the southeast coast of Curaçao, Klein Curaçao is an uninhabited island. The Dutch island still has signs of its former residents, like a deteriorating lighthouse. It is a hot spot for snorkelers thanks to its marine life and white-sand beaches. Tours of the island are often offered as all-day trips but can cost at least $120 per adult, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The bell tower is a submerged 14th-century church and can be reached on foot when the water freezes. The steeple is part of what was once the Italian village of Curon. It was flooded by the government in 1950 to create an artificial lake. In 2021, the lake was temporarily drained, exposing the lost village for the first time in decades, according to Smithsonian magazine.

Formerly a listening station during the Cold War, the TV tower was used for espionage and intercepting communications starting in the 1950s. It was used by American forces until the end of the Cold War. It was then used for air traffic control until the government sold it in 1999. Today, visitors can tour the remaining large radar domes.

Located in the southernmost area of Basilicata, Craco stands atop a cliff that is now a total ghost town. It is reached by car, but the best way to see it is by motorcycle. By 1963, the town’s population was just under 2,000 residents, and then a landscape forced more inhabitants to leave. In 1972, it was devastated by a flood and then in 1980 by an earthquake, and after that, it became a ghost town, according to Architectural Digest.

The Bannerman Castle is located on Pollepel Island in New York’s Hudson River. It was built as a fortress for weapons in the early 20th century. It was abandoned in the 1950s after gunpowder exploded, according to The New York Times. In the early 1990s, the Bannerman Castle Trust helped restore the structure and island for public visits. It has been open for tours since 2020.

Also known as Gunkanjima, Hashima Island is an abandoned island off Nagasaki. It is the most famous of the 505 uninhabited islands off the coast of Nagasaki. It is a former coal mine that once had a hospital, schools, shops, a temple, and a shrine. In 2015, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Also known as The Train Cemetery or “Cementerio de Trenes” in Spanish, it’s an area on the outskirts of Uyuni. The area was renowned as a vital transportation hub in South America. In the early 19th century, plans were made to expand the railway network, but the project was ultimately abandoned. The trains were left to rust and now visitors can approach them with no restrictions. There are over 100 train cars.

Inside Germany’s Black Forest are the ruins of Kloster Allerheiligen, also known as the Monastery of All Saints. The site was destroyed by several fires, with the latest being in 1804 when it was struck by lightning. It was left in ruins but kept from deteriorating by preservationists. At some point, it was also used by monks and pilgrims.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.