TIPS AND TRICKS

Don’t Sleep on Having a Special Code

A good rule to consider for your marriage: Think about a secret signal or code to share with your partner. Yes, this will make you feel like spies which is always cool. But it also helps if one person needs to ask for a time-out during an argument or needs to leave a party where they feel, say, anxious, bored, or uncomfortably gassy. When the word or phrase is said, it means “No questions, we have to stop — or leave.” The couple can figure out later if the time-out was warranted, or if one party was overreacting. But the agreement can give couples space to gain perspective. In the end, it’s about trust and being considerate.