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Ann Malmberg

Man and Woman Having Conversation in the Kitchen

The Best Time to Work on Your Relationship

By Relationship Basics, Resilience5 Comments

Ahh, marriage. What a dream! You and your spouse both feel that your relationship is stronger than ever. Time to sit back, put your feet up, and coast, right? Well, not quite.

Don’t get us wrong. You deserve to relish and enjoy every bit of the joy a happy marriage can bring. However, we don’t recommend adopting the mindset that there’s no room for improvement. In fact, we’d make the argument that the best time to work on your relationship is when things are going great.

If that seems counterintuitive, here are 5 reasons why it makes perfect sense. Read More

March 20, 2024
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Couple reading a book together on the couch

10 Ways to Refresh Your Evening Routine

By Quality Time9 Comments

Bring the kids to their extracurricular activities, pick up the grocery order, rush home, get dinner going, help the kids with homework, scramble through baths and bedtime, clean up the kitchen – phew!

If your evenings are anything like this, it’s understandable if all you want to do is sit down and zone out when you finally get the chance. Whether you both work in or out of the home, have children, pets, or just a busy life in general, those evening hours are often time to relax and unwind before hitting the sack. If you’re sick of settling in for the same old streaming session, here are ten ways to refresh your evening routine. Read More

March 13, 2024
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a couple sitting on a mountain top overlooking a mountain range, cropped to show only chest up

Make These Tweaks to Reach Your Marriage Goals

By Resilience4 Comments

So you and your spouse set about to make some positive changes in your marriage. You’re both feeling motivated, inspired, and capable of reaching these goals together – that’s great! Fast forward a couple months down the road. Are you still chugging along optimistically?

It’s okay if the answer is no. You’re not alone if that initial energy has worn off, your progress has faltered, or you’ve given up altogether. Truth be told, this is common when working towards anything – whether it’s completing a DIY home project or achieving your marriage goals. When you encounter some kind of obstacle or setback, it’s easy to get discouraged, lose motivation, or resign yourself to the idea that things can’t change – which often leads to giving up.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way! We’ve got some simple tweaks you can make to help you keep going and achieve the positive changes you’re striving for in your marriage. Read More

March 6, 2024
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Couple talking on a scenic overlook

5 Reasons You Don’t Feel Like a Team

By Relationship Basics, Relationship Dynamics2 Comments

Do you and your spouse feel like a team? Or does it seem like something is getting in the way of that lately? It’s not unusual to go through periods where things are just out of sync between you. It can feel like you’re constantly at odds or working against each other, even if it’s not intentional. What’s going wrong? The reality is, sometimes you can fall into habits that shift the dynamic of your relationship in ways that gradually dissolve a team mentality. Here are five reasons you might not be feeling like a team and some tips for renewing that bond: Read More

February 28, 2024
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The Hidden Complexities of Household Tasks

By Relationship Dynamics6 Comments

Figuring out who does what around the house can sometimes seem like the more practical, straightforward part of a marriage. You can write down a list of tasks, divide them up, and check them off when you’re done. Simple as that! Or is it?

For some couples, a harmonious division of household responsibilities comes naturally with few issues. For others, it can be an ongoing source of conflict and resentment. For many, it falls somewhere in between. It turns out that several factors make running a household more complicated than it seems. Let’s dive into some of them. Read More

November 29, 2023
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4 Ways Gratitude Helps You Be a Better Spouse

4 Ways Gratitude Helps You Be a Better Spouse

By Relationship Basics10 Comments

If there was one thing you could add to your life that was proven to boost your marriage satisfaction and overall happiness, would you do it? Count us in!

Well, the good news is this magic ingredient does actually exist – it’s gratitude. A wealth of research has been done on the topic showing that gratitude has a positive effect on social, emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing. It makes sense then, that this carries over into marriage and relationships as well. Want to know how gratitude can help you be a better spouse? Keep reading. Read More

November 15, 2023
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6 Ways to Prep Your Marriage for the Holiday Season

By Resilience2 Comments

When it comes to “holiday season prep,” you probably think about all the tasks and to-do’s you need to complete. Decorating, baking, shopping, cleaning, inviting, traveling – whether you do it all or just a little, it can be a hectic time. Nonetheless, a lot of effort and energy goes into it every year.

Have you ever considered how you can prep your marriage for this time of year? We know, you’re probably thinking, “Isn’t that just another thing to get done?” But hear us out. Preparing your marriage as you head into this stressful season gives you a strong foundation to lean on during what can be a relationship-straining time. Here are six ways to prep your marriage for a harmonious holiday season. Read More

November 8, 2023
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Social Media & Marriage: 5 Essential Tips

By Relationship Basics3 Comments

Social media has become so pervasive that it’s hard to even remember what it was like without it. These days, it almost takes more intention and effort to avoid it than to join in. Friends and family use it for events and parties; it’s where all the latest trends seem to pop up, and people even gain celebrity status just by sharing their lives on it.
It begs the question: what impact has it had on marriages and relationships? While there are probably a few positives, one could argue that the effects skew pretty negative. The good news, of course, is that you can avoid this outcome. Here are five essential tips to ensure that social media doesn’t harm your marriage. Read More

November 1, 2023
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5 Signs You're Growing as a Couple

5 Signs You’re Growing as a Couple

By Resilience2 Comments

How do you know something is growing? Sometimes it’s concrete and measurable: You can compare your child’s current height to last year’s measurement. Or you can see that your tiny sprout has now outgrown the pot it was planted in. Other times, there is less visual evidence. For example, how do you know if you’ve grown personally or in your marriage? Although it’s harder to see on the surface, recognizing growth can be important. It gives you confidence, encouragement, and motivation to keep striving for better – to keep putting effort into the things that matter. Here are five signs you’re growing as a couple. Read More

October 25, 2023
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5 Underrated Ways to Validate Your Spouse

5 Underrated Ways to Validate Your Spouse

By Relationship Dynamics13 Comments

“I couldn’t believe he said that to me! I was so mad!”

“I think you’re overreacting, he probably didn’t mean it that way.”

Have you ever shared your thoughts with your spouse, but their response left you feeling dismissed, criticized, or unheard? It can make you feel small or invisible – the opposite of how you should feel in interactions with your partner. This speaks to the importance of validation, of helping each other feel heard, understood, and that your thoughts and feelings are valued. It’s usually not the first thing that comes to mind when we think of the crucial components of a healthy relationship but without it, trust and intimacy will be largely lacking. So here are five underrated ways to validate your spouse. Read More

October 18, 2023
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