Every couple has them. Those tasks neither of you wants to do. They hang over you, needing to be done. But they’re tedious, annoying, intimidating, or simply unpleasant. Sometimes they even cause tension in your relationship.
However, marriage is about being a team. There’s no reason why that formidable to-do list has to get the best of you. Here are some simple ways you can tackle those tasks together. Read More
Do you and your spouse share interests or hobbies? If so, that’s great! Spending quality time together doing things you both enjoy probably comes easily to you. This is a relationship strength that will help you stay connected and nurture your friendship throughout your marriage. But what if your interests don’t converge? Are you doomed to drift apart? We don’t think so. In fact, maintaining separate interests and your individual sense of identity can be good for your relationship, too. It’s all about balance.
Let’s explore some tips for staying connected when you don’t share many interests. Read More
In an ideal world, you and your spouse get to enjoy a weekly date night and ample time each day to check in and connect. Reality looks different. Depending on your season of life, you might be lucky if you get a date night every couple months and a few minutes of quiet after the kids the are in bed – and before you’re both ready for bed, too. Even if things aren’t that hectic for you right now, sometimes you’re simply crunched for time. Do you have to sacrifice staying connected? We don’t think so. Here are 10 ways to connect in 10 minutes or less. Read More
How do you celebrate your wedding anniversary? Whether you go big or keep it low-key, an anniversary is something to take pride in. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the past year together in the context of your relationship. One way to make this a meaningful tradition is to ask each other these questions every year. (Consider jotting down your answers in a notebook or journal that you can look back on later!) Read More
What are you in the mood for? No, not for dinner. (Sorry, we can’t help you with that perpetual question.)
We’re talking about date ideas. You might have a go-to, never-fails date routine. If you do, that’s great! But every now and then, it’s good to switch things up. Not only that, but your mood can also have an effect on what kind of activities you gravitate to – and how much you and your spouse enjoy yourselves. Here are 25 date ideas to match your mood. Read More
Brushing your teeth. Staying active. Paying your bills on time. These are small habits that can potentially have a big impact on your wellbeing. If you forget to do them once or twice, it’s probably not the end of the world. But stop doing them altogether, and the results could be less than ideal.
There are similarly small habits that, over time, can greatly affect the vitality of your marriage. You might start out doing them faithfully, then gradually, they become more and more sporadic, until you no longer do them at all. While their absence doesn’t necessarily signal that you no longer love each other, their presence enriches your relationship with a consistent connection and respect that stands the test of time. These are the small habits to hold onto throughout your marriage. Read More
How’s your day going? Maybe everything’s going your way. The sun’s shining, you hit all green lights on your commute, got great feedback from your boss on a big project, and tonight is date night. Or maybe it’s been one of those days – can anything else go wrong? You overslept, spilled your entire mug of coffee, and snapped at your spouse, all before leaving the house – and it didn’t get any better from there.
We’ve all been there. A bad day – or even just a bad start to your day – can throw you off entirely, affecting not only your own mood and wellbeing, but your relationship with your spouse as well. One bad day here and there seems harmless, but if we’re not cognizant of the way we handle them, negative patterns can begin to take hold. So how can you prevent a bad day from coming between you? Here are five tips to consider. Read More
There’s no getting around it.
Having kids changes your relationship. It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard this, and you may have experienced it yourself. We often hear about the negatives – how you have so much less time and energy to focus on each other, how easy it is to become disconnected, how if you’re not careful you can end up like roommates instead of spouses. Yes, these things are a reality for many couples at some point, but fortunately, it’s not the whole story. There are a lot of positive ways that your relationship changes when you become parents, too. Let’s explore some of the ways it can bring you closer as a couple. Read More
There’s certainly some truth to the idea that Valentine’s Day is a manufactured holiday that coerces us to spend oodles of money on special chocolates, lackluster flowers, heart-shaped pizza, and jewelry we’re not even sure we want. A quick internet search will tell you that Americans spend somewhere between $20-30 billion on Valentine’s Day. That’s a lot of money to spend to show your love. And it’s not just money! The holiday brings all kinds of other pressure, too. Pressure to connect, feel close, and be head over heels in love with your partner.
Between that pressure and the money you’ll spend, it’s easy to say to your spouse, “Hey, this year, let’s just skip the whole ‘Valentine’s’ thing. We know we love each other, so let’s save the money and avoid the hoopla.”
But should you? Read More
Whether you’re into making New Year’s resolutions or not, one thing we can agree on is that creating healthy habits, no matter what time of year, is a worthwhile endeavor. And what’s even better than establishing healthy habits on your own? Committing to them with your spouse. You’re not only able to hold each other accountable, you’re also able to encourage and motivate each other to stick with it. This makes the a perfect combination for long-term success! Here are four healthy habits to commit to together: Read More
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