Does Your Relationship Pass The '777 Rule'?

This is what the social media trend is all about – and what dating pros really think about it.

Culture & Parenting Reporter, HuffPost

“Don’t go to bed angry.” “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.”

There are many relationship adages and “rules” that have become part of our cultural vocabulary, but not all are meant to be followed. So when I first learned about the “777 rule” – a concept to help partners find time to connect – on social media, I brought a healthy level of skepticism to the guidance.

“The 777 rule is a viral framework that encourages couples to spend consistent, intentional time together,” said Julie Nguyen, a dating coach with the dating app Hily.

“The guideline suggests couples to go on a date every seven days, take a weekend trip every seven weeks, and go on a longer vacation every seven months.”

She noted that this method isn’t rooted in formal research or relationship science but is “more of a catchy formula” that makes it easy to remember how to have special shared experiences with your partner. Of course, there’s room for flexibility as well.

“Every seven days, have a date or spend some intentional time together – this can be a meal at home without any screens or kids, something simple,” said Tracy Ross, a licensed clinical social worker specialising in couples and family therapy.

“The important part is focusing on one another without distractions and trying to tune in to your relationship.”

Try something that requires a bit more effort every seven weeks.

“Go on a road trip, spend a day going on a hike, go away for the weekend – again it’s intentional time together with the goal of connecting and not being distracted by screens, work, friends or family,” Ross noted.

And then make an extra special, out of the ordinary plan every seven months.

“Go on a trip, conquer a challenge together,” Ross said. “Take time away from your life to do something that you both look forward to, want to experience together, and requires you to spend time and effort on being together – and of course again, without distractions.”

The 777 rule made the viral social media rounds last year, and it also wound up in headlines in 2023 thanks to reports about English actor Amy Nuttall following her husband’s alleged affair. The underlying idea goes back even........

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