Ingredients For A Successful Relationship

Do you have a Valentine? Research shows that being in a good relationship can not only make you feel better, but it can actually improve your health.

On the other hand, a bad marriage can increase your stress and anxiety level, which can lead to other health problems.

As co-owners of the Queen City Bakery in Sioux Falls, Mitch Jackson and Kristine Moberg work long hours in the sweets business, but behind the scenes they're also sweethearts.

"When people say it's real difficult to work together, for us that's really all we've known," Jackson said.

The two South Dakota natives met in 2002 when they were working together as English teachers in France. They've been married now for eight years.

"We get to work together, but we also have separate roles. Mitch is up front and does the business side, and I'm in the kitchen," Moberg said.

To add to the mix, there's also now a king of the Queen City Bakery: nearly 2- year-old Luca.

While Kristine and Mitch spend plenty of time together, marriage therapist Ann Marie Rossing says the most common problem she sees is that couples don't spend enough time together.

"Couples are so busy trying to make a living and have some life," Rossing said.

That's why Rossing says you need to make it a priority to spend quality time together.

"Eye contact, meaningful touch. Couples, I'm always surprised, don't kiss. They don't hug. There's no meaningful touch," Rossing said.

Rossing says listening is also a key ingredient in any successful relationship.

"The other thing I think is critical is to tell the other person on a daily basis what they appreciate about you," Rossing said.

As for the frosting on the cake of Mitch and Kristine's relationship?

"Compromise is huge. My wife and I are both pretty strong-willed, but you have to have compromise," Jackson said.

"If we're going to stew and brew over stuff, we'd be miserable. So I think that's what it is; disagreeing and moving on," Moberg said.

Some advice from those who aim to make your day a little sweeter.

Another piece of advice from Rossing is to demonstrate your love.  That means doing something for your loved one without him or her asking, like scraping off his windshield when it's frosty or sneaking her favorite candy bar into her purse.