Real Marriage the Real Thing

Marriage takes work, but its the real thing.

This is the fifth instalment in our series of posts focused on marriage. We started with a look at six benefits of marriage, followed by an analysis of the Honeymoon period and beyond, the art of compromise and last week was the two traits that are scientifically proven to ensure a long, happy marriage. How to not only stay together, but to make sure that ‘happily ever after’ is actually how the story goes? This week we have 50 specific tips on areas to work on, from successfully married people.

1. Trusting each other

2. Same sense of humour

3. Always being honest with each other

4. Remember birthdays and anniversaries

5. Accepting each other’s faults

6. Compromising

7. Saying ‘I love you’ regularly

8. Knowing when to say sorry

9. Being able to laugh at each other

10. Having a similar outlook on life

11. Regular hugs/cuddles

12. Always kiss each other goodnight

13. The occasional romantic gesture

14. Considering your partner to be your best friend

15. Sharing the parenting duties and chores

16. Always kiss each other goodbye in the mornings

17. Having some shared hobbies and interests

18. Always talk about a problem rather than bottling it up

19. Ask each other about their day, then really listen

20. Regular sex

21. Having some different hobbies and interests

22. Knowing when to give each other some space

23. Never going to sleep on an argument

24. Regular holidays/mini breaks

25. Having similar aims and ambitions

26. Having the odd argument or disagreement

27. Continuing to make an effort to look nice for your partner

28. Getting on with each other’s family

29. Setting aside quality time for each other

30. Holding hands when you are out and about

31. Regularly complimenting each other

32. Having your own friends as well as mutual friends

33. Two TVs in the house

34. Getting on with each other’s friends

35. Each having a car

36. Still shaving/grooming

37. Each having equal share of the lie-ins when you have children

38. Separate bank accounts

39. Having regular nights out with friends, without your partner

40. Surprise gifts/presents such as flowers

41. Not being friends with ANY ex-partners on Facebook

42. A rota to divide up the household chores

43. Regular date nights

44. Two bathrooms/toilets

45. Not having one person hogging the remote control

46. Similar working hours

47. Knowing each other’s passcode for their phone

48. A secret stash of cash they know nothing about

49. Keeping some things private (not going to the toilet in front of each other etc)

50. A night or two a week where neither of you use computers/laptops/phones etc 

…via Secrets to a happy marriage are honesty, compromise and having TWO of everything | Daily Mail

Hopefully by trying to keep these suggestions in mind, and in a perfect world, you will avoid arguments. However, the truth is that there are always going to be issues, both large and small, about which couples disagree. To address this our next post in this series will be on conflict resolution in a marriage, looking at how most couples make decisions and how they actually should be making them.