{
  "id": 5322699,
  "title": "Low-effort relationships: We are simply too exhausted to love",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/low-effort-relationships-we-are-simply-too-exhausted-to-love",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T03:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/low-effort-relationships-we-are-simply-too-exhausted-to-love/articleshow/133678170.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amit Mehra, a software engineer from Gurugram, has been attempting to arrange a quiet evening with his wife, Sonali, for the past five months. They are both 14 years into their marriage and have noticed a growing sense of distance between them. Amit believes they have both become accustomed to putting in the bare minimum to maintain their relationship — perhaps an occasional dinner or movie outing — but the gap seems to remain. Experts are referring to this as a \"low-effort relationship,\" as couples are unable to find the energy to nurture their love.\n\nThis phenomenon is not due to couples losing interest in each other, but rather they have expended their energy. Burnout, which is common in work settings, is increasingly affecting personal relationships. Instead of dramatic arguments or betrayals, relationships are fading away over time.\n\nA brand collaborator, Ankita Sharma, and a clinical nutritionist, Dr Ananya Bhowmik, have both observed this trend among their own relationships and those around them. Sharma described a situation where she feels unable to address her relationship issues, fearing a confrontation. Bhowmik explained that this low-effort relationship is the result of burnout, which can lead to physical symptoms such as a loss of appetite or emotional eating. The spark of happiness that once defined their relationship seems to be gone.\n\nDr Bhowmik suggested that the issue lies in the difference between real human interaction and the simulated experiences provided by social media. When couples see highlights of other's lives on social media, they may perceive those moments as happiness, even if they do not feel the same connection themselves. This is also linked to the impact of burnout, as the constant stimulation from work and life responsibilities leaves little energy for nurturing relationships.\n\nExperts emphasize that low-effort relationships are not a conscious choice, but a consequence of living in a continuously connected world. Maintaining intimacy and connection requires small, everyday acts, but in today's fast-paced society, couples find it increasingly difficult to find the time and energy for these small gestures.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}