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Love is a complicated thing, isn’t it? The truth is, there’s no simple solution to guarantee a long and happy marriage – but there are some easy steps you can take to try to prolong your honeymoon period for just a little while longer. We’ve detailed three of the best:
Drink Wine (Yes, Really)
Good news, wine lovers! Having a regular glass of vino with your partner could be the secret to a happy marriage, according to a recent study published in the Journals of Gerontology.
Researchers from the University of Michigan studied the responses of 2,767 married couples and found that couples who drank alcohol tended to be happier than those that did not. Kira Birditt PhD, the leader of the study, told the news agency Reuters that the findings linked into the popular theory that couples that do more together tend to be happier.
It makes sense that drinking wine with your partner can improve happiness. Other social activities tend to be more focused around the activity part than the social part. For example, watching a movie with your loved one can be an enjoyable experience, but it won’t give you the opportunity to talk and catch up like sharing a bottle of wine would.
Make Time for the In-Laws All Year Round
The holidays are generally a manic time for any family. There’s the last-minute present buying, the need to organize food, and the added worry of having to answer every question your loved one’s family is about to throw at you. This can all lead to you becoming rather stressed, which isn’t ideal if you’re about to be figuratively interrogated by the in-laws.
Believe it or not, one way to reduce any anxiety over spending time with your partner’s parents is to actually spend more time with them throughout the year. This will help you get to know them in a relaxed environment, which will mean you can both put your best foot forward. And, by keeping them in the loop with what’s going on in your life, you’re less likely to have to play 1,000 questions while tucking into your Christmas dinner.
There’s some science behind the theory as well, with the researchers from the University of Michigan revealing that men that have a close relationship with their in-laws are 20% less likely to get divorced.
Spend Time Apart Every Now and Then
You’ve probably heard of the popular phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” In a marital sense, that phrase couldn’t ring truer.
As we found out above, doing things together is an important element of a happy marriage – but if you spend all of your time together, it’s likely that you’re going to end up with nothing to talk about.
A recent study by Team Sport revealed that nearly a third of couples think that spending time with their friends made them happier. A further one in ten admitted to being frustrated by not being able to spend time on their own.
To avoid cabin fever setting in, book a weekend away with your friends every once in awhile. This will give both of you the time to unwind, de-stress, and (hopefully) reach a point where you start to miss each other’s company.
All in all, finding a healthy balance is vital to sustain happiness in your marriage. Ensure that the time you spend together is quality, but that you also make time for yourself. Ensure that you distribute time with each other’s families across the year, rather than leaving it to the big events. And, most importantly, ensure that you regularly share a quality bottle of wine – we certainly can’t complain about that.
Photos/Pixabay