101 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage
Want to have a strong marriage that will last?
A strong marriage is something worth fighting for. It provides security, comfort, and companionship. Not to mention, it can also be beneficial for your physical and mental health.
There is no question that marriage takes work. But with 101 simple tips, you can make strengthening your marriage a breeze. Whether you are newly married or have been together for years, these tips can help keep your relationship healthy and happy.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started today.
Here are 101 ways you can strengthen your marriage and make it the best it can be. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to a happy and healthy relationship with your spouse.
1. Realize that your marriage is a priority and make it a habit to spend time together each day (even if it’s just for 10 minutes).
2. Always listen to what your spouse has to say and try not to talk over them. If something is bothering you, bring it up in a calm, respectful way.
3. Be positive about your spouse and their opinions. Remember, this is another person you chose to share your life with. Treat them accordingly.
4. Communicate with one another regularly (both in-person and through technology). Talk about issues that are important to you instead of bottling up anger or frustration.
5. Trust in each other and your relationship. Don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability.
6. Be supportive of each other’s interests and hobbies by attending events or trying out new things together.
7. Realize that you are both individuals but also a couple — try to create a life that is rich with time for just the two of you and time that reflects your mutual interests.
8. Talk about your day with each other — good or bad. It’s important to share what goes on in each other’s lives.
9. Remember to have fun together. Date night is a must every week…at the very least once a month.
10. Stop and appreciate the little things your spouse brings to your life like a cup of coffee in the morning or that they took out the trash without being asked (there’s no such thing as a job too small).
11. Make sure you are both having quality time with friends and family on top of spending time together, it’s important to have your own social life outside of the relationship.
12. When you are wrong, apologize and admit your faults — it doesn’t make you weak or less of a person if you say “I’m sorry.”
13. Be forgiving when necessary — don’t hold onto grudges or live your life in a constant state of resentment. Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself as well as to your spouse.
14. Remember, compromise is key — it doesn’t have to be an even exchange either. Just do something for your spouse that they normally don’t let you do or vice versa.
15. Don’t sweat the small stuff — you’re allowed to be a little cranky or short with one another from time to time, it doesn’t mean you don’t love each other!
16. Keep an open mind if your partner wants to try something new in bed.
17. Be accepting of your partner’s quirks and flaws — no one is perfect after all.
18. Invest time in getting to know what makes your spouse tick — it can help you understand where they are coming from or why they do the things that they do.
19. Work together as a team — no one person can do everything, so it’s important to split responsibilities and make the most of each other’s strengths.
20. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it — don’t try to go through tough times alone! Your spouse or even your friends and family may be able to help.
21. Remember, talking about money is important but don’t make it the only topic of conversation — there are more things in life than money (like feelings…and what you ate for breakfast…and which TV show you watched last night).
22. Keep the lines of communication open at all times and never be afraid to ask for what you need in the relationship.
23. Compliment each other regularly — it doesn’t always have to be in words, sometimes simple actions like a smile or a long hug will do the trick.
24. Never be afraid to put your marriage first because if you don’t then the only ones who will lose are your children!
25. Make time for sex— even if it means scheduling a “date night in bed!” A healthy sexual relationship is a must for a strong marriage. Sex is a great stress reliever and a wonderful way to connect physically,
26. Remember, the small things that you do for each other daily matter most — don’t lose sight of why you fell in love with one another in the first place.
27. Be kind and courteous to your spouse even if they are being difficult or downright mean — it doesn’t excuse bad behavior but will help ease tension until tempers cool off.
28. Be a good role model for your children because even if you don’t agree with everything your spouse does, you can still show them how to handle things nicely and with respect.
29. Make time for yourself to stay healthy and fit by exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet.
30. Remember that togetherness is great but it doesn’t always have to involve being in the same room. Those alone time moments can be special too.
31. Never stop trying to learn more about your spouse and their interests — it will help you bond on a deeper level.
32. Show interest in what your spouse does all day — it will help you better understand their job and also show appreciation for everything they do.
