Let’s get one thing straight before I dive into this post:
I am not a Stepford wife.
I am more like a “catch me when you can, honey because I have a long to-do list, two small children, and 10 hours of daylight” kind of wife.
There, I said it. And that’s why I need to these 5 small habits for big strides in my marriage. I tend to forget about the person I sleep next to in bed every night. After another long day, we just kind of teeter out until another day begins. But for married people, our relationship to our spouse is our most important human relationship. So here they go:
5 Small Habits For Big Strides In Your Marriage
Habit #1 Set aside 10-15 minutes of couch time every evening. Spending 10-15 minutes to talk about your day helps you reconnect. Make sure this time is CHILD FREE. If you have children around, give them something to occupy their time during this period. Doing this will show them that the basis of the family is the marriage, not the children.
Habit #2 Ask your spouse if they need help with something. As busy moms, we often hit the ground running each day. It’s easy to forget that marriage is a partnership, and partners need to look out for one another.
Habit #3 Say “Thank you.” Our spouses may do a lot of things for us and the family, but because we’re used to it, we take it for granted. For example, my husband gets the kids ready in the morning before he leaves for work so I can have some uninterrupted writing time. (Yeah, I’m lucky. I know it.) What has your spouse done lately that you haven’t thanked them for?
Habit #4 Schedule in Date Nights. Whether it’s once a week or once a month. Time spent together as a couple (Outside of the house and away from the children) is so important. Months have passed before my husband and I went out on a date, and it took a toll on our marriage. We were just getting through our days and pushing through the dailies of life. Once we scheduled date nights, things changed for the better.
Habit #5 Pay regular compliments. Last week, I got a new pair of high heeled shoes. I rarely wear high heels, but I wanted something different. I chose Aerosoles because they were a combo of cute and comfort. When I wore them for the first time, my husband said:
Husband: “You have a new pair of shoes.”
Me: “Yes. You noticed.”
Husband: “I notice everything about you.”
(Let’s just say I had a strong visceral reaction to his comment.)
Compliments work, people. So start complimenting your spouse.
There you have it. The five habits. Have you tried any of these lately?
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