Organizing your wedding is a great challenge, but the hard work truly begins after you’re married. The knot has been tied, the easy-going courtship period has ended, as did your honeymoon. This all might leave you wondering what principles you can try to follow to create a lasting union that will be able to withstand any hardships or the odds stacked against you.
While it might be tempting to check how many marriages end in divorce and try to read up on all the statistics surrounding married couples, you can instead try to focus on learning how to nurture your relationship and make it last. For instance, no marriage can really work well without proper communication and mutual respect. You and your spouse should also learn more about each other’s hobbies and try to explore them together, remember about celebrating special occasions, and make an effort to keep the passion burning.
So, here are four easy habits that will help you nurture your marriage:
Keep Romance Alive
Being married often means that you have to work harder to think about how to keep the passion burning. Romance helps solidify our bond and reminds us of our relative uniqueness to our partners, but it’s easy to brush it aside in all the hustle and bustle of daily life. This might mean that you need to try something new and different because your marriage is no longer “new” and “fresh,” the everyday routine got to the both of you, and you need to come up with new ways to spice things up.
Luckily, keeping the spark alive is easier than you might think. For instance, you can try to do something unexpected for your spouse, take them out for movies or simply prepare a romantic dinner for two at your house.
To keep the passion burning, you can also do things that keep your partner attracted to you and excited to be with you. Try new things in the bedroom, text them something dirty, or set up a hot date. This will remind your partner that they’re loved and appreciated and let them know how much you care about the romantic side of your marriage. However, if you discover that this new-found excitement had some unwanted consequences in the form of a rash or infection, consider getting an STI test kit or schedule a visit to a doctor.
Encourage Open Communication
When you’re in love, it is hard to imagine that eventually, you might start going through any problems or issues. You feel happy, and your spouse seems like the most perfect person on earth. And although this honeymoon phase will fade away after some time, there’s no need to worry about how you will deal with future problems in your marriage.
Instead, you can start making a conscious effort to practice proper and mindful communication with your spouse. Keep in mind that if there’s something bothering you about your partner or the state of your marriage, the worst thing you can do is keep your frustrations inside. Do your best to share your problems with your spouse, encourage them to do the same, and you will learn just how well you can work as a team.
Furthermore, you should never expect your spouse to be a mind reader. Some people might think that their partner will miraculously guess what they want if they don’t do anything. This can lead to disappointing results and hurt feelings. If you have something important to discuss, tell it to your spouse as soon as possible.
Find Common Interests And Hobbies
When you’re married, it’s important that both you and your partner share some common interests. This doesn’t mean that if your spouse is an avid gamer, you need to start playing the same games as they do, but instead, you can ask them to set up a gaming computer for you and play your favorite games together. If one partner likes arts and crafts, the other can help them with easier tasks, like gluing something together or learning to make some simple crafts.
You can also try to find some common ground by learning to cook together and experimenting with new recipes. Overall, you should never underestimate the importance of spending quality time with your spouse. Learning how to enjoy each other’s company while doing the things you both like is essential to strengthen your bond. You can also use this time to tell your spouse about your day and encourage them to do the same.
Don’t Forget About Celebrations
When it comes to nurturing your marriage, don’t forget about one of the essential parts of any relationship – celebrating special occasions! You can celebrate all sorts of events together, such as birthdays, anniversaries, the holidays, and even smaller ones, like the anniversary of the day you first met or when you got engaged.
No matter what kind of party you throw for your spouse, whether it’s a big get-together with all your friends and family, or a small and intimate evening dinner, make sure that you put on some effort and make it unique. Also, don’t forget about creating a romantic ambiance by choosing the right food, music, lighting, and decorations.
In Conclusion
Nurturing your marriage can seem like a challenge at first, but in fact, it’s a lot easier than you might think. Often it is simply a matter of paying attention to the little things and working hard to make sure that both you and your partner are part of the equation. Remember that marriage isn’t just about two people living together, it is also about creating a partnership that will stand the test of time and setbacks.
Therefore, you can make an effort to learn how to communicate with your spouse, try to keep the romance burning, explore each other’s hobbies and interests, and celebrate the occasions that are important to your marriage so both of you can feel appreciated and loved.
