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Jun 14
Love0
Engagement Through The First Year - A Newlywed Guide - Part 2

Engagement Through The First Year: A Newlywed Guide – Part 2

By Relationship Basics One Comment

So you got married in the past year, and everything is going just great! You thought you knew everything about your spouse, but you find yourselves still learning new things about each other. You wouldn’t complain about a thing. Well, maybe one or two things. A handful at the very most. (Psst. It’s okay if things haven’t been perfect. In fact, it’s normal! We shed some light on some of the common conflicts that couples face in the first year of marriage in Part 1 of our Newlywed Guide, which you can read here.)

However, not every challenge comes in the form of a conflict needing to be resolved. Much of the journey that you’ve started on is an ongoing sense of growth and learning. You’re figuring out what makes each other (and yourselves) tick and learning what that means for your relationship. How do you manage your innate differences? Maintain balance? Stay connected and keep growing together? Let’s explore. Read More

Jun 07
Love0
Engagement Through The First Year - A Newlywed Guide - Part 1

Engagement Through The First Year: A Newlywed Guide – Part 1

By Premarital, Relationship Basics 4 Comments

The period of engagement through the first year or two of marriage is quite a ride. You and your spouse – and your relationship – go through a lot of changes and transitions. Leading up to the wedding, you might feel overwhelmed with questions and decisions, not just about the big day, but for your future together. Once you’re married, new challenges arise, new issues develop, and new conflicts erupt (or existing ones take on a new dimension). While you can never fully know what this period will be like for you and your new spouse, you can be prepared so that you’re not completely caught off guard when that honeymoon feeling starts to fade just a bit. Luckily, this newlywed guide has you covered. Read More

May 31
Love0
10 Easy Ways to Amp Up Date Night Fun

10 Easy Ways to Amp Up Date Night Fun

By Connection, Quality Time 6 Comments

So you’ve been intentional about making date nights a regular thing, and it’s paying off – that’s great! You’ve done such a good job of making it part of your routine that it actually requires less effort now… so what’s the problem? Well, maybe things have gotten a little too routine. You tend to fall back on the same plans. While there’s definitely nothing wrong with that, you might welcome some simple ways to inject some novelty and fun into your same old, same old. Luckily, we’ve got ten easy ways to amp up the level of fun on your next date. Read More

May 24
Love0
6 Reasons to Have a Weekly Family Meeting

6 Reasons to Have a Weekly Family Meeting

By Family & Friends, Parenting 5 Comments

Did you have family meetings when you were a kid? Were they a regular occurrence or only when there was a crisis or situation that warranted it? Depending on your experience, your feelings about them might range from fond memories to dread. But the truth is, family meetings don’t have to be something tied to negative connotations or memories for your own family.

Establishing a weekly family meeting can have a lot of great benefits for both individual members and the family as a whole. Here are 6 reasons to start one: Read More

May 17
Love0
5 Things to Consider Before Venting About Your Spouse

5 Things to Consider Before Venting About Your Spouse

By Relationship Basics 6 Comments

A coworker who’s getting on your nerves, a flaky friend who bailed on you again, a nightmarish experience at a local restaurant – everyone’s got things to vent about. Chances are, your spouse is one of the first people you turn to when you need to gripe.

But…what happens when your spouse is the thing you want to complain about? In some situations, you might share your grievances with them directly (which can actually be productive when done right). Other times, you may find yourself venting to someone else, like a close friend or a family member.

It seems common enough. We see it in TV and movies all the time, someone sharing their marital frustration with a captive audience of friends or coworkers who are eager to dish out advice, validation, and even judgment. But in real life, this habit might not be as harmless to your relationship as it seems. Here are 5 things to consider before venting about your spouse. Read More

May 10
Love0
6 Types of Rituals to Maintain in Your Marriage

6 Types of Rituals to Maintain in Your Marriage

By Connection 16 Comments

Is that quick goodbye kiss before you part ways in the morning really critical to the success of your marriage?

