After 31 years as a marriage counselor, Sharon Rivkin has seen all kinds of crazy things tank relationships. What wows her: One of the most common issues is also the easiest to fix. "Ninety percent of the failing couples I see have stopped asking 'How was your day?' every evening," says Rivkin. "Those words are actually as important as saying 'I love you,' because they help maintain the compassion a marriage needs to survive. You have to nurture your bond with that conversation daily, just like watering plants," she says. "When you stop asking, your partner begins to feel slighted, unimportant, or taken for granted, and that can quickly grow into a deep resentment." Make exchanging reports on your respective days a ritual, she suggests. "Carve out time and be ready to listen and really engage. If you're busy, say, 'I only have a minute, but I'd like to hear more later.'" Even if he's the one who stopped checking in first, seeing your renewed interest will make him more likely to reciprocate. So ask. It's that easy.