Keeping a marriage alive is a full-time job. It's hard to do everything you need to keep your relationship going strong, and sometimes we let little things slip. We all want to have a happy marriage, but sometimes, we just don't know how to make it happen.
Boosting your marriage quality seems like a daunting task, but it's really not. If you take it one day and one step at a time, your marriage can be absolutely incredible in no time. Here are nine ways to help your marriage be awesome:
1. Write about your problems
A study from Northwestern University looked at 120 couples over the span of two years and found that the couples who wrote about their arguments from a "third-party" point of view were happier in their relationship.
After the argument was in the past, the researchers asked the participants to write about the argument for seven minutes. They were often able to gain new insights on their arguments and see their spouse's point of view.
2. Write about the great things
Whenever your sweetheart does something nice for you, write it down. Try to write at least one or two things every day, and you'll realize how much they really do for you and your family. After you've done this for a few days, share with your spouse how appreciative you are for them and all the wonderful things he does for you.
3. Go to bed together
When you were newlyweds, you probably looked forward to crawling in bed and going to sleep with your sweetheart. But now that your schedules are different and you're both busy with life, going to bed at the same time probably isn't on your mind. Getting in bed together can give you a little extra time with each other and help improve your relationship quality.
4. Apologize and forgive over and over
There's no getting around it - you and your spouse will fight. You'll both do things you regret, and you'll probably hurt each other a few times in your lives. But when this happens, you have to apologize, forgive and move on. Learn from your mistakes, and use them to make your marriage stronger.
5. Make an effort to improve yourself
If you don't love yourself, you won't be able to fully love your spouse. Decide what you want to change in yourself and do it! This might take a little time, but when you take care of yourself and feel good about where you're at in life, you can focus your efforts on loving and caring for your sweetheart.
6. Give each other compliments
Everyone loves a sincere compliment - including your spouse. Let your sweetheart know you love her hair today or that he looks amazing in those jeans. Little compliments really can go a long way.
7. Ask each other questions
Make sure you're invested in your spouse and what they're doing. Be interested in their day, and when they talk, make an effort to truly listen. Ask each other questions about your days, the good things that are happening and the hard things you need help with. Knowing what your spouse truly needs will improve your marriage greatly.
8. Say "thank you"
Your spouse does so much for you and your family, and their efforts often go unnoticed. It's easy to overlook the everyday tasks your spouse does, but your family wouldn't be able to function without them. Make an effort to sincerely thank your sweetheart on a regular basis.
9. Always say "I love you"
Even if you don't really like your spouse in the moment, never forget to say "I love you." It's so important for your sweetheart to know that no matter what, you'll always love them and care about them.
If you want to improve your relationship, you can start today by doing one or two of these simple things. Over time, these little things will turn into habits, resulting in an incredible marriage. You'll still have arguments and your marriage won't be perfect, but you'll be so much happier.
