15 Quick Lessons I’ve Learned in Marriage
During my married life, I’ve learned some lessons the hard way, over the course of weeks and months. Other things, however, I’ve picked up on quickly. These lessons range from silly to serious but are important to share. So, here are just a few quick lessons learned over my time as a spouse.
1. Your bedroom should be a no cell phone zone. Buy an alarm clock and talk to your spouse before going to bed.
2. Document the time you spend together with pictures and videos. I love going back and looking at all of the pictures my husband and I have together.
3. Almost anything can be a date if you make it one. Milkshake date to McDonald’s, football date on a Friday night, grocery shopping date – all wonderful ideas.
4. If you need help with housework, it’s a lot easier to ask your spouse for help instead of drowning in it by yourself.
5. Most of the time, saying yes works out better than saying no. It can be hard to be flexible and train yourself to say yes.
6. Investing in an activity the two of you can do together is worth the cost. Take up something like dance lessons, board games, or biking.
7. Create a budget and stick to it. It’s a pain, but again, worth it.
8. On the same note, talk about your budget and spending habits every month. My husband and I do this over a few margaritas or glasses of wine.
9. Laughing with your spouse is way better than being serious all the time.
10. If you don’t have anything to laugh about, there are plenty of silly movies out there. Some of my favorites include Sharknado, The Master of Disguise, and Titanic II.
11. Spending time with friends is important. Make sure you and your spouse are both doing this regularly.
12. Kiss your spouse and tell them “I love you,” every day. You will lose connection quickly if you don’t.
13. Show sympathy if your spouse is having a bad day. Ask them if they want to talk about it or if there is anything you can do to make it better.
14. Never speak poorly about your spouse. Venting to others, even close family or friends, is only going to undermine your relationship. If you have a problem, talk to your spouse directly or consider counseling.
15. Your relationship with your spouse is the most important thing. Everything else should take second place.