EmPowered Couples with The Freemans

Falling in Love vs Staying in Love: The Science of Maintaining Your Romantic Connection Over Time: Episode 428

Dec 23, 2025
Relationships can fade from passion to routine without intentional practices. Explore how biology shifts love dynamics from thrilling highs to comfortable bonds. Discover practical habits like daily non-sexual touch, minimizing distractions for deeper conversations, and planning monthly novel experiences to revive joy and connection. Learn to initiate small surprises and reignite intimacy beyond the bedroom. Setting relationship intentions together can help couples maintain closeness, affection, and excitement through every season of love.
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INSIGHT

Biology Explains The Shift From Thrill To Bonding

  • Falling-in-love highs come from dopamine and elevated cortisol during novelty and uncertainty.
  • Long-term bonding shifts biology toward oxytocin and vasopressin, creating calm companionship rather than adrenaline highs.
INSIGHT

Calm Companionship Can Be Mistaken For Boredom

  • Transitioning from passionate highs to calm companionship is natural and necessary.
  • Without intentional oxytocin-releasing actions, partners can misinterpret normal bonding as boredom or lack of love.
ADVICE

Touch Often To Release Bonding Hormones

  • Increase non-sexual touch to trigger oxytocin and safety in the relationship.
  • Aim for at least five longer embraces or meaningful touches each day with eye contact and depth.
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