33. Never stop dating — date night is a must! Even if it’s just ordering takeout, dimming the lights, and dancing in the living room together…it doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun.
34. Remember, sex doesn’t always have to happen at night — schedule those special moments whenever you can and make the most of every opportunity.
35. Keep your sense of humor intact as much as possible — laughter truly is the best medicine so don’t take yourselves too seriously.
36. Show interest in your spouse’s family and friends — you are now part of them so your partner wants you to feel welcome, right?
37. Take time to just be together — snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie or curl up by the fire and read together. Just enjoy one another’s company.
38. Let your spouse win (most) of the time — even if you know you were right, it’s a great feeling to let someone else have their way sometimes.
39. Don’t keep score — there is no competition between married couples. You are a team and should be looking out for each other.
40. Remember that marriage is a give and take — both people should be trying to make the other happy every day.
41. Be open about your budget and financial status with one another — knowing where you stand will help avoid future problems or misunderstandings.
42. Never lie to your spouse and always tell them how you feel, if something is bothering you — it can be hard to say but will make for a better relationship in the long run.
43. Never compare your spouse with someone else — chances are they feel the same way about you and any comparison (good or bad) should only be made between you.
44. Be kind to each other’s families — family is important so be sure to remember birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
45. Always keep promises you make to one another — if you say you are going to do something then do it.
46. Don’t sweat the small stuff — if your spouse forgets to take out the trash one night, it doesn’t mean the end of the world.
47. Keep your disagreements private — airing your dirty laundry in front of everyone will only embarrass you both.
48. Be willing to work through conflict calmly and rationally. Never insult or put down one another, no matter how mad you are!
49. Never threaten to break up with your spouse unless you are 100% committed to making it happen. Threats can be misconstrued as something entirely different.
50. Schedule date night at least every other week — even if it’s just dinner and a movie, this will keep you feeling connected.
51. Never stop courting your spouse. Sending flowers or writing love notes can be so cute!
52. Be willing to compromise where necessary. Give-and-take makes the relationship stronger.
53. Always thank your partner for something they did for you, even if it was just taking out the trash — gratitude goes a long way.
54. Remember that married life is not always easy but you chose this lifestyle so enjoy every day of it.
55. Love your spouse for who they are, not what they can give you or do for you — everyone has their ups and downs so be accepting of the whole package.
56. Always do your best to make sure your spouse is happy. You chose them so they should be treated as if their happiness matters to you, right?
57. Remember that communication is key — talk about everything and never assume things are alright between you two.
58. Never go to bed angry — clear the air and seek resolution before drifting off to sleep.
59. Try not to take each other for granted — no one is perfect so always remember to tell your spouse how much you appreciate them, every day!
60. Don’t shy away from conflict — it will happen and must be dealt with if you want a healthy relationship.
61. Don’t try to change your spouse — they are who they are for a reason, even if you don’t agree with it!
62. Be open about your past relationships and what you learned from them. Everyone has baggage so make sure your partner knows what they are getting into before the wedding bells ring!
63. Never compare your spouse to anyone else you know, especially an ex. They are their person and deserve to be treated with love and respect.
64. Remember that God is always there for you, even in the worst of times. Try praying or seeking His guidance before making any big decisions.
65. Make sure your spouse knows they are your priority — if you make him/her your top priority then everything else in life will fall into place.
66. Don’t talk bad about your spouse to anyone, especially with their best friends or family members. I’m sure nothing nice would be said behind their back so why start now?
67. Never stoop down to insults or name-calling. No one is better than anyone else so why act like you are?
68. Be a support system for your partner — be the reason they make it through the day or week and when they need advice or help, give it!
69. Remember that you are in this together — if your spouse is going through a hard time then you must be willing to support them the best you can, even if it’s not always easy.
