Top 10 Ways to Save Your Marriage

There are several problems that can arise during your marriage. In fact, several problems are likely to arise, but they do not have to spell divorce. If you are willing to try some of these simple acts, you will find that the adversities that are encountered in life do not have to manifest in your marriage.

1. Create a Hierarchy for Your Time Together and Apart.
   Even though your togetherness and intimacy with regard to shared interests is important, it is also important to have an outside life of your own. Respect the interests of your significant other and experience a stronger relationship.

2. Be Critical of Your Spouse, Gently.
   Try not to be overly judgmental. When you criticize, do it as you would want to be criticized yourself. Be gentle, so that feelings are not hurt, the intent should be positive rather than negative.

3. Date Your Spouse.
   Spend leisure time doing things that you share an interest in, plan weekend getaways together without the kids, commit to a weekly date night, and make it unbreakable. All of the other important things in your life that take time away from your marriage will seem much less important if they result in divorce because you forgot to spend time with your spouse. It is common that men and women who work in high stress positions consider their time spent at work, time spent for their spouse, unfortunately the spouse left out seldom feels the same.

4. Don’t Forget To Be a Couple.
   Don’t let the children destroy the sanctity of your marriage. While the needs of a child can certainly change the dynamics of your relationship, accept that your child(ren) will have, and create, problems from time to time. Make sure that you create alone time for you and your spouse so that problems with the child(ren) don’t beget problems between you and your spouse.

5. Marriage is a Partnership of Two.
   It is important that you remember that in your marriage you are making decisions that impact both you and your spouse. Make sure that when making major life decisions that you discuss matters beforehand with your spouse. Listen to what your spouse says, and when you have a disagreement work toward a compromise.

6. Finance Matters.
   Develop a budget. Plan for the future together, you and your spouse should feel vested in the relationship. Financial matters are a common point of conflict in marriage, so if you create a financial plan together you are likely to experience less conflict.

7. The Rules of Engagement Apply.
   Be polite. Common manners should not be ignored in your relationship. Apologize when the situation calls for an apology. Habits that your partner finds annoying are easier to live with if you acknowledge them when you identify that you’ve created an annoyance. Likewise, say thank you. From time to time say thank you for something large or small, your partner will appreciate your gratitude, and you might even find that you are grateful for something that you didn’t realize.

8. Small Surprises, More Frequently.
   Surprise your spouse with a gift, or a surprise dinner. This small action can make you feel good, and will certainly make your spouse happy. When coupled with an apology or thanks (see above) the sentiment is magnified.

9. Communicate With Your Spouse.
   A marriage cannot survive with superficial conversation. You and your spouse should communicate your deep feelings, hopes and dreams. There are times when spouses are afraid to explain their desire to change employment, further their education, or relocate. Communication of such desires might divert feelings of despair and depression.

10. Be Faithful.
    Infidelity is a common cause of divorce. Adultery is not the only form of infidelity, if you are hiding something from your spouse it is likely that you are being unfaithful to the marriage agreement. Honesty is very important in marriage, and hiding facts is not a form of honesty, it is a form of dishonesty. Be forthcoming with information, so that your spouse is never surprised by outside information.