In today’s world, it seems that many people aren’t happy in their marriage. There are so many temptations out there, and we live in a society that sees divorce as an easy way out.
What if I told you that being happily married was possible, and that it isn’t too late to turn your relationship around?
Read on for 30 ways couples can keep their marriages happy – and stop them from falling apart.
Table of Contents
1. Tell them how much you love them.
Make sure to tell them how much they mean to you as often as possible – even when things aren’t going well in the relationship. This is a great way of making them feel cherished, because let’s be honest: no one wants to feel alone or unappreciated.
2. Express your opinions openly.
One of the best ways to foster a healthy relationship is by being open-minded and tolerant. This means that you should be willing to talk about topics like politics, religion, and anything else without getting defensive. Plus, it’ll help them feel validated when they disagree with something, and is a good way to avoid arguments.
3. Allow your spouse to grow as an individual.
It may be frustrating when you find out that your partner is trying to change certain things about themselves. But if they’re willing to put in the effort, it’ll mean a lot to them if you support and show them how much their efforts matter. Make sure to encourage them along the way.
4. Spend some quality time together.
Have fun together instead of always doing separate individual activities, like reading a book or watching television – it’s much more rewarding in the end!
5. Keep an open mind.
Be tolerant and accepting of your partner’s opinions, culture, and background, even if they’re different from yours! A diverse relationship leaves you with a richer, more fulfilling life.
6. Don’t let yourself become complacent.
Just because you’ve been married for 20 years, doesn’t mean that you can stop trying to make your partner happy! You should always be looking out for ways to keep the romance alive and add excitement back into your relationship.
7. Discuss problems as they happen.
There’s never going to be a perfect time or place to bring up an issue, but if it’s small enough, try talking about it right away instead of letting the tension build. Waiting to talk about issues can make things worse later on down the line.
8. Talk about the good times.
No one is perfect, and there will be plenty of opportunities to address any negative issues. But, make sure that you’re not just dwelling on the negatives all day! Take time to talk about what went well yesterday or tell a funny story from your past.
9. Acknowledge your partner’s good qualities.
If you’re feeling down or like your partner isn’t appreciating all that you do, make a list of things they’ve done well. This helps to put everything into perspective, and will remind you that these are things worth being grateful for!
10. Don’t dwell on past mistakes.
Dwelling on what went wrong in the past will only bring negative feelings. Instead, take time to think about how the mistake can serve as an opportunity for learning and growth in the future. Make it a point to forgive each other and learn from the situation so it never happens again.
11. Respect each other’s differences.
If you’re not on the same page, agree to disagree. You don’t have to change your opinion or lifestyle because there’s a disagreement; just respect theirs and see each other as equals!
12. Be kind – even through times of anger.
Don’t be mean to each other in the heat of the moment. Instead, take a step back and ask how you can help your partner work through their frustration or anger. It’s important to practice being kind because it builds intimacy with one another!
13. Keep up with your own hobbies.
Don’t stop doing what you love just because you’re married. You have to take care of yourself so that you can be the best person for them – and vice versa!
14. Find ways to manage stress together.
Take time out from your day to share things like work or school related stresses, and family issues. You’re a team, so it’s important to work together.
15. Don’t forget romance!
It’s normal to not always have romantic feelings. However, it’s important to remember that you are still partners – and it’s going to affect your relationship with them if nothing changes! Make sure to keep the relationship alive, even if it’s just by doing small things – like surprising your spouse with a candle-lit dinner or just bringing a small gift home.
16. Listen more.
When someone talks about their day or what they’re feeling, listen attentively – don’t just wait for the opportunity to speak again. This can be hard when we feel like our partner doesn’t understand where we’re coming from, but listening carefully will show people how much they mean to each other and strengthen the bond between them.
17. Acknowledge each other’s emotions.
It is difficult for others to acknowledge feelings out loud. But, if you’re willing to do that for your spouse, they may feel less alone or misunderstood and share more of their thoughts with you in the future. You’ll build a really strong and secure connection with a sturdy foundation.
