The Weekend Warrior Effect: Can “Good Enough” Exercise Be Better for Your Brain?

Is your fitness routine a bit, let’s say, aspirational?

Do you crush it on the weekends and then ghost your running shoes the rest of the week? Turns out, you might be onto something genius—not just for your heart, but for your brain.

A recent study published in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory suggests that the “weekend warrior” exercise pattern could provide lasting cognitive benefits, proving that sometimes “good enough” might actually be great.

Karen from Accounting drinks too much eggnog, the IT guy busts out the robot on the dance floor, and someone inevitably asks, “Is this gluten-free?”

Welcome to the company Christmas party, a corporate ritual as sacred and unpredictable as a Secret Santa exchange gone rogue. But what really makes a company Christmas party “good”?

Researchers, perhaps as desperate as the rest of us to make sense of these events, have stepped in with answers. And yes, it involves more than free booze.

A study published in Scientific Reports by Hannes Zacher from Leipzig University unwrapped the key ingredients for a successful office holiday bash, and spoiler alert: it’s not just about dodging awkward encounters with your boss.

Let’s be honest—our phones are the third wheels in most modern relationships. From the morning scroll to the bedtime doom-scroll, these little rectangles of distraction often steal our attention, leaving our partners competing with push notifications.

But in an age where digital devices dominate, there’s a love language making a quiet comeback: undivided, bestowed attention.

I’m calling it Phone-Free Presence, perhaps it will become a 2025 update to physical touch.

In this brave new world, love looks less like holding hands and more like holding eye contact—without the glow of a screen lighting up your face.

Let’s unpack this modern expression of love, its impact on relationships, and perhaps how to master it.

In the grand arena of love and life partnership, it’s easy to focus on the big wins—engagements, anniversaries, or finally agreeing on the right temperature for the thermostat.

But what about the small victories, these micro-wins?

The unsung heroes of daily life, like surviving back-to-back Zoom meetings, folding laundry without starting a podcast detour, or saying "no" to the third delivery taco binge of the week?

But love thrives not only in grand gestures, but also in celebrating the tiniest, most relatable triumphs. Let’s dive into why these little cheerleading moments matter and how they can turn your relationship into a championship-winning team.

What Are Micro-Wins, Anyway?

Most couples know how to argue about the little stuff: “Why didn’t you take the trash out?” or “Do we really need six pillows on the bed?” (Answer: yes, always.) But what about the big stuff? The existential questions that linger quietly in the background of every relationship, like a nosy aunt eavesdropping on your conversations.

As a couples therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how rarely these big questions come up in therapy—and that’s a shame. Questions like, What do we believe about love? How do we handle loss? What’s our purpose as a couple? aren’t just abstract musings. They’re the bedrock of a partnership that can survive the long haul.

Let’s dive into these existential questions, explore the social science behind why they matter, and, of course, sprinkle in some humor along the way.

Because if you can’t laugh while contemplating the meaning of love and death, what’s the point?

What if I told you that happiness doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package? That there isn’t just one “correct” personality for a fulfilling life?

Good news: research proves it! Having certain personality traits—whether you’re bubbly or introspective, cool-headed or a lovable hot mess—can lead to a happier life.

Let’s dive into the personality buffet and see what happiness tastes like for you!

Love, it turns out, is a never-ending parade of peculiarities.

As a couples therapist, I’ve seen it all—from synchronized sneezing contests to debates over imaginary scenarios. Here are 22 more examples of how couples let their quirky flags fly.

If love is a circus, then weird couple habits are the main act.

As your friendly neighborhood couples therapist, I’ve cataloged a second set of quirks—proof that love is as much about playful absurdity as it is about intimacy.

And yes, science backs these up, so let’s celebrate the delightful oddities.

As a couples therapist, I’ve witnessed the bizarre mating rituals of humanity up close and personal. If aliens ever wanted to study our species, I’d tell them to skip Area 51 and come to my office instead.

Because here’s the thing: love is weird. Delightfully, hilariously, heartwarmingly weird.

Every couple has quirks—some adorable, some… well, let’s just call them “special.”

But what’s fascinating is how these quirks are not random acts of oddity; they’re rooted in psychology, biology, and the strange beauty of love. Let me introduce you to some couples whose eccentricities are as endearing as they are research-backed.

When you think of “imagination,” you might picture dreaming up castles in the sky or envisioning your ideal vacation.

But there’s another kind of imagination that’s especially useful in relationships, and that’s prospective imagination. This type of imagination—the ability to envision a shared future or imagine different scenarios—can be a game-changer in couples therapy.

With prospective imagination, couples can navigate the complexities of their relationships and cultivate a deeper, more resilient connection.

So, how does it work?

And why does imagining future scenarios help couples create a better present? Let’s dive into how prospective imagination can strengthen relationships.

What is Prospective Imagination?

Romantic nostalgia—the sweet, rose-tinted warmth of remembering those early days of your relationship.

The late-night talks, the inside jokes, and that slightly overplayed song that somehow became your song.

These shared memories bring couples closer, adding a richness and history to your relationship that’s uniquely yours.

But here’s the twist: while nostalgia can be a source of connection, over-focusing on “the good old days” can sometimes hold couples back from building new experiences together.

Let’s take a look at how you can harness the power of shared memories to strengthen your relationship in the present, without getting stuck in a time loop of the past.

In the world of relationships, “quality time” is often seen as moments filled with engaging conversation, shared activities, or meaningful experiences.

But for many couples, especially those who value a mix of connection and independence, there’s another way to enjoy togetherness that’s deeply satisfying.

Known as “time alone together,” this practice is a kind of adult version of “parallel play” – a term that comes from developmental psychology and describes how children often play side-by-side, absorbed in their own activities, yet comforted by the presence of the other.

Time alone together allows couples to feel close simply by sharing space, each doing their own thing. This approach, although subtle, provides a balance of intimacy and autonomy that can be transformative in relationships.

In this post, we’ll dive into what time alone together means, explore its roots in concepts like parallel play, and look at how it strengthens bonds while respecting each partner’s individuality.