70. Be yourself around your spouse. If they are comfortable with who you are then there is no need to feel insecure or shy away from what makes you happy.
71. Don’t let your partner use you for money or anything else. Set some boundaries and if they cannot respect them then it might be time to rethink where this relationship is heading.
72. Never feel like you are not good enough for your spouse. Everyone has faults so focus on the positive!
73. Remember that your partner will not always be by your side but you have to keep fighting for your love. True love is never easy or convenient.
74. Always know that you can work out an argument or disagreement with words. If you start yelling, pounding fists, or throwing things then it’s no longer just a discussion, it is an attack on your spouse.
75. Be willing to make sacrifices for your spouse. They are yours, after all, might as well act like it.
76. Don’t be afraid to put the past behind you and forgive anyone that has wronged your spouse. If your partner can forgive them, then you should too!
77. Do not play with someone else’s emotions. It’s not fair for both parties involved and will leave your partner feeling scared, betrayed, or bitter.
78. Never keep secrets from your spouse no matter who asks you to! You promised to always be honest with them and you shouldn’t start breaking that promise now.
79. Do whatever makes your spouse happy. If they want to go on a hike then take them, if they want to watch movies all day, then let them.
80. Never argue when you’re in the car with other people because what happens there will eventually happen when you are alone and that is no place for arguments or fighting.
81. Call your partner when you’re going to be late. If it’s only 5 minutes then use that time to find a new route or make up an excuse.
82. Learn how to cook, at least one recipe. It will save you both money and stress in the long run.
83. Never beat around the bush about anything. If you’re mad or hurt then tell your partner — a relationship is a two-way street and there needs to be open communication.
84. Don’t keep score of anything. Married life with caring for children will most likely leave one person doing more than the other but that doesn’t mean they are trying to out-do you or get more of your time.
85. Remember that everyone is different so don’t expect to see eye-to-eye on every single topic. There will always be disagreements but it’s how you handle them which makes the marriage successful.
86. Work together to build a family and home that you both want to live in — it’s not always sunny skies and playing catch so you must work together to create something better for the both of you.
87. Never assume you know what’s going on in your partner’s mind or why they are acting a certain way because no one knows someone better than they know themselves.
88. Never swear or degrade your partner in front of others. It’s not going to make you look more mature, mature people don’t swear a lot!
89. Never keep a count of the number of favors your spouse does for you. They will always be there when you need them and even if they’re not it’s no reason to be mean about it.
90. Never keep a score of how much work your spouse does around the house. If you’re in a relationship with someone, chances are they care about what happens to you and your family so let them do their job.
91. Never hit or abuse your spouse — it’s not okay.
92. Never cheat on your spouse — if you don’t feel like you can be happy with them then maybe you should take some time to think about what makes you so unhappy?
93. Be honest and never lie to your spouse. That will only create a wedge between the two of you and make things worse in the long run.
94. Don’t try to change your spouse — they are who they are for a reason.
95. Never bring up past fights or arguments with your partner because that will only trigger another fight or argument about something that happened years ago.
96. Always put your best foot forward for your partner. They are the reason you have so many good things in your life so why would you want to change them?
97. Live a life that is better than those around you — this world needs people who have been through things and have seen the worst side of life so now they can show others the best and what it means to be a family.
98. Never expect your spouse to read your mind because, if they did that then how would you ever get things like surprise gifts or vacations?
99. Give back to the community and always help those who need it, especially family. Children need to see their parents helping other people and it will make them appreciate everything in their own lives too.
100. Make time for your partner and family but always make time for you. If not, then who will? You need to have a life outside of the home with friends and other things so don’t lose touch with yourself.
101. Never use sex as a punishment. It will instantly turn your spouse into a rebel.
Final word
No one ever said that being married was easy. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience to make a marriage successful. But with the right tools at your disposal, anything is possible. These 101 ways will strengthen your marriage and make it thrive. Implement just a few of these tips and you will be on your way to creating a lasting and happy union.
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