18. Don’t rugsweep.
It is common for one person in the relationship to try to ‘fix’ things by pretending like everything’s okay when it really isn’t. This leads to resentment later down the road, and ultimately leads them to believe that being honest about how they feel would only cause pain or ignite a negative reaction from us.
19. Don’t wait for the other person to initiate conversations.
If you’re having a problem that may lead to tension, it’s important not to avoid talking about it. You don’t always have every detail of your partner’s life, so initiating these talks will give them an opportunity to share more – and usually with less conflict or misunderstanding.
20. If one person needs space, let them have it!
Sometimes we just need time alone – especially when there are struggles that are difficult. This allows us to build up the courage, and maybe even find solutions, to work through our own issues.
21. Set the mood.
Make time for intimacy. This can include talking about your days or just snuggling up to watch a favorite TV show together. It can be soothing and calming for both partners, and get you in the mood! Plus if one person is feeling stressed out by something going on at work they may find it relaxing and therapeutic.
22. Stop worrying so much.
Being happy doesn’t always mean being free of worries – which is a lesson that many people have to learn throughout their lives. Find ways to calm down when worries start piling up. Maybe there are things that don’t need immediate attention, such as “What will others think?” or “What do I wear today?”.
23. Know that you’re not perfect.
It’s okay to be the most imperfect person in the world – because it gives a chance for more love and understanding. It’s important to learn ways you can improve and grow together, instead of waiting around or expecting too much out of someone else right away.
A marriage should always grow with time, so don’t worry about what could go wrong tomorrow.
24. Show physical affection.
Every couple needs some form of intimacy every day, otherwise there can start to be feelings of resentment and distance between each other. Whether this includes kissing, cuddling, sex or just holding hands while walking together, do whatever feels right – just don’t forget to do it regularly.
25. Don’t put pressure on each other.
You may be pushing an agenda faster than they’re comfortable with. In fact, there should be a mutual understanding for how someone is feeling, and without that, it’s hard to carry on forward.
Instead of trying to get too close or further away from each other through either drastic or passive actions, let the relationship run its course by not pushing for anything in particular. You’ll eventually meet where you’re supposed to be.
26. Don’t just settle down with whoever comes along
Set standards high so that your partner has something worth working towards! When you’re with the correct person, you are giving yourself the best chance at a happy marriage. Marrying the wrong person is a recipe for disaster.
On a similar note, make sure you agree on the important issue before getting married. This includes the topic of whether you will have children or not.
27. Break free of your past
You can’t go back and change things that are already done. There is always a new day ahead, so try not to dwell on what has happened before. Instead, focus on today’s opportunities.
It takes courage, but making those changes happen is worth it. Forgiveness is also key here, because while some people might have thought they were over their old relationship, there are still residual feelings from the original hurt that need time to heal completely.
Allowing yourself to move forward with healing, rather than staying stuck in resentment, helps others realize how sorry you really are and how much you’ve changed.
28. Don’t wait too long before getting married
The older we get, the harder it becomes to meet new people and start a new relationship. While it’s important to spend time getting to know someone before making any final commitment (especially since marriage is supposed to last for the rest of your life), don’t wait too long or you might regret not having made that leap when you were still in love and full of passion.
29. Don’t forget about each other.
It may seem obvious, but couples often take one another for granted after being together for some time. Be sure to remember what brought the both of you together.
30. Have regular sex.
It might seem like something small, but having regular sex with someone can keep everything from getting stale or feeling too routine – which will make both of you happier overall. Plus, there’s nothing better for relieving stress than some good ol’ fashioned loving. Spice it up a bit by role-playing, or try something new like having a quickie in a public place.
Conclusion
Many married couples seem unhappy or resentful towards each other, even after being together for 30 years. If we’re with someone who makes us feel like nothing will ever change, then it p0robably won’t change. Relationships need work from both sides!
If things start slipping away, it might be a sign that one person has given up on their spouse or just doesn’t care enough anymore. Don’t stop working on your relationship – try these tips and tricks instead, and stay happily married!