It might seem small and inconsequential, but in the context of relationship rituals, it can actually be quite meaningful. Much research has shown that rituals have an overwhelmingly positive effect on marriage. They create and nurture connection, shared meaning, and a sense of stability in your bond. They act as constant relational touch points that help you stay tethered to each other and your unique identity as a couple – in the midst of your busy lives.

Chances are, you already have many rituals in your marriage that formed naturally. While you might not have put much thought into creating them, a bit of intention and awareness doesn’t hurt when it comes to sustaining them over time. Here are 6 types of rituals to maintain (or create) in your marriage: Read More

May 03
Love0
Getting Aligned When You Disagree

Getting Aligned When You Disagree

By Conflict 2 Comments

Is there an issue that you and your spouse seem to perpetually disagree on?

If it’s a minor, superficial thing – how to correctly load the dishwasher or whether the toilet paper should go over or under – it’s probably no big deal. You might have a good-natured debate about it or tease each other about doing it wrong. At the end of the day, no one is losing sleep over it.

But what happens when you simply can’t reach agreement on a bigger issue, one that has a significant impact on your marriage and family? While you might try avoiding the topic, more than likely you’ll need to face it. And if you’ve never been able to see eye to eye on it, that can feel daunting, frustrating, and disheartening. You might find yourself wondering, “Where do we go from here? Will we always fight about this? Is it going to damage our relationship?”

Luckily, there are ways to break this stalemate and begin working toward a resolution together. The key is working toward alignment – not total agreement. Unsure how to start moving in that direction? Here are some tips. Read More

Apr 26
Love0
25 Quick Marriage Pick-Me-Ups

25 Quick Marriage Pick-Me-Ups

By Relationship Basics 5 Comments

It’s 2pm on a Wednesday. You’re dragging. Perhaps you’re feeling tired and low on energy, or your motivation and productivity have bottomed out. You need a pick-me-up, stat!

Whether it’s a fancy coffee from your favorite coffeeshop, a walk in nature, or a quick jam-out session in your car, the idea is the same: something small that lifts your mood and gives you a boost of energy.

Does it ever feel like your marriage could use something like this? Maybe you’ve both had a long week and you’re feeling a bit blah. Perhaps you were a bit short with each other as you left the house this morning or the kids have been sick so you’ve missed your last couple date nights. Whatever the reason, sometimes your marriage can use a little pick-me-up, too. Here are 25 quick ideas to try with your spouse. Read More

Apr 19
Love0
4 Priorities for Busy Couples

4 Priorities for Busy Couples

By Connection, Quality Time 2 Comments

Are you busy?

That might sound like a silly question. Nowadays, everyone is relatively busy. Sometimes it’s by choice; other times it’s just the season of life you’re in. Whether it’s with your job, family, hobbies, a side hustle, or simply staying on top of the myriad of tasks that make up daily life, there are countless things that vie for your time, attention, and energy. What effect does this have on your marriage?

The answer shouldn’t come as a surprise. When you’re extra busy, you’re spending less time together, making it easier for distance and complacency to take root. While your level of closeness will ebb and flow throughout the course of your marriage, you can prevent a bigger problem from developing by prioritizing these four things when things get extra busy: Read More

Apr 12
Love0
6 Peacekeepings Tips for Annoying Habits

6 Peacekeeping Tips for Annoying Habits

By Conflict, Relationship Dynamics 6 Comments

Do you always have to leave the cabinet doors open? You’re hogging all the covers again! Shhh, can you just watch the movie instead of asking a million questions? Oh my gosh, you are so indecisive!

If you and your spouse don’t have habits that annoy each other, are you even married? Just kidding… kind of. The truth is, while the habits can vary greatly, the irritation can get real. Sometimes we could all use some extra help in handling them in positive ways. Here are six peacekeeping tips for dealing with those annoying habits. Read More

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