Let's face it: sooner or later, long-term relationships, especially among married couples who've entered the parenting arena, tend to hit a bit of a snooze fest. Juggling the whirlwind of life's duties, from ensuring the kids are not just alive but thriving to squeezing in a moment of marital bliss, can feel like a Herculean task. By the time the sun sets, collapsing on the sofa and zombie-scrolling through Netflix episodes might be all the romance you're mustering.

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And yet, keeping that spark alive with our other halves is crucial, even if figuring out the 'how' feels like solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded. Enter the concept of a "three-hour night," a neat trick one mom swears by for ticking off those daily chores while simultaneously fanning the flames of love. Talk about a love life lifehack!

Rachel Higgins and her husband gave this strategy a whirl starting this year, and it's been a revolutionary change to their evening routine. Sharing the gist on TikTok, Higgins illuminated how this structured evening—divided into three focused hours—transformed their nights from monotonous to magical.

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Pre-three-hour night era, their evenings were a predictable cycle of putting their daughter to bed, sinking into the couch, and mindlessly scrolling through social media until sleep claimed them. Sound like a familiar routine?

But by allocating the hours post-kiddo bedtime into three distinct parts, they've managed to shake things up. The first hour, kicking off around 7 p.m., is dubbed "productive time," where they tackle any lingering household tasks, from kitchen cleanups to those random chores you keep pushing off. Think organizing a closet or even sharpening the kitchen knives—anything that contributes to the household running smoothly.

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The next hour pivots towards rekindling their connection, sans phones, focusing solely on each other. This could mean anything from shared showers to board games, or simply chatting about the day and future plans—essentially anything that bolsters their bond.

The final hour? That's reserved for personal downtime, where anything goes. Want to binge-watch TikToks or lose yourself in YouTube? No judgment here. You can watch her video below: 

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This fresh approach has sparked interest and inquiries among viewers, with some pondering the feasibility of pulling this off nightly. Higgins acknowledges that while they aim for three to four times a week, even managing a single night can significantly enhance intimacy. One TikTok viewer commented, "HOW do you have productive energy at 7pm at night?! Help!!" Another said, "I tried this this evening with my hubby and it was so nice."

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Naturally, life's unpredictability—like kids resisting bedtime—might require tweaking this schedule. But the flexibility and fun embedded in the three-hour night concept underline its charm, not as another task but as a playful, customizable ritual.

Adopting a version of the three-hour night serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of prioritizing your relationship amidst life's chaos. It reveals that, perhaps, we have more time for love than we think, especially when we deliberately carve out space for it.

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