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Photo: LovewithClarity.com

It is no secret that it takes more than just love to keep a marriage strong and healthy. Obviously strong feelings for each other is a necessity, but with the many responsibilities of life, fitting in quality time with your significant other can definitely take a backseat. Luckily there are countless ways to give your relationship the care and attention it needs to last. Best of all, a lot of them don’t require a huge change in your daily schedule or a lot of money. Here are 7 simple ways to keep your relationship strong and healthy.

1. Greet each other when you come home

First things first, say “hello”. This may sound like a cliché, but making sure that you greet your spouse when they come home is important. It lets your partner know that you are happy to see them and often translates to “I missed you.”

Let’s face it, it can be pretty disappointing when you show up to an event and no one greets you or seems to care that you’ve even arrived. The same goes for when your spouse gets home, so don’t forget to greet them with a loving “hello” followed by a sweet kiss! Even just spending a few minutes doing some daily activities greatly increases your relationship’s happiness, Cratedwithlove expressed.

2. Stay connected through communication

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Photo: Piyushtiwari087.blogspot.com

Good communication is a fundamental part of a healthy relationship. When you experience a positive emotional connection with your partner, you feel safe and happy. When people stop communicating well, they stop relating well, and times of change or stress can really bring out the disconnect. It may sound simplistic, but as long as you are communicating, you can usually work through whatever problems you’re facing.

3. Tell your partner what you need, don’t make them guess.

It’s not always easy to talk about what you need. For one, many of us don’t spend enough time thinking about what’s really important to us in a relationship. And even if you do know what you need, talking about it can make you feel vulnerable, embarrassed, or even ashamed. But look at it from your partner’s point of view. Providing comfort and understanding to someone you love is a pleasure, not a burden, according to Helpguide.org.

4. Surprise them – and not just on their birthday!

Who said surprises must be saved only for holidays and birthdays? It’s time to take it one step further than the annual birthday cakes and Valentine’s Day cards. We’re talking about out of the blue surprises! A small gift just because "when I saw this I thought of you" or a surprise date. You can even leave a love note on the seat of your partner’s car one morning.

A simple "Love you, have a great day" with a few hearts here and there may seem a bit juvenile or silly. But hey, the lovey acts of kindness and romance worked at the beginning of the relationship, right? Well they still do the trick after years of marriage!

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Photo: Blog.vinovisit.com

5. Do not try to change your partner.

Accept that you can only change yourself, not your partner. This is perhaps the hardest but most important tenet of a solid relationship. You should never enter a relationship with the plan to "fix" your partner. You need to accept the fact that your partner may never change, and be okay with that. To do otherwise is a guaranteed way to frustrate yourself and alienate your partner, Wikihow added to the tip list. Love them for who they are.

6. Use the word “we”.

Tamar Chansky, Ph.Dexplains that researcher Robert Levenson and his colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, found that couples who use the word “we” when talking are happier, calmer, and in general are more satisfied with their relationships than couples whose communication is more populated by the pronouns “you”, “me” and “I”.

Dr. Chansky explains that the word “we” is a game changer. It sets off a program of connectedness in the brain so that instead of being in a “you vs. me” mindset, we’re in a collaborative mindset. This collaborative mindset makes us more loving and generous, noted by Daringtolivefully.

7. Keep your fights clean.

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Photo: PictureHD.com

In the course of all relationships there will be disagreements. This is normal. But how you handle these disagreements reflects on the health of your relationship. Disagreements are not the time to air every grievance you have ever had. Disagreements are also not the time to "get even" with your partner by hurting them emotionally. Disagreements are a time to discuss your different views as they relate to the problem at hand and work towards a mutual solution.

Conclusion

Maintaining your relationship can often be viewed as just another task on our never-ending to-do lists. It’s the small, consistent habits that keep your bond strong over the years. With these 10 simple tips, you will not only strengthen your relationship – you will also make it fun, exciting, and something to look forward to!

If you find the abovementioned information effective and useful, share it to your friends, thank you.

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