5 Habits that Will Make Your Marriage Last

Whether you've been married for ten years or more, or you're just about to tie the knot, knowing how to make a marriage work is incredibly important. Divorce rates, while not as high as they were even a few years ago, are still staggeringly high, especially in the first few years of marriage. The truth is, it can be difficult to live with the same person every day for the rest of your life. Their habits will no longer seem endearing, but frustrating instead. While this is unavoidable, there are a few habits that you can set in place now to ensure your future success.

Keep Yourself Healthy

One common thing to see among couples who've been married for a long time is a deterioration in their health. Either they've both grown obese or they've gotten a health condition that affects their quality of life. Even though you're no longer trying to draw in a mate, it's important to look good still, not only for your spouse but for yourself. Start and maintain an exercise program, eat healthy whole foods, and take supplements like Ceylon cinnamon capsules to manage any already existing health conditions.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

You've probably heard the advice to never go to bed angry, usually given by older couples who know what they're talking about. Be sure to communicate, in a gentle and non-accusatory manner, anything that weighs heavy on your mind. Don't shut your partner down, talk to your friends or family instead, or give the cold shoulder. Let them be your confidant in all matters of your life, both positive and negative. Lean on them, and let them do the same on you.

Have Your Own Hobbies and Social Life

It can be tempting to make your spouse your everything and lose who you once were. Don't let this happen because it can breed resentment and a lack of satisfaction. Keep up relationships with your friends and family. Start a hobby if you don't already have one, and respect that your partner will also need time apart. It will give you more to talk about at night, and the increased happiness levels will make it easier to show kindness to your lover.

Make Plans and Goals Together

Even with your own hobbies and interests, it's still important that you work as a team. Sit down with your partner and discuss your goals and visions for your life together. Daydream and make concrete plans. Together, you can tackle them and live a life you could only have dreamed of before marriage. It will help you bond, and seeing each other as partners will strengthen your resolve to stick with your marriage, even during hard times.

Make Time for Each Other

Lastly, carve out time in your busy schedules to be the couple you were when you first got together. Once children come along, this will be even more important. Go on dates every now and then, even take a weekend away if it's feasible. Spend an evening together watching a movie snuggled up together, or go for a long hike in the fresh spring air. Whatever you both enjoy, spend time doing together.

When you first got with your sweetheart, it seemed like everything about them was perfect. No human is perfect, however, and once the rose-colored glasses are slid off your face, it can be hard to cope. Follow these five habits, though, and you'll likely pull through it all with an even stronger love than you had before. Things might not always be smooth sailing, but that's to be expected. Marriage is hard work, but oh so worth it.