In real life, being married is simply the start of what is hopefully going to be a very long story. Sure, a lovely fairy tale ending is and they lived happily ever after.” You might have joy and love during the ensuing decades, but, likely, you’ll also hit some snags and grow bored. We’ve attended salsa dancing lessons, wine appreciation seminars, and 4-week culinary classes over the years. By bringing excitement and novelty to our relationship and enabling us to share experiences, these activities enhance our bond.
While matchmakers, sex therapists, and couples counselors experience the same highs and lows in their relationships as the rest of us, they also possess knowledge and experience that most ordinary people do not. So how can they ensure the success of their marriages? We asked five experts to discuss their strategies for ensuring their happiness over the years, as well as that of their spouses. Feeling amazing in your flesh comes first and nothing inspires greater love for other people. Take a look at Prevention’s Younger in Eight Weeks” program to learn how to be your best self at any age.
Keep it fresh.
- Each year, we make an effort to discover a novel activity that we can engage in as a group.
- After 24 years of marriage, my spouse and I still manage to have a conversation for at least ten minutes every day on something other than job, family, or who gets to do what around the house. We talk about things like amusing tales, volunteering experiences, hopes, goals, aspirations, music, movies, sports, life goals, and what we are most proud of or regret not achieving in the past. This enables us to keep learning more about one another.
Additionally, my spouse and I go on a trip together at least once a year. We do something we both enjoy, like wine tasting or bicycling, for at least two nights and two days. We took a 6-day vacation this summer; the older our kids become, the longer we stay away. This enables us to escape the monotony and problems associated with our hectic, fast-paced lifestyles.
Mix things up.
- Organize a last-minute date night, spend the night in a different room, or have dinner on a carpet picnic. Although Relationships don’t require much work, research indicates that serendipity keeps couples together. Relationships are not just for children and I encourage individuals to minimize their screen time. Studies reveal that using electronic gadgets in bed might have a detrimental impact on your sexual life and sleep quality. This 50 hues of foreplay pleasure set from Rodale’s has been a huge hit with couples.
Express your gratitude.
- It’s simple to focus on what isn’t working in a long-term relationship and to take one another for granted. I get out my journal on Sunday afternoons and list all the amazing things my spouse has done for me and how it has improved my life. I express my gratitude to him after that. He changes instantly and melts like a marshmallow, giving me more hugs, kisses, and affection in return. Everyone is successful! Being proactively in love with your spouse is the essence of marriage. If you don’t work in a Relationship and keep telling yourself and your spouse all the amazing things about them, it won’t last.
Put each other first—even before the kids.
- Recall that the person you are most important to is your partner. Even if your children are extremely valuable and significant, do not let them take center stage in your life. Eventually, your children will understand this since they will grow up with contented, united parents. Relationship all comes down to giving the other person precedence. That is what we all want.
Make eye contact to the next level.
- An activity called hand-to-heart eye gazing, which originated in Tantra, helps couples to both calm themselves and re-establish a deeply emotional connection. I discovered that many find Relationships difficult to disengage from and go into a more intimate experience with their partner because they are always stressed out or drawn toward their electronics. I ask partners to breathe for a longer period, deeper than usual, starting in the lower abdomen and going as high up the body as they can. They can time their respiratory rhythms to coincide with one another. Try spending five to ten minutes a day on this.
- In the interim, schedule some time for hobbies or relaxation with your group of buddies. Everyone needs to enjoy themselves and have a network of support outside of their relationships. In this manner, each of you keeps your unique individuality, and nobody feels forced to fit into the marriage or family’s mold.
