成人头条

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You鈥檙e listening to the podcast edition of the 成人头条 audio newsline. Learn more about WSU 鈥� the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers 鈥� on the Web at .

Valentine's Day 鈥� talk about a high pressure holiday. Whether that's true for you, Deborah Ballard-Reisch, an expert on communication and relationships at 成人头条, who was once called "Dr. Love" by a Nevada radio station, says Valentine's Day is a good time to celebrate relationships.

Ballard-Reisch: "I think for couples, one of the most important things to maintain your relationship is to celebrate it, and Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity to do that. We have a holiday that says, 'It's all about you. It's all about your relationship.'"

Ballard-Reisch has spent about 20 years researching the subject of communication and relationships. She says showing affection is important in relationships.

Ballard-Reisch: "One of the other things we found in our research is that showing affection is really critical to the quality of relationships. And again, Valentine's Day is an excellent opportunity to take time, show your partner how you feel about them."

And Ballard-Reisch says it's important for couples to spend some time together on Valentine's Day.

Ballard-Reisch: "If possible, I think one of the most important things to do on holidays like Valentine's Day is physically be together. It doesn't have to be stressful. It doesn't have to be big. Go for a walk. Hang out at your house. Watch a favorite movie together, but spend time together."

Ballard-Reisch says Valentine's Day is a good opportunity for couples to take some time for each other

Ballard-Reisch: "For a lot of people in our day-to-day lives, we don't take the time to say 'I love you,' to say 'how I feel about you.' And again, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to center that and take the time. It's an opportunity to think about saying how we feel."

Here are some tips to consider for Valentine's Day, courtesy of Ballard-Reisch.

Ballard-Reisch: "I have three basic tips. Do something special together. It doesn't have to be big and flashy, just do something that's meaningful to both of you. Give a small token of appreciation and care. It doesn't have to be expensive. It has to be meaningful to both yourself and the other person. And say 'I love you' as much as you can on that day."

Ballard-Reisch talks about the biggest mistake people make around a holiday like Valentine's Day.

Ballard-Reisch: "I think the biggest mistake people make around holidays like Valentine's Day is to overanticipate, to assume that your partner knows what you mean, knows what you want and may well magically create it for you. If you don't say what you want, people can't read your mind. Make it clear if you have expectations."

It's probably better not to wait until the last minute to plan your Valentine's Day celebration, according to Ballard-Reisch.

Ballard-Reisch: "Another thing that's helpful around Valentine's Day is to prepare in advance. Discuss with your partner what you want this day to be in your relationship, how you want to celebrate it, agree upon it in advance and then prepare it together, or at least prepare consistently with what you've agreed to."

At the very least, Ballard-Reisch says you don't want to just ignore Valentine's Day.

Ballard-Reisch: "It's a really good idea not to blow Valentine's Day off, unless it's mutually agreed upon with you and your partner. When our culture gives us an opportunity to acknowledge relationships, take that opportunity."

So perhaps it's not too surprising that, with the exception of Christmas, Americans exchange more cards on Valentine's Day than at any other time of the year.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for 成人头条.