Blake R. Templeton argues that constant criticism kills playfulness and emotional connection in marriage. He proposes a no-criticism day challenge where one partner stops correcting the other entirely and focuses only on affirmation, claiming this restores playfulness and deepens love.
So I hear guys all the time, they're like, man, she's not playful anymore. She's so serious, or she's so disconnected. Like, playfulness doesn't survive constant correction. So when the enemy's been correcting you and you got self-condemnation, and if that's the overflow of your heart and you're correcting your girl, her playfulness can't survive that. So instead of correcting her tone or her behavior, do the no criticism day. Make it a challenge. Only affirm her. When you get really good affirming her, you'll actually fall in love with her more. And trust me, if you fall in love with her more, her playfulness will return.
