10 Ways To Improve Your Marriage And Make Your Relationship Better

Start making your marriage better today. A marriage is a partnership. And partnerships are only as strong as the health of the relationship between the partners. If you’ve been feeling like your marriage is lacking, hopefully this list will point you in the right direction. Here are 10 ways you can improve your marriage and make your relationship better.

Understand what you need

Your partner wants the same things you do in your marriage. Even if your relationship is terrible right now, you both deserve the same thing – happiness. If you can get an understanding of what you need in your marriage, your partner is sure to want the same things. Get real Before you two get carried away and spend money on things that don’t matter, take a look at the big picture. Talk about the big picture, before you head down the path of self-absorption. Stop putting each other down Everyone knows that to a certain extent, spouses can butt heads. However, if your constant put-downs, jealous outbursts, or unnecessary criticisms are tearing the relationship apart, it’s time for a change. Help one another grow You can’t get better unless you help each other grow.

Ask for what you want

You and your partner should have regular conversations about what you are looking for in a relationship. What do you like to do? What kind of person are you looking for? Ask for what you want. Make sure that your partner knows that you have these desires and intentions. If you go into your conversation saying “I’d like to be with someone who likes to run marathons,” then you are likely to have a conversation that is much more awkward than you may have imagined. Write your priorities down If you and your partner are together with nothing but time on your hands, what would you like to do with your time? Write your top 5 priorities and put them on a piece of paper in the order you would like them done.

Keep the romance alive

This is an obvious one. But we all know what happens when passion and romance take a back seat to the laundry and the kids. Does your partner know that you can be your sexual, fun-loving, spontaneous self? Do you both enjoy flirting, kissing and sexual intimacy together? If not, you need to get out more and give each other some space. Take up an activity that both of you enjoy. Go dancing, explore your interests in the bedroom, visit a swingers club, just be honest with each other and see if you can’t bring back some fun into your lives.

Learn to communicate

Here’s the deal: Communication is the most important part of a healthy relationship. If you feel like you can’t have an open and honest conversation with your partner, this is probably a sign that your communication is broken. The ability to communicate your needs and desires is extremely important to forming strong bonds with others. This includes all aspects of your relationship, from romantic relationships to friendships and family. If you can’t communicate, then chances are, you’ll remain distant from one another. You won’t know where you stand with each other. You won’t know how you feel, and this will likely lead to endless arguments.

Take care of yourself

When you’re with your partner and enjoying a great time together, you don’t have to be stressed about the house or parenting. Be a better partner, and the other half of the partnership will benefit. Do whatever it takes to care for yourself — the time, the money and the love. Nurture your marriage Most couples become more caring and giving during the difficult times. But that nurturing personality can quickly go away, and it’s easy to become resentful and find that the marriage suffers. So take care of your marriage now, and you’ll be better equipped to take care of your children when they get here. Share responsibility Somewhere in the grand scheme of things, your life and the lives of your children won’t be exactly equal.

Put yourself in their shoes

In many relationships, each person looks at the situation from their own angle. The husband is seeing how he’s not doing enough, while the wife is seeing how she’s letting him take on more than his share. With an open mind, you need to put yourself in their shoes. What would they think? How would they act? Establish clear boundaries If your relationship is about love, it’s your job to make sure that love is never taken for granted. You’re working to create a loving and giving environment for your family. But being with them 24/7 (or all the time) means you can’t love them in the way they deserve. You can show love by setting limits, and by being clear about your expectations.

Focus on what you have

It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have in a relationship. But focus on what you DO have and how good it is. If you’re lucky, you have a partner who is as obsessed with you as you are with them. So enjoy that. Don’t take the easy road Sometimes it can be tough to have faith and believe in the other person. But you have to believe that they CAN make you happy. You’re the one who has to make the effort to be happy. That’s hard for some of us, but it’s the right thing to do. Give and take You have to give. You have to give your partner enough of what they want, so that they can have the space they need to do something for you. And you have to be willing to do the same. Don’t expect them to be the only one doing the giving, though.

Give yourself permission to enjoy this

And don’t forget that the number one reason you lose interest in your marriage is that you stop putting effort into it. You have to learn to consciously set aside time and allow yourself to be romanced, show appreciation, and to be the focus of someone’s attention. This will turn your marriage from a partnership into a romance. I know, I know, you’re so busy! But know that every minute counts. Marriage isn’t about the romantic evenings we have together once in a while. It’s about every minute we spend together as a couple, whether we’re actively engaging in marital bliss or fighting with each other. And since, as human beings, we don’t like to argue, it’s important to learn to stop it before it happens. We can’t change how we argue, but we can change the way we argue with each other.

Support them

I know this sounds like a cliché, but the best way to improve your marriage is to love your spouse unconditionally. When your spouse messes up, take their side. When your spouse does something awesome, let them know how proud you are of them. We all need a little encouragement. Invest in them Some of the biggest couples turn to their significant others for money or financial help. Start a dialogue with your spouse about what you can do for them. Rather than expecting your partner to understand that you need money, ask for it. They may surprise you. Practice gratitude Everyone gets bogged down by life, and we forget to appreciate what we have.

Say "Thank You"

Always say thank you. Don’t worry about seeming extra cheesy. There is power in saying, "Thank you." More than enough to prove the point. It shows that you appreciate your spouse. And you do appreciate them. You just don’t always show it. Greet your spouse at the door. Every. Single. Day. Hug them and say goodnight. Touch each other when you don’t have to. Touching shows that you’re in the moment. And you enjoy your partner. Take your partner’s needs into consideration Every. Single. Day. When you’re at the grocery store, pick up some flowers. When you’re watching TV, turn the volume down. When you’re out at a restaurant, let your partner order for himself. Make a special treat just for him. When you’re asking your partner about his day, ask him about yours.