Advice for Newlyweds

By: Alexandra Heep

The honeymoon may be over, but newlyweds are in a great position to get a head start toward a successful marriage by following some simple advice.

Now is the time to keep the romance alive. Before you even have time to fall into a rut of boredom, the newlywed phase is the time to keep that romance alive that led to the relationship in the first place. This is very important, especially if you already brought children into the marriage. Try to do something romantic and spontaneous at least once a week, like leaving a random love note in his lunch box or a single flower on her pillow.

If you prefer, you can schedule regular date nights, but make sure these do not become routine. Also, these do not have to be expensive nor time-consuming. Ideas include ordering takeout and eating in front of a fireplace, having a romantic dinner on the deck watching the sunset or going for a picnic in the park. Make sure you agree on something both parties enjoy.

Pick the battles. No one agrees all the time, so don't sweat the small stuff. Focus on the things that brought you together instead. During the newlywed phase, it is usually the time when partners get to know annoying habits. Instead of fighting over them, accept the person for who he or she is.

Keep the balance. The old adage that marriage is a 50/50 effort is not necessarily true. On some days a partner may give 90 percent and take 10, while on another day he may have to do the opposite. As long as it balances out in the end, it is all good; no one can be neutral every day.

Do not set unrealistic expectations. Everyone argues and experiences negative emotions at some point. There are no perpetual knights in shining armor and no everlasting sunsets. Accept that life can include many unpleasant things and comes with responsibilities like work, children and finances. This will keep the stress level down, and you can instead focus on turning your times together into enjoyable ones.

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