So you just got into a long-term marriage with the love of your life and are wondering if it will last. Marriage is beautiful; don’t let anyone’s opinion discourage you. You get a companion, a best friend, and someone to share your joys and sorrows with.
Your marriage can give you a joyful and fulfilling experience. However, it takes commitment and the willingness to make it work. You are bound to face some rough times and differences, but it is all part of getting to know each other.
Excited to change your last name? According to UpdateMyName.com, it can take time to update your name on your Social Security card, driver’s license and passport. A complete name change may take up to two months.
With the spouse of your dreams and possibly a new name, here’s how to keep the fire burning in your marriage:
To get started on building a healthy and happy marriage, why not outsource most paperwork? Skip the hassle related to the marriage name change and. Simply use a marriage name change service. You can then focus on building a strong foundation in your relationship using these eight tips.
1) Keep the Intimacy Alive
With pregnancy, the arrival of the kids, and increased bills, intimacy tends to die among many marriages. This could spell doom for the relationship. Focus on not just physical intimacy but emotional intimacy as well. You will feel both safe and connected in the marriage.
Don’t let familiarity breed boredom. Exchange flirty texts during the day. Welcome your spouse with a kiss at home. Aim to have sex at least once a week, even when you don’t feel like it. Create date nights and look good for each other. Don’t forget to compliment your partner.
2) Do Things Together
In this social media era, most couples are always engrossed on their phones, hardly paying attention to each other. Some get home late after work and leave early in the morning.
Such couples hardly spend time together. This slowly kills the friendship and the connection weakens.
Create a rule where gadgets are turned off or put far away when doing certain activities. Avoid scheduling any work or meetings on weekends. Create and spend more quality time with your partner.
Go out. Try new activities. Come home early enough to cook dinner together. And simply be with your partner and strive to make each other happy.
3) Compromise When Necessary
You probably made a lot of sacrifices when dating your partner. In marriage, you should do it more. Selfishness can destroy a happy marriage. What makes you happy might not do the same to your partner. Things don’t always have to go your way.
For instance, you may hate football. But if your partner loves it, learn something about the sport and watch some games together. Let them do the same when it comes to hobbies that matter to you.
Learn to be kind to each other. Always think of one thing daily that you could do to make your spouse happy. Compromising shows that you care.
4) Fight Well
You cannot avoid fights, but how you do it can affect the happiness of your marriage. Turning fights into silent treatments destroys your love. And it could turn into emotional abuse. Name-calling and giving ultimatums is equally bad.
Learn to communicate respectfully about your feelings, without being overly critical or attacking them angrily. Have one rule; never to go to bed angry. Don’t bring old fights into new fights.
Listen to your partner. Understand why they are mad. Let them feel heard. If you have different fighting styles, come to an agreement. If one of you likes to take some space first while the other prefers to resolve it immediately, give yourselves a few hours, then talk about it.
5) Be Open about Finances
Money-related issues are among the top reasons that people get divorced.
Most people are sensitive about money, and if you and your partner have opposing views, things could get nasty. One partner could be a spender while the other is a saver, or one prefers an extravagant lifestyle while the other loves simple things.
To be in a happy marriage in spite of heavy differences on this, consider financial counseling. If sharing a bank account is causing problems, do away with it. Be open to each other about debts, income, and other financial commitments.
When it comes to joint spending such as purchasing a house, communicate your preferences and get to a happy medium.
6) Agree on a Parenting Style
Disagreements about parenting have broken countless marriages. Resentment can develop when one partner feels that the other is not involved enough, is too strict, or inconsistent in their parenting method. It can lead to an unhappy marriage.
It’s never too late to agree on a parenting strategy. Create the rules together so that you are on the same page. Discuss the discipline measures for breaking these rules.
Address every issue together, including how much allowance your children will get, or when they can date. And avoid arguing with your partner in front of the kids.
7) Do Not Lose Yourself in the Marriage
Although two become one in a marriage, this does not mean you should spend every waking moment together. You still need to spend time with your family and friends. You need to pursue your passions. But again, they should not overshadow your marriage. Find the perfect balance.
Build each other and be the best versions of yourselves. Do not lose your friends. Create time to hang out with them once in a while. Schedule some me-time and relax, meditate, or do take care of your spiritual walk.
Losing essential parts of yourself for the marriage could lead to resentment and lack of contentment.
8) Be Honest With Each Other
Honesty is crucial for any healthy relationship. It is hard to rebuild broken trust, and this could compromise the happiness in your long-term marriage.
Although admitting your mistakes to your partner may be embarrassing, they would rather hear it from you than learn of your actions on their own. If you overspent on your credit card, admit it. And avoid lies of any kind.
Be sincere about your feelings and reactions. If the sex is not good for you, be honest about it and find ways to spice things up together. Your actions should always match your words. If your partner makes you angry, respectfully express your feelings. Don’t make a sarcastic comment.
You can have a happily ever after if you are willing to put in the work. Spend time together. Do the little things that keep the fire in your long-term marriage burning. Find something to make them feel special every day and create time to be together. Make compromises and respect your partner even during fights.
Be honest about your feelings and actions. Discuss every aspect of the marriage and respect each other’s independence. Consistently use these tips and you can have a healthy marriage for life.
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Photos are courtesy of perfectmoment.net.au.
BIO: Wedding photography expert Jeffrey Wang has his own wedding photography studio in Sydney Perfect Moment Photography. He helped hundreds of couples to capture their love stories and the raw emotions and spirit behinds the weddings. In his free time, he writes about love stories, venues and photography tips for known wedding blogs around the globe.
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